Three-wheel roadster to switch from V-twin to Ford-sourced three-cylinder and get new lightweight aluminium platform
Morgan has confirmed that it will introduce its all-new replacement for its 3 Wheeler on February 24 that will feature substantially more power, sit on a lightweight aluminium structure and be the brand’s ‘most-customisable’ car ever.
The Malvern, Worcestershire-based sports car-maker has also hinted when the next-gen 3 Wheeler arrives it will get a new name and feature the brand’s first clean-sheet design since the Morgan Aero 8 was introduced back in 2000.
Hotly tipped to be badged the Super3, three different versions of the 3 Wheeler will be introduced next month that, in Morgan’s words, will; “highlight some of the personalities that have inspired its design, from bold, individual, and eccentric colours to fit-for-purpose adventure and motorsport-inspired mid-century racers”
It’s not been confirmed but it’s likely the British brand will pull the drapes off a track-bred version, a grand tourer and a third more luxurious model.
Releasing a tease of all three different versions driving in the desert, despite the start-from-scratch approach, the all-new 3 Wheeler will carry over its skinny tyres, prominent mudguards and familiar headlamps.
The first pics suggest the frontal area has also been reshaped to accommodate the new more conventional engine that is almost certain to drop the last car’s side-exit exhausts.
Replacing the old S&S-sourced air-cooled 2.0-litre V-twin, the new range of three-wheeled Morgans will come with Ford’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol that powers the Fiesta ST – except in the tiny British roadster it’s likely to miss out on forced induction.
There’s no word on power outputs, but the new motor is rumoured to produce around 100kW – a sizeable bump on the 60kW the old car made.
The historic British car-maker says its new 3 Wheeler will benefit from several ‘engineering enhancements’ that include the same advanced aluminium chassis tech as the latest Plus Four and Plus Six roadsters.
We expect a sub-500kg kerb weight and a 0-100km/h sprint time of less than six seconds, plus a blustery top speed that could exceed 200km/h.
Channelling its might to the single rear wheel (via a toothed belt), the new engine will be combined with the last car’s five-speed Mazda MX-5-sourced manual transmission.
To cope with the big performance lift new aero elements have been added including diffuser plates on both sides to improve stability at high speeds.
Even though the 2022 Morgan 3 Wheeler is said to share the same footprint as the quirky model it replaces, the new car will get a wider, lower floor that can better accommodate both taller and broader drivers.
While the instruments and other cockpit clocks, dials and toggle switches will draw heavily from the past, one feature that will not be introduced will be a roof, although a fabric tonneau cover and a hard half-tonneau will be offered as an option.
Already Morgan’s best-selling vehicle of all time, the British car-maker’s bosses hope the new model will match its 2012 sales performance when it was selling around 28 cars a week.
Back in 2016 Morgan was primed to introduce an all-electric EV3 version but those plans were axed at the last moment following reported issues with a key supplier. Morgan says there are currently no plans to introduce a battery-electric version of the new generation.
Commenting on the eve of the next-gen 3 Wheeler’s launch Morgan boss, Steve Morris, said: “The next chapter of Morgan’s three-wheeled story will begin on 24 February, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally show it to the world. The all-new model continues a 113-year legacy of three-wheeled Morgan cars, and – as has always been the case – the new model will be totally different to anything else.”
Keyword: Morgan teases all-new 3 Wheeler ahead of Feb 24 debut