Morgan is celebrating 25 years of installing BMW engines in its cars – a relationship that began in 2000 with the Aero 8 and is now the heart of the company’s four-wheeled product range. To highlight this milestone, Morgan has assembled 14 BMW vehicles from the last quarter century and brought them together for a single exhibition. The idea is simple: to show the arc of Morgan’s modern era in one place, from the early V8 aero models to the brand’s current turbocharged four- and six-cylinder range.
From the Aero 8 to the end of Morgan’s BMW V8 era
The history of the partnership begins with the original Aero 8, introduced in 2000 with BMW’s 4.4-liter M62 V8. For Morgan, this engine did more than just add power. It gave the car modern everyday behavior and durability – which is important when building a small series sports car using traditional construction methods.
Morgan then moved into BMW’s N62 V8 family, using a 4.4 liter version in the Series 2 and 3 Aero 8 models and the distinctive AeroMax. The anniversary exhibition also includes what Morgan describes as the final chapter of its V8 story: the 4.8-liter BMW N62, used in later Aero models and the Plus 8.
Morgan said the last core series Plus 8 built at its Pickersleigh Road factory was completed in 2018. However, the V8 era did not completely end there. The company later crowned the story with a series of nine motorsport-inspired Plus 8 GTRs in 2021, and six of these nine cars are included in the anniversary group.
For BMW readers, these engine codes are familiar, but the more important point is how long Morgan stuck with the naturally aspirated V8 engine compared to the broader market.
2019 was the pivotal point: B58 turbo power and a new Morgan platform
Morgan calls 2019 a turning point. That’s when the company introduced the Plus Six with BMW’s 3.0-liter B58 TwinPower Turbo inline-six — and Morgan notes two milestones that came with it. The B58 was the first inline-six to be fitted to a Morgan and the first turbocharged engine the company had ever used.
The bigger change wasn’t just the switch to turbocharging, however. Morgan launched the B58 alongside its brand new CX platform, designed and engineered in-house. Morgan claims the CX platform offers twice the torsional rigidity of its previous aluminum architecture while remaining under 100 kilograms.
The B58 also appears in Morgan’s more recent, limited projects. The company says it powers the Midsummer, a modified Barchetta unveiled in May 2024 and developed in collaboration with Pininfarina. This was an exposed cockpit with a teak frame and a sculptural body. Production was limited to 50 copies. The final units are currently in production at Pickersleigh Road, with completion expected in early 2026.
Plus Four, the B48 and the return to the USA
Morgan’s next step was the Plus Four, introduced in 2020 with BMW’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder from the B48 family. Morgan is positioning it as the latest in a long line of four-cylinder plus-four powertrains, but the more interesting development is what this engine enabled in 2025: a return to the US. The company says the Plus Four is homologated under the FAST Act’s replica car rule, which allows small-volume manufacturers to replicate a model sold in the U.S. more than 25 years ago.
That’s just part of the regulatory story. Morgan also says it worked with BMW to certify an engine package that complies with SPMV regulations for CARB states. At the heart of this package is the BMW B46, which Morgan describes as a SULEV-compliant version of the 2.0-liter turbo four used in other markets.
Supersport: The new flagship remains with BMW power
Morgan’s latest flagship is the Supersport, unveiled in March 2025. The company says it is introducing a new design language – a more contemporary interpretation of the Morgan silhouette – while remaining true to BMW power: the 3.0-liter inline-six B58. Supersport also introduces what Morgan calls an evolved CXV platform.
Motorsport and Morgan
Two of the 14 cars on display are dedicated to racing. BMW engines powered the early Aero 8 GT racing program, including appearances in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and campaigns in the FIA ​​GT3 European Championship. A representative of this era is an Aero 8 LMGT Le Mans entry from 2004. There will also be a 2020 Plus Four racing car race in collaboration with the School of Engineering and the University of Wolverhampton racing team.
Morgan says BMW has supplied almost 5,000 engines for installation at Pickersleigh Road over the past 25 years and describes itself as BMW’s oldest OEM engine partner.
[Photos provided by Morgan Media Website]
