Morgan unveils XP-1 prototype as test bed for electric technology

Published by

Peter Davison

The Morgan XP-1

Car maker Morgan has unveiled a prototype it will use as a test bed for electric technology.

The Malvern-based company says the three-wheeler – a battery-powered version of the Super 3 - will not go into production.

Instead, its engineers will test the prototype for between 18 months and two years.

Morgan Motor Company appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

The XP-1 is powered by Morgan's self-designed drivetrain - normally, its cars are built using engines sourced from other manufacturers.

Matt Hole, Chief Technical Officer, said: "We are immensely proud to be sharing XP-1 with the world and showcasing some of the first-class engineering that takes place behind the scenes at Morgan.

"As we embark on our electric journey, this prototype will become a focal point of the engineering and design process, providing a wealth of insight and helping to build up our in-house EV capability.

Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county

"We are in no doubt that we can ensure future electric Morgan 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 characteristics for our customers for generations to come.

"Because it is not tied to a product, XP-1 provides the unique ability for our audience to join us throughout this exciting learning phase, and we look forward to sharing future updates over the coming months.”

Peter Davison

Peter Davison is deputy editor of The Business Magazine. He has spent his life in journalism – doing work experience in newsrooms in and around Bristol while still at school, and landing his first job on a local newspaper aged 19. By 28 he was the youngest newspaper editor in the country. An early advocate of online news, he spent the first years of the 2000s telling his bosses that the internet posed both the biggest opportunity and greatest threat to the newspaper industry and the art of journalism. He was right on both counts. Since 2006 he has enjoyed a career as a freelance journalist. He lives in rural Wiltshire with one wife, two children, and three cats.