The Morgan Motor Company announced that they would
launch the 3 Wheeler in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. The 3
Wheeler was initially said to have a Harley-Davidson Screaming Eagle V-twin
engine and a Mazda 5-speed manual transmission, and was
estimated to deliver 115 horsepower at the rear
wheel.
However,
there was a surprise when the prototype that was shown at Geneva had an S&S
engine. Production three-wheelers turned out to have S&S engines. The
kerb weight was originally estimated to be less than 500 kilograms but the final weight was tested at 550 kg. The
acceleration from zero to 97 km/h was estimated by Morgan
as 4.5 seconds, with an (estimated) top speed of 185
km/h.
The three-wheeler is to be homologated as a
motorcycle in the United States. The company states that 850 deposits
have been taken since the announcement in 2011. Customer deliveries began in
Europe in February 2012. USA deliveries are not expected before June 2012, when
the first imported three-wheeler was displayed in New York City and at the
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance.
The Morgan 3 Wheeler was featured in a Series 18
episode of UK motoring show Top Gear where presenter Richard Hammond picked the
Morgan 3 Wheeler in a comparison of track-day cars. The 3 Wheeler won the
"Not-A-Car of the Year 2011" in Top Gear.
