Morgan Motor Company is setting the stage for its electric future by revealing details about a new vehicle in development that will serve as a precursor to all future electric sports cars from Morgan.
Known as “XP-1,” the experimental prototype will provide key insights to Morgan’s engineers and designers as they embark on creating the company’s first electric production models.
“We are immensely proud to share XP-1 with the world and showcase some of the first-class engineering taking place behind the scenes at Morgan,” says Matt Hole, Chief Engineer at Morgan Motor Company.
“As we embark on our electric journey, this prototype will become a focal point of the engineering and design process, providing a wealth of insights and helping develop our in-house electric vehicle capabilities,” he adds.
Developed over the past 12 months by Morgan’s engineering team based in Malvern, Worcestershire, XP-1 is built on the Super 3 aluminum platform.
The striking prototype is not intended for production but has been created to enhance thinking in various key areas, including driving characterization, powertrain development, internal electric vehicle competency and training, and ideation and testing of new features.
After 12 months of design and construction, XP-1 will now undergo a comprehensive testing program over the next 18 to 24 months, experiencing continuous evolution to test new technologies and features.
“We have no doubt that we can ensure future Morgan electric sports cars retain the core appeal of our current range, meaning they are fun to drive, lightweight, handcrafted, and bespoke. We will be relentless in our pursuit of preserving these features for our customers for generations to come,” states Hole.
“As XP-1 is not tied to a product, it gives our audience the unique ability to join us during this exciting learning phase, and we look forward to sharing future updates in the coming months,” he adds.
The combination of the battery, motor, and inverter in XP-1 represents Morgan’s first internal combustion or battery electric propulsion system.
Specifically designed for XP-1, the powertrain gives Morgan engineers full control over calibrations varying acceleration and regeneration levels at different speeds, creating a range of driving modes with a combination of driving features.
To assist in identifying suitable component combinations for the powertrain, both for XP-1 and Morgan’s future electric models, a comprehensive in-house vehicle toolchain has been created.
This toolchain is key to modeling the compatibility and suitability of various powertrain components, calculating the range prediction algorithm, and simulating different scenarios to help the company compare with future requirements.
Ensuring that future Morgan electric sports cars are lightweight, as they have been throughout the company’s 114-year history, is a key requirement.
This weight requirement is pivotal in the company’s decision to create its own powertrain combination, working with key partners and using industry-leading components. As such, XP-1’s weight is comparable to that of the production car on which it is based.
XP-1 features a Combined Charging System (CCS) enabled for fast charging and has bidirectional charging capability, two crucial features that will help prepare for the ongoing development activity of the company’s future.
In addition to this, and directly related to electric vehicle requirements, XP-1 is also the first Morgan equipped with an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB).
Beyond experimentation with driving features and the powertrain, XP-1 has also allowed Morgan to develop a deeper understanding of electric vehicle technology and design, specifically aerodynamics.
XP-1 introduces aerodynamic improvements at the front to increase range and efficiency; these experimental modifications have resulted in a 33% reduction in the coefficient of resistance.
A custom interior display allows experimentation with the user interface (UI).
The XP-1’s display will evolve continually, enabling engineers and designers to gather feedback on how users interact with the vehicle and the best way to communicate key vehicle information in future sports cars.
Other experimental features include external LED charge level indicators surrounding the front hood and new aerodynamic wheel covers.
To bring the XP-1 project to life, Morgan also begins the extensive process of workforce training and infrastructure adaptation.
Due to the company’s body production methods, creating this internal knowledge base is vital for the future production of Morgan electric sports cars and will focus on preparing the workshop to build electric vehicles, training for handling high-voltage systems, and installing charging infrastructure.
XP-1 continues Morgan’s fundamental principle of developing cars with a pure driving experience. As XP-1 evolves, so will its story.
As a showcase prototype, it will become a visible project accompanying the Morgan community on the company’s electrification journey.
Sports car enthusiasts can expect periodic updates and see the vehicle appear at events, both at the Morgan factory and elsewhere.
