Morgan And Pininfarina Working On Ultra-Exclusive Coachbuilt Vehicle

Morgan Motor Company has announced an unexpected collaboration with Italian car design firm Pininfarina.

The British automaker didn't say too much about the project. But considering both are esteemed coachbuilders, we could expect a cutting-edge design with distinctive elements. We know it will be a limited run of individual commissions, so expect something zany and extremely expensive like the Bentley Bacalar.

Morgan creates retro-looking sports cars, including the Plus Four and Plus Six. As such, this unnamed coachbuilt project will be something along the same lines. Pininfarina has been around since 1930 and has designed just about anything and everything, including various Ferraris and its automotive arm's products.

While Automobili Pininfarina does make all-electric hypercars like the 1,877-horsepower Battista, we're not expecting the project to go electric. Both the Plus Four and Plus Six are powered by BMW-sourced engines, and we think at least one of those will be the go-to for the powertrain. Now that BMW is willing to share its M engines, it might even be the glorious turbocharged inline-six found in the M2.

Another model in the lineup is the Super 3, a three-wheeler sports car that recently made its way to the US. It's powered by a Ford-sourced engine with 118 hp, perfect for the 1,400-pound curb weight. (That's 1,000 lbs lighter than the Mazda MX-5 Miata).

«Coachbuilding goes to the very essence of creating a car and is something that we have nurtured and protected at Morgan. We have found that to craft by hand and not through automation, and to let the heart of the creator shape a line or an object, is what allows the spirit of our company to shine through,» said Massimo Fumarola, CEO of Morgan Motor Company.

«Coachbuilding is not constrained by trends and borders, as we are discovering through this collaboration. The shared passion between Morgan and Pininfarina is clear, and we look forward to sharing much more with our community in due course.»

The collaborative vehicle project will be unveiled next year. Only limited examples will be delivered to well-heeled customers. It will commemorate Morgan's 115th anniversary.