The Morgan Supersport is finally arriving in the United States. But don’t celebrate just yet.
The six-cylinder model? Not here. Not now.
If you’re waiting for that specific machine, you’ll have to keep waiting. The American market is getting the 2.0-liter turbo version. It’s faster than a Plus Four. It looks sharper. But it isn’t the full package European buyers get.
Morgan has expanded its US lineup. They already have the Super 3 and the Plus Four. Now add the Supersport to the shelf. It is their feistiest car. They market it as a blend of cutting-edge tech and old-world craft. Sounds great on paper. There is a catch though. It is regulatory, not mechanical.
Why the Morgan Supersport Has a Four-Cylinder in the US
Here is how Morgan legally sells cars here. They use the FAST Act.
This law allows niche manufacturers to sell up to 325 cars per year if those cars look like vehicles from 25+ years ago. It helps small replica companies stay alive. Morgan isn’t really a restomod shop, but the Plus Four and Super 3 pass the vibe check. They look like cars Bertie Wooster might drive.
The Supersport fits this visual niche. It has a retro stance. Even with a carbon fiber hood, it reads as a throwback. But under that tweed-inspired exterior?
Totally modern engineering.
An all-aluminum chassis. Ash wood frame for the body structure. Aluminum bodywork layered on top. It is handmade. Somewhere between pre-war coachbuilding and building a Spitfire. It is light. Very stiff. And incredibly expensive to make.
So why the weaker engine for us?
Over in Europe, the Supersport uses a BMW 3.0-liter turbo inline-six. That motor pushes out 340 hp. You can bump it to 400 hp if you want. Combined with a curb weight just over 2,500 pounds? That is serious performance. It silences the jokes about 1930 styling instantly.
Here? We get the Plus Four engine.
It is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder (note: source says 2.0 but Plus Four historically uses the N20/N25 family often referred to loosely or specifically depending on model year, but the source text explicitly states 2.0-liter ). We will stick to the text’s claim: a turbocharged 2.0-liter BMW engine.
It makes 255 hp.
Is that slow? No. The car weighs about the same as a hardtop Mazda Miata. You can tear up backroads with this thing. But 255 is not 400. The US Spec is an evolution, not the peak.
What Makes the Morgan Supersport Faster Than a Plus Four?
If you aren’t impressed by the lack of cylinders, look at the chassis tweaks.
Morgan sharpened the Supersport. Hard.
- Steering ratio is 14 percent quicker.
- Suspension is firmer.
- Bodywork is more aerodynamic.
You can also buy a handling package. This adds adjustable dampers, lightweight wheels (18 or 19-inch), and that carbon hood. The car feels lighter than it is. The aluminum chassis keeps mass down. The ash wood frame keeps weight distribution classic.
It drives like a go-kart dressed in a tailcoat.
“It’s all handmade somewhere between prewar经典 classic coachbuilding and postwar propeller-plane construction.”
That sentence is key. This isn’t just a car. It’s an artifact that moves fast.
Price and Customization Options for US Buyers
The starting price is $119,995.
Cheap? Not really. A BMW Z4 four-cylinder is half that cost. But the Z4 is not hand-built in Malvern Link. You cannot compare them directly. You aren’t buying transportation. You are buying a statement.
Customization is where Morgan shines. Because everything is handmade, they bend over backward for buyer wishes. Want a composite roof? Sure. Walnut interior trim? Yes.
You pick your poison. You get your dream car. It just doesn’t have the biggest engine available in the brand.
So why did they send the four-cylinder version first?
Maybe logistics. Maybe demand predictions. Or maybe the FAST Act limits make them cautious about introducing high-output models into this niche loophole. We don’t know for sure.
All we know is that US buyers have three choices now. Super 3, Plus Four, and Supersport (four-pot version). It’s better than nothing. But Anglophiles in New York and Los Angeles are likely sighing into their morning coffee.
They wanted a Spitfire engine. They got a roadster variant instead.
Will Morgan ever send the inline-six stateside? Maybe. Maybe not. For now, 255 hp will have to do.
