Engineering:Morgan 3-Wheeler

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Morgan 3 Wheeler[1]
Morgan 3-Wheeler, front left (Amagansett).jpg
2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler, US-spec
Overview
ManufacturerMorgan Motor Company
Production2012–2021 (3 Wheeler)
2016–2018 (EV3)
AssemblyMalvern Link, Worcestershire, UK
Body and chassis
ClassThree-wheeler, Sports car
Body style2 seat, Roadster
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
EngineS&S 1983 cc ohv V-twin
TransmissionMazda 5-speed manual with torque damper
Dimensions
Wheelbase92 in (2,336.8 mm)[2]
Length126 in (3,200.4 mm)[2]
Chronology
PredecessorMorgan F-Series
SuccessorMorgan Super 3

The Morgan 3 Wheeler is a three-wheeled roadster produced by British manufacturer Morgan Motor Company from 2012 to 2021. It was unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.[3][4][5][6]

Technical

The 3 Wheeler was initially said to have a Harley-Davidson Screaming Eagle V-twin engine and a Mazda 5-speed manual transmission,[3][4][5][6][7] and was estimated to deliver 115 hp (86 kW)[3][5][6][7] at the rear wheel.[6][7] However, there was a surprise when the prototype that was shown at Geneva had an S&S engine. Production three-wheelers turned out to have S&S engines.[8][9] The kerb weight was originally estimated to be less than 500 kg (1,102 lb),[3][4][5][7] but the final weight was tested at 550 kg (1,212 lb). The acceleration from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) was estimated by Morgan as 4.5 seconds, with an (estimated) top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h).[3][4][5][6][7] The three-wheeler was homologated as a motorcycle in the United States.[3][7]

Orders and deliveries

The company states that 850 deposits have been taken since the announcement in 2011. Customer deliveries began in Europe in February 2012. USA deliveries were in June 2012, when the first imported three-wheeler was displayed in New York City and at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance.

Appearances on Top Gear

The Morgan 3 Wheeler was featured in a Series 18 episode of UK motoring show Top Gear where presenter Richard Hammond picked the Morgan 3 Wheeler in a comparison of track-day cars. The 3 Wheeler won the "Not-A-Car of the Year 2011" in Top Gear.

During filming for Series 34 of Top Gear in December 2022, presenter Freddie Flintoff was involved in a rollover accident at high speed in a Morgan 3 Wheeler.[10] Flintoff suffered "life-alteringly significant" injuries, and the BBC stopped production of Top Gear as a result.[11]

Successor model

The current generation model of the Morgan 3 Wheeler will end production sometime in 2021 with a run-out version called the P101.[12] It is expected to be replaced with the next generation successor in 2022.[13]

Electric variant

Morgan Threewheeler EV3 at Geneva Motor Show, 6 March 2018

Morgan was working on an electric prototype version of the Three Wheeler called the “EV3”. The electric motor was rated at 101 bhp, and was estimated to produce 150 miles of range (240 km) with a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery.[14] Production of the EV3 was cancelled in late 2018.[15]

See also

References

  1. Prior, Matt. "Morgan 3 Wheeler review". Autocar (Haymarket Consumer Media). http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/morgan/3-wheeler. Retrieved 2013-02-13. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Morgan 3 Specs". Seattle, Washington US: Liberty Motors. http://morgan3wheeler.us/specs. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "2011 Morgan Threewheeler". Edmunds Inside Line (Edmunds Inc.). 4 November 2010. http://www.insideline.com/morgan/2011-morgan-threewheeler.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Harrison, Sarah-Jayne (3 November 2010). "Morgan 3 Wheeler (2011) first official pictures". Car Magazine (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK: Bauer Media). http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Morgan-going-back-to-their-roots/. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Phillips, Tom (4 November 2010). "Morgan revives the Threewheeler". Auto Express (London: Dennis Publishing). http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/259048/morgan_revives_the_threewheeler.html. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Constant, Brad (3 November 2010). "Morgan Threewheeler returns after 58-year break". Autoweek (Detroit, MI, USA: Crain Communications). http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101103/CARNEWS/101109946. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Miersma, Seyth (3 November 2010). "First Look: 2011 Morgan Threewheeler". Winding Road (Ypsilanti, MI, USA). http://www.windingroad.com/articles/news/first-look-2011-morgan-threewheeler/. 
  8. Garrett, Jerry (25 February 2011). "Geneva Auto Show: Morgan 3 Wheeler". The New York Times. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/geneva-auto-show-morgan-3-wheeler/. "It was announced to have an 81-horsepower V-twin motorcycle engine built by S & S, the same company that builds motors for so-called Harley clone choppers, and is closely based on late-model Harley-Davidson power plants. However, the UK test the final bhp at 81 bhp." 
  9. Berkowitz, Justin (1 March 2011). "Morgan 3-Wheeler - Auto Shows". Car and Driver (Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.). http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q1/morgan_3-wheeler-auto_shows. "This S&S-supplied powerplant is a bit more modern, though: It produces 81 hp, is fuel-injected, and is mated to a Mazda-sourced five-speed gearbox." 
  10. Ismail, Adam. "BBC Halts 'Top Gear' Indefinitely as Host Freddie Flintoff Recovers From December Crash". https://jalopnik.com/bbc-top-gear-production-halted-flintoff-morgan-crash-1850262690. 
  11. Goldbart, Max. "BBC Says ‘Top Gear’ Not Returning For “Foreseeable Future”". https://deadline.com/2023/11/bbc-top-gear-not-returning-foreseeable-andrew-flintoff-1235630872/. 
  12. Will Trinkwon: 19 November 2020, Morgan 3 Wheeler P101 Edition revealed as run-out model www.autocar.co.uk, accessed 25 January 2021
  13. "Exclusive: new 2022 Morgan 3 Wheeler confirmed in testing shot". https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/exclusive-new-2022-morgan-3-wheeler-confirmed-testing-shot. 
  14. "Morgan 3 wheeler goes electric - with an Ashwoods Electric Motor | AEM". http://www.ashwoodselectricmotors.com/blog/2016/03/21/morgan-3-wheeler-goes-electric-with-an-ashwoods-electric-motor. 
  15. Steve Cropley: 12 October 2018, Electric Morgan 3-wheeler shelved www.autocar.co.uk, accessed 25 January 2021

External links