Morgan Supersport 400 Unleashed: A 1950s Beauty With 400 Horses Under the Hood
Morgan has just pulled back the curtain on its most powerful creation ever, and it’s a car that looks like it rolled straight out of a black-and-white photograph from the 1950s. The Morgan Supersport 400 blends old-school charm with genuinely modern firepower, borrowing a proven BMW engine to deliver 400 horsepower in a body that feels delightfully out of time. The result is a car that’s both a nostalgic love letter and a serious performance machine.
The Morgan Supersport 400: Where Vintage Meets Ferocious
At first glance, the Morgan Supersport 400 feels like it belongs in a sepia-toned photograph, winding along a coastal road with a gentleman driver in leather gloves behind the wheel. But under that timeless silhouette sits a powertrain pulled straight from one of today’s most respected performance cars. It’s a fascinating contradiction, and that’s exactly what makes this Morgan so special.
Morgan has placed the Supersport 400 at the top of its Supersport lineup, positioning it as the ultimate expression of what the brand can achieve. Built on the lightweight CXV-Generation bonded-aluminum platform, the car is engineered for high torsional rigidity, which gives it a sharp, responsive feel that many heavier sports cars simply can’t match.
BMW Power Meets British Craftsmanship
The heart of the Supersport 400 is BMW’s legendary B58 O1 inline-six turbocharged engine. If that setup sounds familiar, it should. This is the same engine that powers the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra, two cars that have earned strong reputations for their blend of performance and character.
In the Morgan, this engine produces 402 horsepower (408 metric horsepower), a notable jump over the 335 horsepower found in the standard Supersport. Torque sits at 369 pound-feet (500 Newton meters), matching the output of the BMW Z4 M40i exactly.
The numbers are seriously impressive:
- 0 to 62 mph in just 3.6 seconds
- Top speed of 180 mph
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
Interestingly, the Supersport 400 actually outperforms the Z4 M40i that shares its engine. The Z4 manages 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, a full three-tenths slower. Credit the Morgan’s lighter construction for that extra edge.
A Car Built with Purpose
Matthew Hole, Managing Director for Morgan Motor Company, describes the Supersport 400 as the purest expression of the Supersport idea. The goal, according to him, was to unlock more of what the CXV platform could offer while still creating something beautiful and engaging to drive.
That philosophy shows throughout the car. From the very beginning, Morgan wanted the Supersport 400 to feel sharper and more deliberate than anything it had built before. Power delivery is meant to feel balanced, intuitive, and genuinely rewarding, the kind of car that makes you want to invent excuses to go for a drive.
Sharper Design, Thoughtful Details
While the overall shape keeps that unmistakable Morgan heritage, there are several meaningful refinements on the Supersport 400. New front wing vents improve airflow and cooling, while revised lower bodywork finishes give the car a more confident, grounded stance.
The Dynamic Handling Package comes standard and includes:
- Nitron dampers with 24 clicks of damping adjustment
- Revised suspension geometry tailored to this model
- Model-specific performance calibration
Buyers who want to push things even further can option a limited-slip differential for better traction and stability, or add the new high-flow Active Performance Exhaust System, which was developed specifically for the Supersport 400.
Pricing: Premium Territory
This is not a budget sports car. In its home market of the United Kingdom, the Morgan Supersport 400 starts at 112,965 pounds, which converts to roughly $152,105. That’s more than twice the price of the BMW Z4 M40i, which starts at $68,400, and it puts the Morgan right in the same neighborhood as the Porsche 911 Carrera S at $156,200.
Of course, once you start ticking option boxes, the price climbs quickly. Even choosing a paint color adds to the bill. Morgan has introduced four new satin paint finishes for this model:
- Forged Grey
- Silk Silver
- Sail Silver
- Horizon Blue
Each one costs an extra 946 pounds, or about $1,275.
Wheels, Interior, and Personal Touches
Morgan gives buyers a playground of choices when it comes to personalization. For wheels, you can go with either silver or bronze-finished 19-inch Sportlite wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. If you want something even more exclusive, 19-inch forged Aerolite wheels are available in silver or anthracite for an additional 2,985 pounds, or about $4,020.
Inside, the Supersport 400’s cabin is remarkably customizable. Owners can choose upholstery type, color, and contrast stitching. Altancatar leather is offered for the seats, door panels, and steering wheel, and buyers can specify the material and color for the dashboard and center console.
For the first time, Morgan is also offering an aluminum gear selector as an option for those who want something more distinctive than the standard shifter. That upgrade adds 1,741 pounds, or roughly $2,344.
The dials on the dashboard, supplied by Caerbont, maintain a classic analog appearance while actually using modern CAN and LIN communication technology behind the scenes. It’s a clever way to keep the vintage vibe alive without sacrificing modern functionality.
Tops, Graphics, and Final Touches
Because this is a Morgan, the convertible top is a big part of the personality. Buyers can choose from six different options. The most elaborate is the Hard Top in Sophisto Grey Gloss, combined with a Black Mohair Hood, which alone costs 6,835 pounds, or about $9,203.
Additional personalization options include:
- Racing stripes or Coral and Silver side sill graphics
- The Dark accent pack for 1,238 pounds ($1,667)
- Paint protection for 1,866 pounds ($2,513)
These touches can push the final price well beyond $150,000, turning the Supersport 400 into a truly bespoke creation.
Handcrafted at Pickersleigh Road
Every single Supersport 400 will be coach-built at Pickersleigh Road in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, England, the historic home of Morgan Motor Company. The brand proudly states that no two examples will be identical, thanks to the wide range of customization options.
Production is scheduled to begin in May, with the first examples expected to be delivered to their new owners in the fall.
Why the Supersport 400 Stands Out
In a world full of cookie-cutter sports cars that chase lap times and social media metrics, the Morgan Supersport 400 feels refreshingly human. It’s not trying to out-tech a Tesla or out-muscle a hypercar. Instead, it focuses on craftsmanship, personality, and the pure joy of driving something that feels unlike anything else on the road.
For buyers who already have a Porsche 911 in the garage and want something with more character, or collectors who appreciate cars that blur the line between art and machine, the Supersport 400 makes a compelling case.
Final Thoughts
The Morgan Supersport 400 is a beautifully strange machine in the best possible way. It combines a modern BMW inline-six with a chassis philosophy rooted in British tradition, all wrapped in bodywork that looks like a love letter to the golden era of sports cars. It’s fast, it’s expensive, and it’s stunning from just about every angle.
With production starting in May and deliveries expected in the fall, the Supersport 400 won’t be a common sight on the road. But that’s kind of the point. This isn’t a car built for everyone. It’s built for the few who want their 400 horsepower served with a side of heritage, craftsmanship, and personality.
If Morgan’s goal was to create something that makes you want to wake up early just to go for a drive, mission accomplished.