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Morgan's $120,000 Plus 8 Speedster brings the 1940s to today

Morgan's $120,000 Plus 8 Speedster brings the 1940s to today

When you think of Britain, many things spring to mind — Monty Python, James Bond, rain, bad teeth and more rain. From an automotive perspective, the most quintessentially British brand (even though it's now technically Indian) would likely be Jaguar, or maybe even Rolls Royce (now German). But there is one little automaker that embodies everything Britain does best, only usually, it's a bit of an afterthought: The Morgan Motor Company.

The small carmaker from Malvern, England, founded by Mr. Morgan back in 1910, has a new car in its model lineup. And in true Morgan fashion, it looks like it's from the 1940s — only quite a lot faster and costs nearly $120,000.

To celebrate the company's 100th year at its Pickersleigh Road factory, Morgan has released the Plus 8 Speedster. Fans of the brand will know that the Plus 8 has been a featured model for around 50 years, but a speedster version, well, that just makes it better.

Power derives from a 4.8-liter V-8 sourced from BMW, good for 367 hp. Those with a brain will choose the 6-speed manual transmission, while those without will opt for an automatic. Zero to 60 mph takes just 4.2 seconds, and thanks to government restrictions, the fun ceases at 148 mph. According to the wee automaker, more information and pictures will be released in the coming weeks.

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Morgan adopts the retro-cool philosophy in everything it does. What separates it from much of the competition, and what's helped Morgan last for over 100 years, is that in their case, it's believable. It makes cars with modern technology maintain the flavor of a vintage machine. It ensures there's an inherent soul — something lacking in most modern vehicles. And it manages all this without seeming to try very hard.

Stickering for over $117,000, there's no doubt the Plus 8 Speedster is pricey, but considering what you get, if you have the money, it's a relative bargain. When it goes on sale this summer, true car enthusiasts should be striving for one. Because in a world of hipsters, it's hard to go retro and stay classy.