Morgan has shown off some sketches that give us a pretty solid idea of the look and styling of its upcoming new 3 Wheeler. The littlest Morgan left production recently because its motorbike-sourced air-cooled V-twin engine couldn't be shoved through the latest emissions tests.
1950s fighter jets
Looking at the sketches, you'd think at first that Morgan's response has been to get rid of the engine entirely. Indeed, this new 3 Wheeler will be the first one not to have its engine exposed to the air, and sticking out at the front. Instead, it will get the compact but powerful 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo EcoBoost engine from the Ford Fiesta ST. That's going to add some seriously potent performance to a car that weighs about as much as a hardback book...
In design terms, while the new 3 Wheeler picks up where the old one left off, its design has most definitely been modernised a little. While the previous model was so obviously riffing on Second World War fighter aircraft that you could actually buy one in camouflage colours with fake bullet hole appliques, the new model will draw more on fighter jets of the 1950s and 1960s - think North American Sabre and Hawker Hunter, rather than Mustang or Spitfire. There are also very clear influences from motorbikes and sidecars.
The overall shape is more tapered at the rear, for an almost bullet-like profile, while at the front the space once occupied by the cylinder heads is now taken by extra driving lights. In one sketch, there's even what appears to be some sort of a tent-like clip-on roof arrangement, although whether one will actually be offered for sale is another matter.
Continuing legacy
Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, said: "Morgan was founded on the production of three-wheeled cars, and when the 3 Wheeler was re-introduced in 2011 it became a firm pillar of the company's product range. We recognise the importance of evolving this bloodline and continuing to provide our growing community of enthusiasts with new, exciting, and unforgettable motoring experiences. Creating the all-new three-wheeled model has been a ground-up project, throughout which safety, durability, and character have been at the forefront of our focus. It has been an absolute joy seeing the new vehicle take shape, and we cannot wait to present it to the world next year, continuing the legacy of the model."
An electric version?
Jonathan Wells, Head of Design, Morgan Motor Company, said: "Morgan cars are often described as 'analogue', despite exhibiting industry standard technologies. We believe that in a world of technology, making art of a car's mechanical elements serves as an antidote to typical vehicle design. Throughout design studies it became quickly apparent that the vehicle must celebrate the model's mechanical honesty. The sketches demonstrate how these will form a focal point of the new vehicle. The ground-up design is simultaneously a reflection of Morgan's rich past, relevant to the present, and provides a firm vision of Morgan's design future."
What's missing from all this? An electric variant. Morgan showed off a possible battery-powered 3 Wheeler in 2016, but while production seemed to beckon, the project died off. This time around, Morgan has said that while electrification isn't yet at the top of its list, a battery-powered 3 Wheeler is more likely than not to appear.