Morgan and Pininfarina have joined forces to create an exclusive barchetta-bodied sports car called the Midsummer. This limited-edition model is a celebration of the two companies’ combined 200 years of coachbuilding expertise. The Midsummer is based on Morgan’s existing Plus Six model but features a magnificent new hand-formed body designed by both Pininfarina and Morgan’s design teams.
The Midsummer is named after Midsummer Hill, which is part of the Malvern Hills that overlook Morgan’s Pickersleigh Road factory. Only 50 units of the Midsummer will be produced, and they have already been sold to loyal supporters and friends of the marque. The price of the Midsummer starts at around £200,000, depending on the specifications chosen by owners.
Under the hood, the Midsummer is powered by the same BMW-supplied 335bhp straight-six engine found in the standard Plus Six model. It boasts impressive performance capabilities, with a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 166mph. The production of the 50 Midsummer cars will follow Morgan’s existing process for its Plus models and is expected to be completed by early 2025.
Morgan CEO Massimo Fumarola sees the limited-run specials like the Midsummer as an integral part of the company’s strategy. The Midsummer follows in the footsteps of the Morgan CX-T, which was launched as an “overland adventure” model three years ago. Fumarola believes that these limited-run specials add emphasis to Morgan’s desire to create unique and exclusive vehicles.
One of the key highlights of the Midsummer is its emphasis on traditional coachbuilding skills. Many owners have already visited Morgan’s Malvern Link works to view the prototype and consult with designers to customize their cars’ equipment, color, and trim specifications. The car even features a unique version of the body-side badge that reads ‘Pininfarina Fuoroserie’, indicating its uniqueness and exclusivity.
While the Midsummer shares its relationship with existing Morgans, it features several rethought and redeveloped design elements. The most noticeable change is the use of beautifully sculpted laminated teak moldings that surround the cockpit, adding a distinct interior character and a new exterior profile. Creating these teak laminates is a time-consuming process that takes 30 hours. Additionally, the Midsummer replaces the usual flat windscreen found in Morgans with a pair of lower, more subtle aero screens.
The exterior design of the Midsummer incorporates several changes that maintain its recognizable Morgan identity while adding a fresh touch. The round headlights are larger and now include the indicators and daytime-running lights. The rear lights, exclusively made for Morgan, have been simplified. The radiator features an aero-cheating shroud reminiscent of past Morgan racing cars, and the long bonnet gains redesigned horizontal air extraction louvres by Pininfarina. The front and rear wings have been subtly reshaped to accommodate the larger lights and improve aerodynamics.
The Midsummer’s unique design also includes weight-saving measures to keep its dry weight under 1000kg. Hand-formed stainless steel finishers along the sills add to its coachbuilt class, and the uniquely designed wheels contribute to its overall lightness. One of the standout features of the Midsummer is its elegant barchetta tail, which elongates the car and blends Morgan’s iconic frontal features with a rear style reminiscent of Pininfarina’s greatest cars.
According to Pininfarina’s chief creative officer, Felix Kilbertus, the Midsummer project came about through an immersive collaboration between the two brands. It started with informal discussions between the design teams in an English pub and progressed to more specific meetings in Italy. Morgan’s design chief, Jonathan Wells, was impressed by Pininfarina’s digital tools and collaboration spaces, which sparked the idea of a joint project. The result is the Midsummer, a car that establishes design foundations for future Morgan models.
In conclusion, the Morgan Midsummer is a testament to the craftsmanship and collaboration between Morgan and Pininfarina. This exclusive sports car combines the best of both worlds, with Morgan’s heritage and traditional coachbuilding skills blended with Pininfarina’s innovative design approach. The Midsummer’s limited production run and unique design elements make it a highly sought-after model among enthusiasts and collectors. With its timeless elegance and performance capabilities, the Midsummer sets the stage for future Morgan models that will continue to push boundaries and captivate automotive enthusiasts worldwide.