Morgan has previewed a concept car named XP1 for ‘eXperimental Prototype No. 1’. It shares the chassis with the Super 3 (see video) and will not reach production, instead serving as a tech study for the British automaker as it is inching closer to the EV era. The tests are expected to go on for a few years.
The test vehicle no longer contains any ICE car parts – they have been replaced with electric components. The electric motor rated at 136 PS (134 hp / 100 kW) sits inside the transmission tunnel and drives the single wheel at the rear, while a 33-kWh battery pack lies concealed under the hood. Once fully charged, the XP1 has 240 km (149 miles) of range under optimal condition.
Compared to the trike it’s based upon, the study has a revised front end and reshaped fenders, as well as some underbody plating. As a result, its drag ratio goes from 0.65 down to a solid 0.42. The suspension has also been redesigned with new shock absorbers to better balance the electric powertrain.
Inside, the XP1 features a special dashboard serving as a separate test object. Morgan plans to use it to explore the various UI design opportunities until it comes up with the most driver-friendly solution.
According to the company, its goal is to get a good idea of what its mass-produced electric vehicles should be like. They must retain the unique Morgan DNA as the marque makes the difficult switch to new energy sources.
