The 2020 Morgan Plus Four is a neo-retro roadster produced by British coachbuilder Morgan. The 2020 Plus Four replaces the old Plus 4, a roadster that Morgan produced without any updates from 2005 to 2020. While the nameplate carries over unchanged, the word "Four" replaces the numeral "4" for better differentiation between the two cars. The 2020 Plus Four is underpinned by the CX-Generation, bonded aluminum platform that Morgan debuted in the 2019 Plus Six. Although it looks virtually the same on the outside, the 2020 Plus Four features a more modern interior, while the old naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine was replaced with a turbo-four from BMW.

2020 Morgan Plus Four

Specifications
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  • Model: 2020 Morgan Plus Four
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

- Same classic looks - Not too many changes from the old model - LED lights - Wire wheels - Roadster layout - Rear-mounted spare wheel - Center-mounted exhaust pipes - Sleek and stylish - Various color options

Although it's a brand-new car, the Plus Four retains the classic looks specific to Morgan vehicles. So even if it rides on the modern CX-generation platform, shared with the Plus Six, the Plus Four looks as if it were designed in the 1930s. That's a unique feat in the auto industry.

What sets the 2020 Morgan Plus Four apart from the Plus 4?

Well, not that much to be honest. A quick comparison reveals a very similar front end. The Plus Four carries over with the horseshoe-style radiator that's slightly angled toward the hood, as well as the same headlamps that are separate from the body. The big change here is that the Plus Four features automatic LED lights as standard. The turn signals below are virtually the same, as are the covered foglamps mounted closer to the main grille. However, these feature fined mounting posts. The lower apron was redesigned, and it now features a big fine mesh grille, as well as larger round vents at the corners.

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The same goes for the profile, with only tiny features changed from the old Plus 4. There's also revised mirror posts, and the windshield moved a couple of inches away from the hood. The biggest news here are the 15-inch wire wheels available for the first time on this model. To adds these rims, Morgan had to redesign the wishbones, suspension components, and even the breaking system. If you're not a fan of wire wheels, you can go with a different alloy wheel style inspired by 1970s sports cars.

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Are things more different around back? Only slightly. The design is pretty much the same overall, with slight changes to the shape of the folded soft-top. The taillights are placed in about the same place, but Morgan removed the third light at the bottom. These taillights also feature LED technology. Both the license place and the placing of the spare wheel are similar. As before, Morgan offers a rear-mounted luggage rack. Finally, the Plus Four stands out thanks to a new exhaust layout with the pipes moved toward the center. The Plus 4 featured a twin-exhaust setup on the right side of the rear apron.

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How does the 2020 Morgan Plus Four compare to the Plus Six?

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Although the name may suggest otherwise, the Plus Four and Plus Six are actually very similar design-wise, as the major difference is under the hood. But they're not identical, despite sharing the same platform. Compared to the Plus Six, the Plus Four is 104 mm narrower in the central body and 78 mm narrower overall. It also features a different profile for the fenders, which are thinner than the Plus Six.

As before, the Plus Six is available with a range of solid colors as standard. If you're a fan of metallic, matte, pearl, and two-tone finishes, you'll have to pay extra. You can also opt for paint protection film and a polished hood and cowl.

Morgan Plus Six exterior dimensions

Length

3830 mm

Width

1650 mm

Height

1250 mm

Dry weight

1009 kg


Interior

- More modern layout - New steering wheel - Small instrument cluster display - Revised center stack - Wood dashboard - Leather upholstery - Fancy leather options - Sporty seats - Foldable soft-top

While the exterior is very similar to the old model, the interior looks a bit more modern now and comes with notable extra features. Granted, it still boasts that vintage vibe specific to Morgan models, but with a more modern twist.

What sets the 2020 Morgan Plus Four apart from the Plus 4?

Although it retains a similar footprint to the model it replaces, the Plus Four benefits from the more advanced packaging of the CX-Generation platform, and this translates into increased passenger and luggage space. Ingress and egress are also easier now.

The design of the dashboard is still heavily related to the old Plus 4, but we can notice a few important updates. For starters, while the oval cluster behind the steering wheel still includes two analog clocks onto the sides, the center section now features a digital screen. Sure, it's much smaller than on most modern cars available out there, but it's a big improvement over the old model. The gauges display fuel and temperature levels.

Likewise, the center stack retains the old layout with three clocks: there's a small one in the center and two larger ones - the speedo and the rev counter - on the sides. The large controls for the air conditioning system also remain similar, but the buttons in the lower center area are new and displaced in a new layout. The dash face is made of wood, yet another traditional feature in Morgans, while the top is covered in leather, as are the door panels.

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But you can opt for other finishes as well. Morgan offers body-colored dashboards, both gloss and matte wood veneers, or a full leather face. You can also choose from a variety of contrast piping on the door panels and seats.

Speaking of materials, the Plus Four comes with a new fine-grade and pebble-grain leather as standard on most surfaces. Optionally, you can get a premium soft-grain leather combined with saddle leather inserts on the door handles and seat belt guides. The entire floor is carpeted, and you can upgrade to a box weave, also in a range of colors.

As for the seats, the backs are finished in black composite as standard, but you can specify leather or to be painted to match the body color. Finish options include horizontal pleating, quilted twin needle stitch, and square box stitch, while headrest embroidery options comprise the "Morgan" logo, "Plus Four" script, or a custom design of your choice. You can pair everything listed above with color seat stitching and piping. The seats feature lumbar adjustment as standard, and you can add heating off the options list.

For the first time ever on a core model, the Plus Four comes with remote central locking as standard. An audio system isn't included, but you can opt for one with Bluetooth connectivity.

Drivetrain

- Turbocharged four-cylinder from BMW - 255 horsepower - 295 pound-feet of torque - New CX-generation platform - 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds - Top speed at 149 mph - Much quicker than the old model - Lightweight construction

The Plus Four continues to feature a four-cylinder engine, just like its predecessor, but we're talking about a completely different unit. It's the first turbo four-cylinder ever fitted in a Morgan.

The engine cranks out 255 horsepower, while torque depends on the gearbox. . When fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, it generates 258 pound-feet of twist. This figure increases to 295 pound-feet when equipped with the eight-speed automatic. It's also worth noting that the manual transmission is a first for the CX-Generation platform.

2020 Morgan Plus Four specifications

Automatic

Manual

Engine

BMW 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo, inline four-cylinder

BMW 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo, inline four-cylinder

Gearbox

Eight-speed automatic with comfort, sport, sport plus and manual shift modes

Six-speed manual 

Maximum power

255 bhp (190 kW) at 4400 rpm

255 bhp (190 kW) at 5500 rpm

Maximum torque

295 lb ft (400 Nm) at 1000-4300 rpm

258 lb ft (350 Nm) at 1000-5000 rpm

0-62 mph (0-100 kph)

4.8 seconds

5.2 seconds

Top speed

149 mph (240 kph)

149 mph (240 kph)

Power to weight

253 bhp / tonne

252 bhp / tonne

Fuel consumption (combined)*

40 mpg (7.0 l/100km)

39 mpg (7.3 l/100km)

CO2 emissions*

159 g/km

165 g/km


Is the 2020 Morgan Plus Four more powerful than the old Plus 4?

Although engines are similar in displacement and cylinder configuration, the Plus Four's is turbocharged, so it benefits from notably more oomph. Specifically, the Plus 4 generates 154 horsepower, which is 101 horses below the output of the new roadster. The Plus Four also generates notably more than the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition, fitted with an upgraded engine rated at 182 horsepower.

When it comes to torque, the Plus 4 cranks out 148 pound-feet. That's a whopping 147 pound-feet below the Plus Four. Simply put, the new Plus Four delivers twice as much torque.

Actually, the Plus Four isn't all that far behind the Plus Six in terms of output. This version features a BMW-sourced, 3.0-liter inline-six that generates 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet, so the Plus Four lags behind by only 80 horses and 74 pound-feet.

Is the 2020 Morgan Plus Four quicker than the old Plus 4?

You bet it is! With all that extra power and torque at its disposal, the Plus Four is notably quicker than its predecessor. The sprint to 62 mph takes 4.8 seconds in the automatic model and 5.2 seconds in the manual version. The old Plus 4 is rated at 7.1 seconds with a manual transmission, so the new model is almost two full seconds slower.

The Plus Four is also as quick as the outgoing Roadster model and only 0.6 seconds slower than the more powerful Plus Six version.

When it comes to top speed, both the manual and automatic versions hit 149 mph. That's a solid 31 mph more than the old Plus 4. It's also only 16 mph slower than the Plus Six and just six mph below the standard for performance-oriented modern cars.

The roadster's low curb weight is among the reasons why the Plus Four is this quick. The two-door tips the scales at just 1,009 kg (about 2,224 pounds), lighter than most performance convertibles available right now. That's also 66 kg (146 pounds) lighter than the Plus Six.

And just like the Plus Six, it's available with a Sport Plus mode that you can activate using a button on the center column. This mode sharpens throttle response and enhances the dynamic character of the car. The new chassis is also significantly more rigid than the outgoing steel ladder chassis. But it remains extremely light at only 97 kg (214 pounds).

How much does the 2020 Morgan Plus Four cost?

The new-generation Plus Four comes in at £62,995 with the manual transmission and starts from £64,995 with the automatic gearbox.

Is the 2020 Morgan Plus Four more expensive than the old Plus 4?

It's actually notably more expensive, as the previous Plus 4 retailed from almost £50,000. This means the redesign added a premium of almost £15,000.

On the other hand, the Plus Four is notably more affordable than the Plus Six, which starts from £77,995.

When does the 2020 Morgan Plus Four go on sale?

The British roadster is available to order since early March, but the first examples won't come into dealerships until later in 2020.

Is the 2020 Morgan Plus Four better than the Caterham Seven?

The Caterham Seven is among the very few vehicles that have what it takes to compete with the Plus Four in terms of lightness and retro-inspired design. Launched by Lotus in 1957, the Seven boasts the same design ever since Caterham purchased the rights to it in 1973. Both have similar roadster layouts, but there are also plenty of features that set the two apart. For starters, the Seven comes with wheel fenders completely separated from the body, and the headlamps are also placed outside the shell. The Seven is also much lighter, tipping the scales at less than 2,000 pounds. But it's available with Ford-sourced four-cylinder engines. Caterham offers five different models. The range starts with the 270, which features a 1.6-liter engine rated at 135 horsepower. The 310 features the same mill but cranks out 152 horses. Although notably less powerful than the Plus Four, this Seven is almost as quick with a 0 to 62 mph sprint of five seconds. More powerful comes from the Seven 360, fitted with a 2.0-liter four-banger rated at 180 horsepower. This model hits 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. The 420 is the one that comes close to the Plus Four output-wise at 210 horsepower, but it's notably quicker with a sprint to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds. All told, the Seven 360 is the closest match, and the good news is that it costs notably less at £31,490 before options. For the price you pay for the Plus Four, you can actually get the range-topping Seven 620 fitted with a supercharged four-cylinder rated at 310 horsepower and a sprint time of only 2.9 seconds. You also remain with around £14,000 for options.

Read our full story on the Caterham Seven.

Final Words

Just like any Morgan model out there, the Plus Four competes in a very small niche that no one really cares about. Compared to mainstream cars, that is! Morgan operates like a boutique supercar maker. It manually produces very few cars per year and sells them for prices that could give you a premium midsize sedan. But that's the beauty of it, really. Manually built cars can be customized to the finest detail. You can make it your own, and you can travel in style. Also, not many automakers can brag about still being able to produce a hand-made ash frame, hand-beaten aluminum panels, and hand-trimmed leather interiors. It's all about craftsmanship and nostalgia of early luxury automobiles. The classic looks are just the cherry on top, so if you want a modern vehicle with retro styling, the Plus Four is the best option you have, especially since it's notably more affordable than the Plus Six.