SUB
G1 3-Wheeler
The
SUB G1 is a 3 wheeled sports vehicle which was first unveiled in April 2005.
SUB is a small company based in Southern California run by three design
professionals with impressive resumes, and between them the skills to design, model,
engineer, and construct, high quality production machines like the SUB G1.
The
G1 is a development of a similar concept vehicle (the 1up) created by one of
the group, Niki Smart, years earlier. Smart, along with Jay Brett, an
industrial designer with experience in constructing concept vehicles for films,
and Nick Mynott, a digital modeller with experience in race and concept car
construction, decided to develop an attractive, single seat, high performance
sports vehicle, specifically designed for entertaining handling and extreme
fun.
SUB
G1 3 Wheeler interior So far, three SUB G1's have been built and handed over to
their owners, 2 in the US and one in the UK, and each has covered over 1000
miles, with no problems.
One
of the most noticeable features of the G1 is the outstanding build quality and
level of professionalism visible in the overall design. Each part, down to the
nuts and bolts, has been well thought out and made to fit with the finished
product. By using computer models, the team was able to digitally create and
adjust components before manufacturing, therefore reducing costs and unforeseen
construction problems.
Power
for the SUB G1 comes from a 1000 cc Suzuki V-Twin taken from the Suzuki TL1000R
sportsbike. The group had originally envisaged an inline 4 cylinder taken from
the Yamaha R1, however early on in the mockup stages the group realised they
would run into some packaging issues which would upset the 50/50 weight
distribution, and the layout they wanted. The Suzuki V-twin fits perfectly, and
is mounted to the right of the driver in its own compartment. Developing 135
horsepower and 105 Nm of torque, the engine is force-fed by the noticeable
snorkel sitting above the bodywork. Transmission is handled by a 6 speed
sequential gearbox connected to the rear wheel by a chain. Current prototypes
have no reverse at the moment. But then again, if you're to lazy to get out and
push the diminutive G1 a couple yards it's probably not your type of vehicle.
The instrument gauges also come from Suzuki, and the cutoff sports steering
wheel can be removed to ease entry and exit - while also providing a simple
security device, if you take it with you.
The
3 wheeled layout of the G1 has several advantages over the conventional 4 wheel
layout. Firstly the yaw response time, (the time taken to achieve a steady
state-state of cornering after a quick steering input) is around 0.10 seconds
for a well designed 3 wheeler, but 0.15 seconds for a comparable 4 wheel sports
car. But perhaps more importantly, having only three wheels and an overall
weight less than 1,500 lbs (680 kgs) (the G1 weighs 727 lbs (330 kg) by the
way) the vehicle falls under the designation of a motorcycle. This means the
SUB G1 is not bound by the same regulations as a normal sports car, regulations
which often impede performance. And as a further bonus the G1 is cleared for
use in car pool lanes at all times.
As
a further show of their uncompromising design and construction skills, the SUB
G1 team decided to use motorcycle tires. Unfortunately there were no ready made
wheels available with the required offset so custom units had to be fabricated.
The chosen solution. A forged wheel face mounted to a rolled wheel band, all
nicely powder coated and pin striped, wrapped with Avon tires usually reserved
for custom cruisers.
