Morgan Plus 8: which version to buy
If you are choosing a Morgan Plus 8, the catalogue has five named versions across two Speedster generations (1968–2000 and 2012–2018). The buying split is simple: a first-generation 3.6 MT or 4.0 MT if you want the lightest measured kerb weight (940 kg) and a 5-speed Manual; a second-generation 4.8 MT if you want the only measured 4.5 s to 100 km/h, 249 km/h top speed, and 368 hp.
If you are choosing a Morgan Plus 8, the catalogue has five named versions across two Speedster generations (1968–2000 and 2012–2018). The buying split is simple: a first-generation 3.6 MT or 4.0 MT if you want the lightest measured kerb weight (940 kg) and a 5-speed Manual; a second-generation 4.8 MT if you want the only measured 4.5 s to 100 km/h, 249 km/h top speed, and 368 hp. The second-generation 4.8 AT shares that 368 hp engine but has 0–100, top speed, and kerb weight not measured, so it cannot be ranked on performance or weight per horsepower.
This is a comparison of those five lines using the measured numbers only. Prices are not in the data, so “what the extra displacement buys” here means extra horsepower, torque, and speed — not money.
Generations: what actually changed
2 generation (2012–2018) is a Speedster with two versions. Both use a 4799 cm³ Gasoline 8-cylinder V-shaped engine, No boost, Front, longitudinal layout, Distributed injection (multi-point), 4 valves per cylinder, compression 10, bore × stroke 92 × 82.7, fuel 98, 6 speeds, RWD, 55 L tank, 150 mm ground clearance, Independent, spring front suspension, Ventilated disc front brakes. Rear suspension, rear brakes, CO₂, eco class, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured on both.
1 generation (1968–2000) is a Speedster with three versions, all RWD Manual 5-speed, Gasoline 8-cylinder V-shaped, No boost, Independent, spring front, Disc front brakes, 140 mm clearance. That is 10 mm less clearance than 2012–2018. A 55 L tank is not measured on generation 1. Two lines share the name 3.6 MT; they must be split by power: 157 hp and 193 hp.
Generation 2 is not a restyle of generation 1 in this catalogue: displacement jumps from 3547–3947 cm³ to 4799 cm³, peak power from 157–193 hp to 368 hp, and the gearbox from 5-speed Manual to 6-speed Manual or Automatic.
Specs: every version named as in the data
| Version | Gen | hp (kW) | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cyl. / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 MT | 2, 2012–2018 | 368 (271) at 6300 | 502 at 3400 | 4799 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 6 | RWD |
| 4.8 AT | 2, 2012–2018 | 368 (271) at 6300 | 502 at 3400 | 4799 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 6 | RWD |
| 3.6 MT (157 hp) | 1, 1968–2000 | 157 (115); rpm not measured | not measured | 3547 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 3.6 MT (193 hp) | 1, 1968–2000 | 193 (142) at 5280 | 298 at 4000 | 3547 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 4.0 MT | 1, 1968–2000 | 189 (139) at 4750 | 312 at 2600 | 3947 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
Engine position is Front, longitudinal on 4.8 MT, 4.8 AT, and 4.0 MT; it is not measured on both 3.6 MT lines. Feed is Distributed injection (multi-point) on both 4.8 versions, Carburetor on 3.6 MT (157 hp), and not measured on 3.6 MT (193 hp) and 4.0 MT.
Horsepower, litres, and what the 4.8 buys
Specific output (hp per litre of the stated displacement):
- 4.8 MT and 4.8 AT: 368 / 4.799 ≈ 76.7 hp/L
- 3.6 MT (193 hp): 193 / 3.547 ≈ 54.4 hp/L
- 4.0 MT: 189 / 3.947 ≈ 47.9 hp/L
- 3.6 MT (157 hp): 157 / 3.547 ≈ 44.3 hp/L
The 2012–2018 4.8 makes 175 hp more than the strongest first-generation line (3.6 MT 193 hp) and 211 hp more than 3.6 MT (157 hp). That is about 1.91× and 2.34× the older peaks. Torque on the 4.8 is 502 Nm versus 298 Nm on 3.6 MT (193 hp) and 312 Nm on 4.0 MT — +204 Nm and +190 Nm. Torque on 3.6 MT (157 hp) is not measured, so it cannot join that ranking.
4.0 MT is the odd first-generation buy: 400 cm³ more than either 3.6 MT, but 4 hp less than 3.6 MT (193 hp). What it does buy is torque and where it arrives: 312 Nm at 2600 rpm versus 298 Nm at 4000 rpm — 14 Nm more, 1400 rpm earlier. Top speed is also 10 km/h higher (210 versus 200). 0–100 is the same 5.6 s on both of those measured first-generation cars.
If the search is “Plus 8 horsepower” or “Plus 8 engine,” generation 2 is the only place 368 hp and 4799 cm³ appear. If the search is a smaller V-shaped 8, generation 1 is the only place 3547 cm³ and 3947 cm³ appear.
Weight, kg per hp, and dimensions
Measured kerb weight:
- 3.6 MT (193 hp): 940 kg
- 4.0 MT: 940 kg
- 4.8 MT: 1220 kg — 280 kg heavier than the 940 kg pair (+29.8%)
- 4.8 AT: kerb not measured
- 3.6 MT (157 hp): kerb not measured
Gross weight is 1200 kg on 3.6 MT (193 hp) and 4.0 MT (260 kg of payload on the 940 kg kerb). Gross weight is not measured on 4.8 MT, 4.8 AT, and 3.6 MT (157 hp).
Weight per horsepower where both numbers exist:
- 4.8 MT: 1220 / 368 ≈ 3.32 kg/hp
- 3.6 MT (193 hp): 940 / 193 ≈ 4.87 kg/hp
- 4.0 MT: 940 / 189 ≈ 4.97 kg/hp
Even with 280 kg extra, 4.8 MT is the lightest car per horsepower. 4.8 AT cannot be scored: no kerb figure.
Ground clearance: 150 mm on both 2012–2018 versions, 140 mm on all three 1968–2000 versions. Wheel sizes are not measured on every line — a “Plus 8 dimensions” query for tyres has no catalogue answer here. Tank: 55 L on 4.8 MT and 4.8 AT; not measured on generation 1.
Performance and mpg
0–100 km/h:
- 4.8 MT: 4.5 s
- 3.6 MT (193 hp): 5.6 s
- 4.0 MT: 5.6 s
- 4.8 AT: not measured
- 3.6 MT (157 hp): not measured
4.8 MT is 1.1 s quicker than the two measured first-generation cars.
Top speed:
- 4.8 MT: 249 km/h
- 4.0 MT: 210 km/h
- 3.6 MT (193 hp): 200 km/h
- 4.8 AT and 3.6 MT (157 hp): not measured
4.8 MT is 39 km/h above 4.0 MT and 49 km/h above 3.6 MT (193 hp).
Fuel (L/100 km), only generation 2:
| Version | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 MT | 16.5 | 8.7 | 12.1 |
| 4.8 AT | 16.4 | 7.9 | 11.0 |
| All gen-1 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured |
4.8 AT uses 0.1 less in the city, 0.8 less on the highway, and 1.1 less combined than 4.8 MT. On a 55 L tank, combined range is 55 / 12.1 × 100 ≈ 455 km for 4.8 MT and 55 / 11.0 × 100 ≈ 500 km for 4.8 AT — about 45 km more for the Automatic if combined figures hold. Generation 1 mpg is not measured; do not treat a blank as “no consumption.” Fuel grade 98 is stated only for the 4.8 pair; generation 1 fuel grade is not measured.
CO₂ and eco class are not measured on all five versions.
4.8 MT vs 4.8 AT
Same engine on paper: 368 hp at 6300, 502 Nm at 3400, 4799 cm³, Gasoline, 8 V-shaped, No boost, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, longitudinal, multi-point, compression 10, 92 × 82.7, fuel 98, 6 speeds, RWD, 55 L, 150 mm, Independent, spring front, Ventilated disc front.
The measured difference is the gearbox and fuel. 4.8 MT is the only 2012–2018 line with a timed 4.5 s and 249 km/h and a 1220 kg kerb. 4.8 AT is the thriftier 6-speed Automatic on the same displacement, but performance and weight are not measured, so you cannot claim it is slower, faster, heavier, or lighter — only that it uses less fuel in the three stated cycles.
Buy 4.8 MT if the decision needs a 0–100 and top-speed number. Buy 4.8 AT if the decision is mpg on the 4.8 engine and you accept missing acceleration, top speed, and kerb.
First generation: two 3.6 MT lines and 4.0 MT
3.6 MT (157 hp) is the lowest-power Plus 8 in the file: 157 hp / 115 kW, 3547 cm³, Carburetor, 5-speed Manual, RWD, 140 mm, bore × stroke 94 × 71.12. Torque, 0–100, top speed, kerb, tank, and mpg are not measured. It is the only Carburetor line. Choose it only if that feed and the 157 hp figure are the point; it cannot be compared on speed or weight.
3.6 MT (193 hp) versus 3.6 MT (157 hp): same 3547 cm³, same 8 V-shaped, No boost, Manual 5, RWD, 140 mm, same bore × stroke. The 193 hp line adds 36 hp and 27 kW, states 298 Nm at 4000, 5.6 s, 200 km/h, 940 kg kerb, 1200 kg gross, compression 9.75. Feed on the 193 hp line is not measured (not Carburetor in the data).
4.0 MT versus 3.6 MT (193 hp): both 940 kg / 1200 kg, both 5.6 s, both Manual 5 RWD, both 140 mm. 4.0 MT has 3947 cm³ (+400 cm³), 189 hp (−4 hp), 312 Nm at 2600 (+14 Nm, −1400 rpm), 210 km/h (+10 km/h), compression 9.35 versus 9.75, and Front, longitudinal stated (not measured on the 3.6 pair). Specific output is lower (47.9 vs 54.4 hp/L). Buy 3.6 MT (193 hp) for peak hp and hp/L on a 3547 cm³ block; buy 4.0 MT for earlier torque and the 210 km/h figure.
Bore × stroke is 94 × 71.12 on all three generation-1 engines and 92 × 82.7 on both 4.8 engines.
Reliability, problems, parts — what the data does not measure
Searches for problems, reliability, starter motor, engine oil, hardtop, GTR, BMW engine, Plus 4 vs Plus 8, Roadster vs Plus 8, and sale/price have no figures in this dataset. Those topics are not measured here. What is measured: No boost on every version; generation 2 names Ventilated disc fronts and 4 valves per cylinder; generation 1 names Disc fronts and leaves valves per cylinder not measured.
Which version to choose
1. Need a measured 4.5 s and 249 km/h, and the lowest kg/hp (3.32). 4.8 MT (2012–2018). It is 175 hp above the strongest 1968–2000 line and 1.1 s quicker than the 5.6 s pair, at +280 kg kerb versus 940 kg.
2. Need the 368 hp 4.8 with the lowest stated combined consumption (11.0 vs 12.1). 4.8 AT. Do not assign it a 0–100, top speed, or kerb — those are not measured.
3. Need 940 kg and a 5-speed Manual with timed performance. 3.6 MT (193 hp) or 4.0 MT. Same 5.6 s and same weights. Take 3.6 MT (193 hp) for 193 hp and 54.4 hp/L; take 4.0 MT for 312 Nm at 2600 and 210 km/h.
4. Need the Carburetor 3547 cm³ line. Only 3.6 MT (157 hp). Treat speed, torque, and weight as not measured.
5. Clearance. 150 mm on both 4.8 versions; 140 mm on all three generation-1 versions.
There is no measured Plus 8 GTR, Plus 4, Plus 6, or Roadster in this file, so those comparisons stop at the Plus 8 versions above. Version names are exactly 4.8 MT, 4.8 AT, 3.6 MT, 3.6 MT, and 4.0 MT — the two 3.6 MT entries are the 157 hp and 193 hp cars.