Morgan has teamed up with Pininfarina for a new coachbuilt special called the Midsummer. This ICE-powered barchetta, based on the underpinnings of the Morgan Plus Six, will be produced in a limited run of 50 units, all of which have already been allocated to customers. The Midsummer is the first production model to feature the Pininfarina Fuoriserie badge, hinting at more coachbuilt projects by the Italian design house in collaboration with other automakers. Morgan is a fitting choice for this inaugural partnership, given its long-standing tradition in coachbuilding.
According to the company, the exterior
design “previews key elements of future Morgan design language, mixed with the
flair and purity of Pininfarina.” Indeed, the Midsummer is instantly
recognizable as a Morgan, thanks to its round headlights, long hood, and retro
fenders. The bodywork is made of hand-formed aluminum panels, each of which
takes more than 250 hours to create.
The exposed two-seater cabin is covered
with more than 400 layers of sustainably sourced teak, laminated together. The
seats and door cards are wrapped in leather, while the analog dials have been
created exclusively for the Midsummer. Finally, the tiny windshields provide an
open-air driving experience. The bespoke body is based on the CX-generation of
Morgan’s bonded aluminum platform, shared with the existing Plus Six. Under the
long hood lies a BMW-sourced turbocharged six-cylinder engine, exclusively
mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The Midsummer rides on 19-inch wheels shod
in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires and features adjustable Nitron dampers with a
bespoke setup. Morgan targets a dry weight of 1,000 kg, similar to
that of the donor car. Each of the 50 units of the Midsummer will reportedly
cost around £ 200,000 (US$ 250,000), depending on the personalization options. The
public debut of the Midsummer will take place at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of
Speed in July. Production will begin later this year and is scheduled to conclude
in 2025, coinciding with Morgan’s 115th anniversary.
