Retro British sports car maker Morgan has revealed an all-new three-wheeler – and, for the first time in history, it’s built with a single-piece aluminium body.
Known as the Super 3, the new vehicle swaps out its existing 2.0-litre V2 motorcycle engine for a more efficient 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder from Ford – effectively the unit in the Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch, without a turbocharger.
This sends a modest 87kW/150Nm to the rear wheel via a Mazda MX-5-derived five-speed manual transmission – only slightly more power (and less torque) than a mid-spec Volkswagen Polo.
However, the featherlight 635kg aluminium “monocoque” construction – a one-piece assembly which replaces a steel frame underpinning wooden bodywork – delivers a 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 7.0 seconds, on the way to a claimed top speed of 209km/h.
Inside the waterproofed cabin, creature comforts including navigation, heated seats, a windscreen and door padding – with USB outlets fitted for the first time.
A set of 20-inch alloy wheels – wrapped in narrow Avon tyres developed specifically for the Morgan, with a tread pattern visually inspired by classic rubber (but with the performance of a modern tyre) – come standard, as does a two-hoop roll bar and small storage compartment behind the passenger seat.
In the UK, pricing starts from £41,995 before on-road costs, and the first customer deliveries are scheduled for June 2022.
Morgan has confirmed the Super 3 will be offered in Australia – however launch timing is yet to be announced. Drive has contacted the Australian importer for Morgan for more details – this story will be updated when more information becomes available.
The current Morgan 3 Wheeler was inspired by the classic Morgan ‘tri-cars’ of the early 20th century (seen in the gallery above), which were originally designed to bypass British automobile taxes by being classified as a motorcycle.
Keyword: Morgan Super 3: Three-wheeler sports car breaks cover with aluminium bodywork