Morgan 3 Wheeler gets Fiesta ST and EV power

MORGAN has revealed further details of its all-new 3 Wheeler – which continues a legacy dating back to 1909 – that the British sportscar maker says will initially feature petrol and electric power before becoming purely electric “in due course”.

 

Prototype testing of the upcoming model reveals a naturally aspirated version of Ford’s three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, the 1.5-litre triple replacing the front-mounted and air-cooled 2.0-litre S&S V-Twin found on previous iterations of the 3 Wheeler.

 

Despite losing the turbocharger used on the likes of Ford’s Fiesta ST, from which the new engine is derived, the new unit produces around 95kW – 35kW more than the bigger outgoing mill.

 

Increased stability from new aerodynamic elements, an updated wishbone suspension, reduced ground clearance and the relocated engine are expected to improve the dynamics of the 3 Wheeler.

 

It will continue to drive its single rear wheel via a Mazda MX-5-sourced five-speed manual transmission.

 

Built around a new tubular aluminium chassis, the reinvented Morgan 3 Wheeler was initially slated to feature all-electric power but Morgan abandoned plans for its “EV3” after cost blow outs forced a rethink on the low-volume seller.

 

The petrol engine is, however, a stopgap in production of the three-wheeled model, with all new British-built cars facing a production mandate of EV-only power by as early as 2030.

 

Morgan says that in spite of the changes to its beloved 3 Wheeler, the model will be instantly recognisable with clear links to its predecessors.

 

Its styling is said to be inspired by the early jet age but the company stopped short of revealing a name for its “next chapter three-wheeled vehicle”.

 

“We are thrilled to confirm plans for an all-new three-wheeled Morgan, a model that continues an incredible story dating back to 1909,” said Morgan Motor Company Chairman and CEO, Steve Morris.

 

“The outgoing 3 Wheeler was adored by customers and enthusiasts alike, and will inspire this next generation. The upcoming model is an all-new, ground-up design and the first whole vehicle program to be completed under the stewardship of Investindustrial.

 

“Morgan’s team of engineers and designers have considered everything that the company has learnt from the decade of building and selling the previous model. We look forward to sharing more about this exciting new vehicle in due course,” Mr Morris concluded.

 

Morgan’s testing and durability program for the new 3 Wheeler marks the most extensive validation of an Morgan ever developed.

 

It is expected the new model could be on sale as early as next year (2022), though Australian delivery is currently unconfirmed.

 

Orders for the previous Morgan 3 Wheeler – which began production in 2011 – closed at the beginning of this year and final production of the model is ongoing.

 

The last production run of Morgan 3 Wheelers included 33 P101 vehicles featuring several cosmetic enhancements to celebrate the end of the model’s ten-year production run.

 

The P101 – or Production 101 – variant celebrated the internal project name given to the program devised to redevelop the Morgan 3 Wheeler more than a decade ago.

 

In excess of 2,500 current-generation 3 Wheelers were produced between 2011 and 2021. Prior to this, Morgan produced three-wheeled cars from 1909 to 1954.

 

“Production of the most recent 3 Wheeler has been a thrilling and exciting chapter in Morgan’s history,” added Mr Morris.

 

“The significance of the original Three Wheeler is undoubted, however the introduction of the ‘current’ 3 Wheeler in 2011 proved to Morgan, and the world, that fun cars still have a place and that a ‘why not’ attitude is sometimes best.”

 

Why not, indeed.