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"         I owe Charles Morgan an apology. Here I am, a dedicated Morganist of the highest order. Here&amp;#039;s Morgan introducing a radically new model (depending on how you count them, maybe only the fourth new model since 1910). And all I&amp;#039;ve done is carp about the .   My enlightenment comes through Bill Fink (of Isis Imports Ltd., P.O. Box 2290, Gateway Station, San Francisco, Calif. 94126; [415] 433-1344; isis@morgancars-usa.com). Bill has been custodian of what&amp;#039;s likely the only Morgan Aero 8 in the country, and he was kind enough to offer it to me.   I hasten to add that this First Drive has aspects of prematurity. An official U.S. Aero 8, at perhaps $90,000, won&amp;#039;t appear until 2004 at the earliest. Continuing even then is the Plus 8, currently $61,000 and a perfectly nice Morgan not terribly different from my own 1965 Plus Four 4-Passenger Family Tourer. Or a 1936 4/4.   But here is the Aero 8 now, and I got to drive it.   Truth is, the car looks better than its photos. I admire the Aero 8&amp;#039;s profile, don&amp;#039;t mind the rear and really like the direct head-on front view. It&amp;#039;s only from front three-quarters that those oddly contoured headlights look goofy to me. I wonder if smaller pencil-beams would be better? I wonder if anyone within 200 miles of Pickersleigh Road, Malvern Link, Worcs., supplies them?   The best view is from the Aero 8 cockpit. There&amp;#039;s a classic bonnet and sweeping fender shapes that are most wing-like (even if the Brits hadn&amp;#039;t called them such). The cockpit is a bit on the snug side for the likes of me; this, because of reduced width and high doors. There&amp;#039;s a mixture of old and new, engine-turned dash and center console, lots of leather panels and even a touch of wood.   The chassis beneath is a far cry from Morgan&amp;#039;s traditional Belgian ash superstructure perched atop a willowy ladder frame (though, in fact, some ash is still in evidence). Famed Morganist Chris Lawrence had a hand in Aero 8 development, essentially an evolution of Charles&amp;#039; FIA GT2 race car. The CAD-formulated chassis is of Alcan aluminum. Its panels and extrusions are bonded and riveted to yield a torsionally stiff platform for the suspension&amp;#039;s double-A-arms front and rear.   Automakers always seem to cite huge percentage gains in torsional stiffness. Only modesty prevents Morgan from setting an all-time record in this regard.   This robustness translates into a road feel that&amp;#039;s much different from any other Morgan&amp;#039;s. There&amp;#039;s a oneness \u2014 a carved-from-a-block feel. Bill brought along a Plus 8 for a back-to-back comparison. The latter was a lot closer to my 1965 Plus Four in vintage feel.   Somehow, the Plus 8 feels more masculine as well, its Rover V-8 throb of much different character than the Aero 8&amp;#039;s V-8 whir. The Aero 8 is quicker, though. Its 286 bhp and 317 lb.-ft. of torque ensure this.   The Aero 8 is more lithe and refined in its operation as well. The shifter feels like a magnet attracting you from slot to slot in the Getrag 6-speed; no surprise, as this and its fairly long throws are typical BMW. Steering is power-assisted (via GM electric boost); this, in marked contrast to classic Morgan practice of growing hair on your shoulders as you park. There are even electrically actuated side windows, for goodness&amp;#039; sake.   Give up my Plus Four side curtains??   I suppose there were stalwarts who complained in 1936 when Morgan added another wheel in back (hitherto, Moggies had all been trikes).   The Aero 8 ran at Le Mans last year and I was fortunate enough to be there to cheer it on. This was Morgan&amp;#039;s first Le Mans appearance since 1962, when Chris Lawrence brought one home the sole finisher in its class (and, thus, a class winner!).   A valiant effort in 2002, the Aero 8 survived the night, and the car looked \u2014 and sounded \u2014 potent indeed.   So, here&amp;#039;s my apology, Charles: The Aero 8 is radically different. Its styling is controversial. But I certainly enjoyed my drive of this new 21st-century Morgan. And it&amp;#039;s certainly a real Morgan \u2014 one I hope to see perform admirably at Le Mans in 2003. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a9558/morgan-aero-8/>