The U.S. market will see the return of Morgan’s Plus Four model in early 2025 after receiving federal approval. This marks the first time in nearly two decades that a four-wheeled Morgan will be available in the States.
The Plus Four will be priced at $84,995, which may seem steep for a car with an inline-four engine and dimensions smaller than a Mazda MX-5 Miata. However, it can be viewed as one of the most affordable handbuilt vehicles in the world, with each car featuring hand-formed aluminum bodywork on a hand-cut ash timber frame.
Additionally, its exclusivity adds appeal, as Morgan’s network of 12 U.S. dealers will be limited to selling no more than 325 units annually, thanks to the replica car provisions in the FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation).
Morgan has made history as the first automaker to successfully pass the complex process of getting a modern version of an older car approved for U.S. sale. This achievement allowed the Plus Four to bypass many modern safety regulations, which would have been prohibitively expensive for the company to meet.
However, Morgan still had to develop a new onboard diagnostics system for the BMW-sourced 2.0-liter engine to comply with California Air Resources Board standards.
With that hurdle cleared, the Plus Four will now join the Super 3 tricycle in Morgan’s U.S. lineup, which is imported under motorcycle standards. The question now is whether other modernized versions of classic cars from non-American manufacturers will follow in its footsteps.