- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru
2011 Morgan 3 Wheeler Roadster. 1st generation
The Morgan 3 Wheeler is a two-seater three-wheeler, just as its name implies, manufactured since 2011 by Morgan Motor Company (UK). It is a revival of the classic three-wheeled Morgan, the first of which appeared 110 years ago and was produced for 40 years. “No frills, all thrills” is the motto of this model.
The first generation has been produced since 2011. In 2021, production of the eccentric vehicle will be ended, in honor of which the manufacturer plans to launch a “farewell” series of 33 cars, named after the factory designation of the 3 Wheeler model: P101 Edition. 19 of them will be delivered to Europe and the USA, 14 cars will be sold in the UK. This scale of production is due to the fact that Morgan Motor Company is a small company that has about 220 people in its employ, who manually assemble 850 cars a year. Therefore, by ordering a car, you will receive an exclusive product. But the lead time will be approximately six months.
The end of production is due to the expiration of the certificate for the production of vehicles equipped with the engine used on the 3 Wheeler model. This engine is produced by S&S (USA), which supplies motorcycle engines. Despite the high price, the retro-shaped three-wheeled vehicle was highly appreciated by buyers: since 2011, more than a thousand people have purchased the Wheeler 3.
Exterior
The Morgan 3 Wheeler has an unforgettable exterior, featuring two wheels in front and a V-twin engine between them, as well as a narrow, rounded retro body that hides the third rear wheel. The roadster is inspired by 1920s vehicles.
The farewell series of three-wheelers features a gold composite plastic cover over the passenger seat, body-colored low-drag wheels and 9-inch Hella headlights. The headlights’ position contributes to reducing the resistance of air swirling around the suspension arms. The body of the vehicle is painted black or white and silver and has additional design options: the classic Belly Tank, inspired by racing livery, the black and white Dazzleship design in a military style, inspired by the RAF aircraft used during the Second World War, and the Race Car, with stripes and circular ornaments that pay homage to the early Morgan racing cars.
Powertrains and chassis
Just like other cars from the conservative brand, the Morgan 3 Wheeler has a tubular steel chassis with a space frame, a handcrafted ash wood shell and aluminum body panels. This structure determines its low weight: the unladen weight is only 525 kg.
The engine, corresponding to the Euro-3 standard, develops 83 hp and 140 Nm of torque; power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a Mazda 5-speed manual transmission. The 3-wheeler accelerates to 100 km/h in 6 seconds.
In 2014, the vehicle underwent a minor modernization, after which the frame torsional rigidity was increased and the steering geometry was adjusted, which increased the vehicle stability at high speeds. The upgraded model could boast of a more efficient engine cooling system, as well as a reduced level of noise and vibration. All measures were carried out very carefully, with the delicacy imposed by the philosophy of the manufacturer.
