‘A Thoroughly Modern Sports Car’: Test Driving Morgan’s 2025 Supersport
By
4 hours ago
The car nicknamed ‘Moggie’ meets a real-life feline at one of London finest properties
The pet-friendly Lanesborough is the purrfect pad for the new Morgan Supersport. Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby drive a classic British motor to a landmark hotel.
Test Drive: Morgan Supersport
JT-P: Get away – Moggie is an affectionate term for a Morgan sports car?
JT: Correct. There was even a ‘must-have’ book for owners entitled Moggie: The Purchase, Maintenance and Enjoyment of Morgan Sports Cars.
Hardly flows off the tongue, but that’s another automotive fact to store away for a pub quiz. And we’ve brought the Malvern company’s new Supersport to the capital to meet a namesake?
It seemed only right that we drove the brand’s long-awaited new sports car to The Lanesborough hotel. Lilibet, a Siberian forest cat, has been a highly pampered guest here since 2019.
View this post on Instagram
Fantastic – and obviously named after the late Queen Elizabeth?
Indeed. Except this Lilibet is more of a glamour-puss, stacking up thousands of fans on The Lanesborough’s social media pages.
Quite an aristo-cat and worthy of such a fine hotel, wouldn’t you say?
Absolutely, from the welcoming concierge to the jolly bar staff, this place oozes old-school charm and impeccable service. That includes a dedicated butler for all 93 rooms and suites.
The Lanesborough
Including the seven-bedroom Royal Suite, said to be the largest in London.
The Regency décor means this is the place to live out your five-star Bridgerton fantasy, with more than a dash of Jane Austen on the side.
That’s true – except the Hyde Park Corner property has only been a hotel for some 30 years. Before that it was home to St George’s Hospital, where Florence Nightingale worked. But don’t let that stop you dreaming of bonnets and frocks.
Among the Lanesborough’s delicious offerings is Bridgerton Afternoon Tea. Think fine china and a three-tier stack of dainty lovelies, followed by a short stagger back to your suite to sleep it off.
Alternatively, plonk down in the Library Bar for another glass of champagne, book an early supper at the highly-rated Lanesborough Grill, or work it off in the spa and gym.
Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough
Or like us, head into the West End to catch a musical. Hollywood is currently working on a follow up to hit comedy The Devil Wears Prada with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. The stage version at the Dominion Theatre is sequin-spangled must, with music by Sir Elton John.
A soundtrack we listened to on the way down to London in the Supersport. The Morgan has a high-end Sennheiser sound system but, unusually, lacks a conventional infotainment screen. Instead, music is controlled from your smartphone.
This is a thoroughly modern sports car, designed to drive the British marque into the future. It may look like a trad Morgan, but the Supersport is more usable and comfortable than any of its predecessors.
Sort of what you might hope for in a motor costing £102,000 perhaps?
Well, yes, that’s Porsche 911 territory – except the Morgan is hand-built around a 3.0-litre BMW engine and offers a real sense of occasion when you sit behind the wheel. It has quirks but few cars offer this much charm.
I still need to mention the silly door handles, though. They slide fore and aft and look beautifully made – except these are the most infuriating handles you will ever encounter. Expect to break a nail each time you exit.
Ha! I found it easier to slide open a side window and open the door from the outside. Bonkers!
Otherwise, a marvellous Moggie destined to become a collector’s piece?
A best of British, just like The Lanesborough.
Find out more about the Supersport at morgan-motor.com
Rooms at The Lanesborough start from £433 per night. oetkerhotels.com
Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.
