Austrian-based KTM is best known for producing tough two-wheelers built to handle all manner of off-road conditions. To four-wheeled fans, it’s also known for the track-devouring X-Bow. Now, a new concept vehicle shows that KTM can view the world through green-tinted glasses. The plastic-bodied KTM E3W is a three-wheeled electric vehicle fit to ferry two passengers for up to 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Plastic helps keep the weight of the E3W down to 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds), which means the 15kW motor and lithium-ion battery should have no problem shuttling this KTM around town. For now, the E32 remains a concept, but KTM hopes to bring a production version to market by 2013. Early estimates on the price tag hover between ,000 and ,000.

KTM thinks conceptually with new plastic-bodied electric three wheeler originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog 5.0

No related posts.

America Helps Britain Bring Back The Trike

It weighs just 1,090 pounds, chuffs out 115 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, and can launch to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. Oh, and you definitely feel every bit of it.

The 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler is a decidedly modernized homage to the trike that inspired it. Beginning back in 1909, this British tripod evolved through a succession of V-twin engines, culminating in 1953, when the last of the original Morgan three-wheeled “cyclecars” rolled off the line in Malvern Link. By that time, a four-cylinder Ford engine good for up to 32 hp was also available, but it’s the V-twin’s legacy through 1946 that has always carried the most significance for aficionados of the three-tire flyer.

Words like “fun” don’t even begin to describe what it is that would lead a North American enthusiast to spend north of ,000 to secure a Morgan 3 Wheeler. (Note that whereas the original cars went through some variants in the official writing of the name, the new car is to be written exclusively as “Morgan 3 Wheeler” – so say adamant company spokespeople). People who simply must have this heated runabout are incurably sick with a British disease. They love getting rained on at 70 mph, the persistent smell of dairy cattle cannot deter them from a vigorous country drive and ,000 borders on a small price to pay for the pure handmade exhilaration of a proper trike. Yep, they’re nuts.

That apparently means we’re nuts, too, because after taking this journey into deepest Worcestershire and tearing around the UK’s storybook Malvern Hills, darting through the pelting rain and cruising in the glistening sun between cloudy spells, we desperately want one of these beautifully useless 3 Wheelers.

Continue reading 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler [w/video]

2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

No related posts.