Morgan reveals limited run Midsummer Coupé

As if the Morgan Midsummer was not pretty enough, the team in Malvern has created a series of coupe versions for nine lucky clients. Those recipients have another customer to thank for the vision of a fixed-head Midsummer Coupé.

Alongside Pininfarina once more, Morgan was more than happy to take on the challenge and has painstakingly handcrafted the initial prototype dubbed the “artist’s proof”. It is even rarer than the original ‘barchetta’ Midsummer which boasts 50 units. Design was led by usual by Jonathan Wells and his compact yet potent team.

The fixed head version retains the flowing sculptural lines of the original but introduces a long sweeping roofline that tapers to a point almost to the very base of the rear bumper. The DLO is extensive with side windows and windscreen supported by a panoramic roof and rear window, bisected by a delicate metal spine through the centre. The rear diffuser features an oval cut out section that houses two discrete peashooter tailpipes, which further down the line connect to a six cylinder, turbocharged BMW engine.

Compared to the monoblock-style wheels of the original Midsummer, the new design is much busier and Morgan indeed describes them as “the most intricate to date.” At 19” they are comparatively small against modern standards but fill the arches and frame the body very nicely indeed. The multi-spoke design (30 of them!) will no doubt draw comparison to Alpina’s, but that is the highest of compliments.

Materiality is to a level that one would of expect from a limited-run commission from Morgan, although we suspect trim may differ for each client. 

With this prototype we can see a heady mix of real wood, leather and metal which combine brilliantly for a neo-retro aesthetic. CMF designer Libby Carpenter has previously described these three materials are “right for the job” but is also exploring more exotic alternatives.

The parking brake handle is a work of art, a hand-turned piece of teak formed of numerous laminations layered together, capped with metal at either end and a stitched leather gaitor. 

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed a new gear shifter, something that usually remains untouched when utilising a ZF transmission due to the complexity of re-homologating an in-house alternative.

All together, there is a strong nautical vibe to the interior in line with a day yacht or Riva cruiser. For anyone who has seen the side profile of a Morgan in sketch form, removing the wheels does indeed give the appearance of a water-going craft as much as it does a car. 

Chief design officer Wells describes the Midsummer Coupé as “the culmination of an extraordinary creative journey” and “one of the most ambitious and rewarding projects we’ve ever undertaken.” 

He also applauds the “remarkable” collaboration with Pininfarina once more, and certainly from a purists point of view, it is always a pleasure to see two industry greats coming together in the name of automotive beauty.

Now, do we spy some similarities with the hypothetical Morgan coupe that head of design Jonathan Wells sketched for us earlier this year?