Morgan 3 Wheeler gets electrified
The Morgan EV3 is an electrified version of the already niche Morgan 3 Wheeler, and it has made its debut in pre-production guise at the 2016 Geneva motor show.
The new EV3 model continues on the theme that the motorcycle-engined 3 Wheeler started with design inspiration from “1930s aero-engine race cars, classic motorcycles and 1950s fantasy automatons” – whatever that means. But the EV3 pushes the British brand’s crazy contraption towards the future.
Hidden under the svelte skin of the EV3 is a tubular spaceframe chassis, and enclosed within that chassis is a 20kWh lithium battery pack that is said to offer the Morgan EV3 a range of 240 kilometres. That’s more than a Nissan Leaf.
The batteries send power to the rear-wheel electric motor – a 46kW, liquid-cooled unit – and according to the brand the EV3 can run from 0-100km/h in less than 9.0 seconds.
According to Morgan, the EV3 – despite the electric hardware – weighs less than 500 kilograms, and that comes down to the extensive use of carbon composite panels (the bonnet, tonneau cover and side areas), while aluminium is used elsewhere.
Inside, the Morgan EV3 is minimalist in its execution. There’s a simple ‘magneto’ switch for drive selection, as well as beautiful wooden switches, what appear to be milled aluminium stalks, and slinky chrome-ringed dials with a digital screen.
So, will it see production? It seems very, very likely according to Morgan managing director Steve Morris.
“The EV3 is an exciting opportunity for our customers to enjoy the unique Morgan driving experience and the joy of tailored manufacture while remaining conscientious towards the future of our planet,” he said.
In Australia, the Australian arm of Morgan has confirmed it has plans to offer the production version of the EV3 locally.
“We do plan to ADR homologate this model and I hope we will be able to take orders in 2017. The production version will look quite a bit different to this show car,” said Chris van Wyk of Morgan Cars Australia.
“As for demand, I think it will, as for all things Morgan, be a boutique low volume product,” he said.
Expect it to be lucratively priced – so, likely higher than the regular 3 Wheeler, which starts at $90,000.
No word on whether you can get one here without importing it yourself though.
But hey, when you look as cool as the guy in these photos does, it’d be worth the cash… right? Let us know at Facebook.com/DrivenNZ
