The Morgan 3 Wheeler is not dead

Morgan says the new model will be defined by “significant engineering enhancements but the same spirit of adventure” that made the previous model such a surprise hit in the 10 years since its launch. When it first came out in 2011 it represented a comeback almost 60 years in the making. Morgan originally swapped three wheels for four in 1952. 

Now the enduring appeal of a tiny, roofless and bullet-shaped body with two open wheels up front and a single enclosed one behind is all set to live again. And the new version retains the 3 Wheeler’s traditional ability to surprise: it will be powered by a regular petrol engine.

Morgan does qualify this news however by adding it will be petrol “at launch” leaving the door open for an electric model in the future. Morgan was already well advanced with its EV3 battery-powered prototype based on the outgoing model when it canned it in 2018.

With the all-new 3 Wheeler, it is thought the driving forces were more performance, more cabin room and emissions and safety equipment that will make it easier to homologate into export markets. While the update has resulted in a largely familiar profile, much has changed under the skin. Morgan says durability testing is the most extensive of any Morgan ever developed.

The biggest update – and the one most likely to annoy traditionalists – is the switch from an outboard V-twin engine (just like the 1930s Super Sports) to a three-pot engine fully enclosed under the bonnet. Out goes the air-cooled 2.0-litre S&S unit then and in comes Ford’s three-cylinder motor from the Fiesta.

The S&S ex-motorcycle engine claimed 82PS; Morgan is not confirming spec so far but the Ford unit can deliver anything from 130PS to a (turbocharged) 200PS, though Morgan says it is using it only in naturally-aspirated form.

Even 130PS should be enough to make the new 3 Wheeler fly if the weight can be kept to around the 500kg mark of the old model. That may be possible thanks to Morgan’s recent embracing of bonded aluminium chassis technology – as used by the latest four-wheelers like the Plus Six – which is likely to underpin the new model. 

We can’t glean much from the disguised car in the pictures, apart from the telltale lack of an engine balanced on the front axle and the lack of an exposed side exhaust. Fully enclosing the power unit should bring aero benefits at least. The front track looks wider but the cycle guards, standalone headlights, rollover hoop, aero screen and tapered rear end all strike a familiar chord. The old model was a no-go zone for taller drivers and this new version is expected to address that. 

As before, a big range of evocative and retro-themed colours and graphics is likely, along with lots of personalisation options. The new model is expected to go on sale some time in 2022. 

It is expected to be sold in markets around the world where the 3 Wheeler has already been an important if niche hit. That is especially true in the US where for many years now the 3 Wheeler has been the sole representative of the Morgan brand, selling around 70 a year and gaining a fan following. Car & Driver recently said the “eccentric retro trike” was “about as English as it's possible to be without saying Tally Ho”. 

It is thought around 2500 of the outgoing 3 Wheelers have been sold in 10 years, throwing the British firm a timely lifeline while it developed the latest-gen of four-wheeled cars and got new majority shareholder Investindustrial on board. The new 3 Wheeler is the first whole vehicle programme to be completed under the stewardship of the European investment group.

“The outgoing 3 Wheeler was adored by customers and enthusiasts alike and will inspire this next generation,” Morgan chief executive Steve Morris tells us.