The latest and fastest traditional Morgan, the new Roadster model, is now available for sale in Australia.

Fitted with a 3.0 litre Ford V6 engine, the new Roadster replaces the much loved 4.0 litre Plus 8 model, which has come to the end of its illustrious 35-year production run, due to its engine no longer complying with the latest emissions standards.

The new Roadster is actually more powerful despite its smaller capacity, developing 168 kW, in comparison to the 140 kW of the Plus 8. This extra power enables the Roadster to sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, in comparison to the 6.0 seconds taken by the Plus 8.

Like the Plus 8, the Roadster has a light kerb weight of only 940 kg, as befits a proper sports car.

As you would expect, it is fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission, now sourced from Ford/Jaguar, unlike the Land-Rover Discovery unit fitted previously.

In appearance, the car is very similar to the last of the Plus 8 models, the Anniversary, but the front wings and headlight treatment is unique to the Roadster. At first glance the frontal appearance is very similar to that of the 4/4, whereby the headlight cowlings blend into the fenders.

Like the new style set with the Anniversary model, all traditional Morgan models now come with overriders as standard, with bumpers becoming optional. This endows the cars with a sportier look, reflecting more the appearance of TOK 258, the very famous Morgan raced by Chris Lawrence with so much success in the sixties.

The new Morgan Roadster

Importantly, the new Roadster shares the new “20-second” soft-top arrangement first introduced on the Plus 8 Anniversary model last year. This new design is not only very easy to use, but with the new cant rails, much improved sealing to the sidescreens is achieved.

This makes for a snug and cosy cockpit when the weather equipment is fitted and also helps a new innovation for summer, the optional air-conditioning!

As before, all Australian cars come as standard with a number of features, not found on Morgans imported during the previous century. These features include:

Twin airbags

Side intrusion bars in the doors

Galvanized steel chassis

Full aluminium body, including the scuttle

Clear underseal

New soft-top, with quick release clips and luggage shelf access

Windscreen at a 25-degree angle (versus 20 degrees before)

All Australian cars are also fitted with the beautiful polished Walnut dash and an electrically heated windscreen, for rapid and easy demisting.

The traditionally powerful heater is retained, but the optional new air-conditioning is a welcome new feature for the Australian market.

Like the Plus 8, the Roadster is fitted with bolt-on alloy wheels as standard, but the sensational looking 7J stainless steel wire wheels are available as an option.

Likewise most customers will probably choose from the large selection of Yarwood leather trim colours, in preference to the standard black PVC trim.

In similar vein, the most buyers will probably specify the attractive Mohair weather equipment for their “bespoke” Morgan, rather than the standard black PVC.

Other quaint Morgan options remain, such as an organ style accelerator, elasticised door pockets and door handles!

Morgan Cars Australia is now accepting orders for this exciting new Morgan model, which is priced from $134,500.