Morgan, the British expert in handcrafted, retro-inspired vehicles, has shown a glimpse of its electric future in the shape of the XP-1. It is based on the Super 3 model and features Morgan’s first self-developed powertrain, weighing less than 700 kg. But a production version isn’t on the cards.

Morgan is usually an expert on looking back rather than ahead, but this isn’t the first time it has ventured into electric mobility. In 2015, the British craftsman manufacturer introduced the EV3, a 3-wheeler that swapped its V-twin engine for a Frazer-Nash electric drivetrain, a project that failed because of supply issues.

First Morgan powertrain

Now, Morgan has learned from its mistakes with the XP-1. It’s still based on the Super 3, the successor of the 3-Wheeler, but features Morgan’s very first in-house developed powertrain (the Super 3 uses a Ford engine, the rest of the range gets BMW power). The idea was simple: retain the pure driving experience and low weight but with an electric powertrain.

And it seems Morgan has achieved its goals, as the XP-1 tips the scales at just under 700 kilos, which is only a 60 kg penalty compared to the Super 3. Power comes from a 100 kW (136 hp) motor that drives the rear wheel, while a 33 kWh battery offers around 250 km of “cruising range”.

No production plans

The Super 3’s body has also been adapted to improve aerodynamics. A smoother floor and wheel covers help the XP-1 achieve a drag coefficient of 0,42 Cd (a 33% improvement compared to the Super 3’s 0,65 Cd). On the inside, a digital infotainment system was fitted to display all necessary info, while an experimental Sennheiser audio system uses the entire chassis as a sound box.

However, Morgan does not seem keen to enter the XP-1 into production. It will cover a testing program of 18-24 months to improve Morgan’s knowledge on the subject, but an electric Morgan will only be sold once customer demand becomes high enough. Morgan says the cost should not be much higher than the regular Super 3, which costs around €70 000 in Belgium.