It takes a little whimsy to bait adult men with a tricycle. Especially when its construction is basically 110 years old. So what does the Morgan Threewheeler have to offer?
Berlin (dpa-infocom) - With two wheels in front and one in the back? A tricycle for adults, and then mounted the wrong way round - a car can hardly be much more weird than a Morgan Threewheeler.
And yet the English exotic has lasted surprisingly long. For a very long time. Basically, the tricycle has been around for more than a century, and little has changed since then at first glance. Back then, it was a tax-saving model, but today it has become a toy that is less about advancement than pleasure.
The British serve a similar clientele as with a super sports car, only that their tricycle costs a fraction of that. Because even if 49,900 euros is a lot of money for a toy and the price can even climb to 60,000 euros with a few extras, the Morgan is a bargain compared to a McLaren or a Maserati. And the nerd is also more fun.
A lot of driving fun despite the sober numbers
This is mainly due to the unfiltered, almost brutal way the threewheeler shows: Even the slightest pressure on the accelerator pedal is acknowledged by the Morgan with explosive acceleration. And if you only move the steering wheel a few millimeters, it literally pulls the car around. In any case, the Englishman delivers a very special experience at high speed. The engine rumbles louder than New Year's Eve fireworks, and against the wind in Morgan, some hurricanes are just a mild breeze.
The numbers are rather sober. The motorcycle engine mounted in front of the bow has just two cylinders and takes a meager 51 kW / 68 hp from its impressive 2.0 liter displacement. The two-seater accelerates from a standing start to 100 km / h in 7.0 seconds with a maximum of 129 Nm. And where you can only feel the speed slowly in most sports cars, the threewheeler is over. Because there are no more than 185 km / h. And with a standard consumption of 8.1 liters (CO2 emissions: 187 g / km), the tricycle is hopelessly inefficient.
But with your butt directly above the asphalt and your head unprotected in the wind, with a manual gearshift that is more direct and, above all, faster than any double clutch, and with a weight of less than 600 kilograms, you feel so fast in the tricycle agile and as daring as the Royal Air Force pilots used to be in their open fighter planes. It is no wonder that Morgan, with typical English humor, offers colorful stickers with the hallmarks of historic aircraft, including decorative bullet holes, for a surcharge.
Comfort? Wrong!
As much fun as Morgan is, there is one thing he can't even begin to offer: comfort. Not only is there no convertible top, the small window in front of the driver is at best a hint of a windbreak. The heater is replaced by an exhaust, which was installed open like a stovepipe and which sooner or later burns into the calf as a lasting memory for everyone.
In addition, the body, which is hand-made of aluminum, is so narrow that you have to do a few stretching exercises before getting in and you wonder who the British have installed a second seat for if you are already claustrophobic. Not to mention something like suspension or shock absorption. Oh yes - safety extras such as airbags or even assistance systems are of course in vain. Because what, like the straps, is not absolutely necessary for approval, the British have simply left out.
But that's also part of the experience with a Morgan: the pain passes, but the pride remains. After all, you managed to master such an archaic car and defy the elements. After all, everyone can drive open with a neck dryer and seat heating.
Conclusion: dream car on a journey through time
Rustic, radical and at least felt frenzied - if you get involved with the Morgan Threewheeler, you will experience a journey through time in two ways. Because you don't just drive a brand new vintage car that looks like it did over 100 years ago. Rather, you feel like a child again on your tricycle and have more fun than in a serious sports car.
Datasheet: Morgan Threewheeler
| Motor and drive | Two-cylinder petrol engine |
| displacement: | 1997 cc |
| Maximum power: | 51 kW / 68 PS at 5 200 rpm |
| Max. Torque: | 129 Nm at 2 500 rpm |
| Drive: | rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission: | Five-speed manual |
| mass and weight | |
| Length: | 3260 mm |
| Width: | 1738 mm |
| Height: | 1012 mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2385 mm |
| Empty weight: | 585 kg |
| payload: | kA |
| Trunk size: | kA |
| Travel information: | |
| maximum speed: | 185 km / h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h: | 7.0 s |
| Average consumption: | 8.1 liters / 100 km |
| CO2 emission: | 187 g / km |
| Fuel: | great |
| Emission standard: | EU4 |
| Energy efficiency class: | kA |
| Costs: | |
| Base price of the Morgan Threewheeler: | 49,900 euros |
| Type classes: | kA |
| Motor vehicle tax: | 224 euros / year |
| Important standard equipment: | |
| Safety: | Seat belts, roll bars |
| Comfort: | Windscreen, leather seats |
All data according to the manufacturer, GDV, Schwacke
