Morgan have just unveiled their latest creation, once again partnering with Italian design consultancy Pininfarina. The Midsummer Coupé is a demonstration of the new chapter the Malvern-based company is entering into - coachbuilding.

The Midsummer is no new name to the Morgan line-up. It was first used on the original collaboration with Pininfarina, the Barchetta, which was limited to just 50 examples. The new Coupé takes that even further, with only nine customer cars being produced worldwide.

The project first came about during a conversation with a client in 2024, shortly after the Barchetta launched, around the idea of creating a coupé version of the car. Rather than simply placing a roof on the existing design, the team at Morgan's Design and Engineering Centre (MDEC) saw this as an opportunity to explore the evolution of what the Midsummer could become, if taken further. The result was good enough that Morgan decided to extend the project to a further eight customer cars beyond the original singular plan.

Whilst you might think that the two versions of the Midsummer look very similar, there has been a needed shift in proportions brought about by the introduction of a fixed-head architecture. A glass canopy over the roof not only changes how the silhouette reads but creates a sense that it belongs on the car, rather than being something added on top.

This has not been designed purely for visual reasons either. Morgan's design and engineering team have been very deliberate in making their vehicles genuinely weatherproof and useable on a daily basis. The Midsummer Coupé features further integration of weather sealing and climate control, offering Morgan customers a new level of function and practicality that has not been available before at this level. Morgan have been following the idea of practicality since unveiling the Supersport, which has a rear boot, and which was a groundbreaking feature on a Morgan.

One of the more talked about interior updates is the new bespoke aluminium gear selector, which made its debut on the Supersport 400 and is carried over into the Coupé. The previous shifter was a standard BMW ZF unit and received a fair amount of criticism, not because it was a bad piece of design, but because it felt out of place in a car that was otherwise so thought out and handcrafted in its idea. Developing a replacement is not an inexpensive task, but if it improves the overall experience and coherence of the interior then it is absolutely worth it.

Wood remains a fundamental part of what a Morgan is, and it is worth taking a moment to address a misconception that follows the brand around. The chassis is not wooden and never has been. Ash has traditionally been used to construct the body frame onto which the metal panels are formed. This frame allows for an even transfer of loads across the structure and also provides a genuine acoustic benefit, something that contributes to the particular character of driving a Morgan that is difficult to replicate through other means.

The Midsummer Coupé is an important step forward for Morgan. It has shown that the company is able to take on and deliver highly individual special commissions that stay true to the brand's DNA, whilst continuing to run a standard production lineup of the Plus Four, Super 3 and Supersport. It would not surprise me at all if we see in the coming years a Morgan special operations division focused entirely on individual commissions, in the same way McLaren approaches their MSO programme. The Coupé also represents a journey of progress from the original Midsummer whilst offering a glimpse at what can be expected from Morgan in the future.

As someone who was privileged to drive a Barchetta version of the Midsummer late last year, I can tell you that this vehicle is an extraordinary piece of hand-built craft. The way it engages you, the quality of every surface, and the sense that real people with real skill put it together are all immediately apparent from behind the wheel. Having also spent time working around Morgan, I can tell you that the team in Malvern are entirely focused on making their vehicles as authentic and as perfect as they can be. The Midsummer Coupé is very much a picture of that ethos.

Article by Michael Atkins

Michael is an undergraduate student in Automotive & Transport Design at Coventry University with experience in both automotive and superyacht industries. He has previously completed work experience at Morgan Motor Company, developing two concept vehicles.