Jalopnik: morgan aero 8

Light Graffiti: Cool Camera Trick Makes Cool Cars Look More Cool

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Light graffiti is the art of combining long-exposure photographs with high-intensity light sources waved around in thin air to create an image when the shutter closes. Very cool. Even cooler when you're drawing some seriously spectacular cars.

We'll admit to a perverse lust for the Morgan Aero 8 so any time we get to run pics of that car for any reason is a plus, however, the other cars on created in this set aren't too shabby either. They're the handiwork of Mark Brown and Marc Cameron at Se7en Magazine, and we think they did a great job creating some of the most iconic cars on the road these days. Surprising they didn't make a Se7en.

Light Graffiti Cars

When the worlds of art and cars come together, they can generate some truly beautiful output - evident in the BMW Art Cars created by the likes of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Olafur Eliasson. Now the work of light graffiti photographer Mark Brown is set to reinforce this ideology, by demonstrating just how amazing iconic cars can look when recreated using in light graffiti.

The brainchild of project manager Marc Cameron (owner of Se7enmagazine.com) and brought to reality by Brown, Light Graffiti Cars is a series of images of iconic cars created using light graffiti.

The popularity of light graffiti has been on the rise over the past couple of years, with the groundbreaking work of the brilliant Michael Bosanko, Patrick Rochon, and Lichtfaktor bringing to light this truly wonderful and magical art form. Even the X Factor is now trying to get in on the act with the light dancing ads shown just before and after the commercial breaks.

"Mark and I both studied photography at the same university, and we were introduced by our former lecturer," says Marc Cameron.

"I instantly found Mark's images of light graffiti - shot against rural backgrounds - truly breathtaking, and it left me thinking about the range of possibilities for this emerging art form. As a massive fan of cars, I came up with the idea of capturing iconic motors in light graffiti, and Mark's images are the manifestation of this concept."

"Using an original technique of light painting I aimed to create simplified graphic versions of each of these classic shapes. The timeless, current and forward thinking design of each model has made creating these representations a massively inspiring experience," says Mark Brown.

"Choosing cars with eye-catching style and innovative design, I was able to construct images that capture the clean lines in each concept. The Iconic design of such models as the classic VW camper Van and Beetle to the equally iconic, but more modern styling of the Audi R8, the Morgan Aero and many more are works of art in their own right so lend themselves very well to this type of imagery. Every design that I have chosen, in my eyes, lives to be viewed."

We're hoping to raise interest in the possibility of featuring these images in either a leading photography show or a calendar.

For further information about Mark Brown's work visit: www.markbrownphotography.co.uk/

[Se7en Magazine]

Inheritance: Indie Short Features Nissan GT-R Beating Porsche 911

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Despite the polished appearance and cinematic race sequence, this isn't a Nissan GT-R advertisement. It's an indie short by Dylan Osborn and friends filmed guerrilla-style against a New England backdrop. Datsun 240Z and a Morgan Aero 8? Nice. [DylanOsborn.com]

Morgan Aero 8

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Perhaps now you understand the troubles we go through to select the lineup of the first 50 cars to fill the stalls of the Jalopnik Fantasy Garage. We presented to you theCaparo T1, warts and all, for consideration of the garage without the benefit of flowery prose or over the top hyperbole — the car itself is hyperbole enough. We wanted to see how a game-changing supercar would stand up to the harsh scrutiny of an unsoftened voting block because frankly, we're tired of everything getting in so easily. This is about whittling things down to a sharpened point, debating the merits and pitfalls of some of the greatest mechanical symphonies ever built, this should be a knock down drag out fight to get into the garage — that is unless we're talking about the Morgan Aero 8.

Morgan is one of those companies you have to love. For all practical purposes they are the last of a dying breed, a company which weighs profit motive and passion on equal terms — craftsman as well as enthusiasts. When the whole world went crazy and abandoned everything traditional, Morgan soldiered on, producing their delightful, ash framed Morgan Plus 8, a legendary car in its own right, lauded for its lively handling and hairy knuckled driving personality. But while half-century old designs are quaint and draw a certain customer, everyone gets the urge to brave new paths, and Morgan set out to remake its image with the Aero 8.

The story of the Aero 8 is very much a story of traditionalists finding new ways, getting out of their baked in mindset and reconsidering what they could do with what they know how to do. Much like every other car company started doing two decades ago, Morgan began using computers. Not only did they use computers, but they did it well. The frame would be constructed of bonded and riveted aluminum extrusions mated with kiln dried Belgian ash, and covered in an aluminum skin. As long time engine supplier Rover fell into a death rattle, a new engine was needed for this much higher performance car. There is a blind quote attributed to a BMW engineer who, upon seeing the prototype for the first time, remarked "At last, here's a car worthy of my engine" and so it was. The heart of the Aero 8 is a BMW supplied 4.4L V8 which develops a stout 325 HP, and considering the car weighs in at 2500 lbs. the power is positively stupendous. That power is harnessed by a suspension which resembles a racing car more than a road car, it is fully independent with inboard mounted springs and dampers all around.

We could go on about how this car goes round the track fast enough to beat most others at or above its price range, how it bites on corners like a teething pit bull puppy, or how the interior is swaddled in cow and machine-turned steel... but that's not the 800 lb gorilla in the room now is it? All of those things are certainly reason for admiration, but the glaring fact is the glaring fact - its eyes were crossed. One would think the British motoring press would have been swinging from the chandeliers when the new car debuted at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, but they raked it over the coals. London's Daily Telegraph called it "stupendously ugly". We couldn't agree and disagree more. The Aero 8 is ugly, but ugly badass — it wears its sheet metal with a certain braggadocio only a stupendously ugly car with stupendously amazing heritage and stupendously impressive performance can. The world is a boring place when everything looks like a Porsche or a Ferrari. Drive one of these and you know you're not following the crowd. Not only does this car fly in the face of the modern styling aesthetic, it quashes notions of what a sports car should be.

The Morgan Aero 8 is a modern interpretation of all that is good an pure about motoring. It is a fourteen foot long testament to the idea that cars do not have to make sense or be beautiful to be spectacular. A velvet hammer designed on its own terms, without bothering to glance at those who would claim to be its competition. The Aero 8 is the only car you can still buy new which makes us want to wear driving goggles when the top is down, and for that we want it in our fantasy garage.

sources: USAAutoparts, Morgan Cars; photo credit to chimpaction

Morgan LifeCar Up Close and Personal

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:27:05 EST

Even though we already saw the details of the Morgan LifeCar concept just a couple of weeks ago, Geneva is the first time it's been on display for all to see, and it's strangely delicate. The hydrogen fuel cell-powered LifeCar is a concept directed at a possible future for the builder of ash-framed always-been-retro sports cars. The exterior design follows that history, and the interior, while beautiful can easily be described as brutal in is cleanliness. Steam-bent plywood covered in hand stitched leather, a wood-rimmed steering wheel and a single gauge in the speedometer all find their way inside the LifeCar. It feels as though Morgan decided the juxtapose the high tech power train against an elegantly simple yet handsome interior.