General Motors‘ Small Block engine design
is the go-to option for many boutique automakers looking to build a
limited-production performance car. The venerable pushrod V8 engine has powered
all sorts of limited-production sports and supercars, such as the Felino CB7R,
Glickenhaus 004C and Sin R1, just to name a few.
Now GM’s LFV four-cylinder engine family
is being used in a similar way by specialty vehicle company Vanderhall. The New
Jersey-based manufacturer’s Venice three-wheeler and its different model
variants have received a new GM-sourced turbocharged 1.5L engine for the 2020
model year, which replaces the GM turbo 1.4L motor that it used in the
2017-2019 Venice.
The 1.5L engine isn’t much more powerful
than the old 1.4L engine it replaces, but it should offer added refinement and
superior fuel economy in the three-wheeler. The turbo-four, which is mounted
transversely in the front of the vehicle, is good for 194 horsepower and 203
pound-feet of torque. It sends power to the front wheels through a six-speed
automatic transmission, enabling a 0-97 km/h time of around 4.5 seconds.
Other new features added to the 2020 model
year Vanderhall Venice include electronic cruise control, a boost gauge, new
satin black-painted 18-inch wheels and a three-inch exhaust. The Venice wasn’t
built with luxury in mind, really, but there are at least some creature
comforts in the way of a new heater and heated seats, along with a tan leather
interior.
We should point out that the Vanderhall
Venice isn’t technically a car. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration views this oddball creation as a three-wheeled motorcycle, so
it’s not beholden to the same safety regulations as a regular vehicle might be.
It does have front and rear crumple zones and roll hoops, however, but these
features have not been crash-tested.
Pricing for the 2020 Vanderhall Venice
starts at US$ 29,950, while the range-topping Venice GT starts at US$ 33,950. There’s
also an entry-level Venice Blackjack model for US$ 29,950, which uses the old 175
horsepower 1.4L engine and has less standard options.
