The Morgan three wheeler has its own following. While many think that it has a soft spot in the hearts of the nomadic, hippy look-at-me kinda people, even sophisticated people have expressed their love for the iconic three-wheeler. And so Morgan has once again listened to the three wheeler folk and revealed this: the Super 3.
According to Morgan, the Super 3 “is focused on offering a unique motoring experience within which driver engagement and the pursuit of adventure is encouraged.” They’re not wrong, when you are in a three wheeler, it’s probably the ultimate driving experience.
Let’s start with THAT exterior. In the front we have the classy Morgan vibe with the round headlamps, signature horseshoe front grill and side-mounted cooling packs that look like they’ve come straight from a jet fighter. The Malvern-based firm has casted the pull-rod suspension into the aluminium structure of the Super 3 and it looks super cool.
At the back you will find a cut-off exhaust inside the lovely aluminium bodywork and a cast aluminium structure that houses the rear lights. The structure also hides the ‘pressure relief venting’ for the rear wheel and, for purely legal reasons, serves as a base for the number plate.
The car sits on gorgeously bespoke Avon Speedmaster tyres which have ballooned sidewalls. Morgan claims that these tyres will “provide optimum slip angle.” Now we’re talking, baby!
Ride stability has been a big priority for the Super 3 and so Morgan has closed off the insides of the wheels while also making the rods of the suspension as long as possible.
We can’t talk about a Morgan three wheeler without mentioning its engine, right? The Super 3 gets a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine from Ford that produces 118bhp and 110lb ft of torque. We’re told that the Super 3 can do 0-62mph (0-100kph) in around 7 seconds and will go all the way till 130mph (210kph) after which it will run out of puff. All those figures are very impressive but who cares about performance stats when you’ve got a three wheeler, on a beach, with loads of friends around you in a bandana.
Step inside, well we should say jump inside, and you will be greeted with lots of leather and a proper 1900s-like vibe. However, it’s not all old school as the Super 3 has a couple of fully digital dials, USB sockets and an optional satellite navigation system. A big party piece of the interior is the clunky looking gear knob of the five-speed gearbox that comes from the Mazda MX-5 gearbox. Don’t fret when you look at the leather because it is completely dust-proof and water-resistant. If leather still does not get your fancy then the option of a new technical fabric for the seats is also available. Other luxuries like footwell heater, luggage space, adjustable steering wheel and pedal box and a cup holder or a Quad Lock phone mount under the dash are also there.
Morgan says that customers can get a small or a large wind deflector depending on the amount of kilometres they’ll cover with the Super 3. The small ones are available with a yellow tint. What is a wind deflector, we hear you ask. Well, it's basically a windscreen, but Morgan doesn;t like using 21st century words like windscreen.
Jonathan Wells, Head of Design, Morgan Motor Company, said: “Morgan 3 Wheeler owners are individual, relish doing things in their own way, and actively seek adventure. With Super 3, we aimed to exaggerate these qualities through design.
“It felt natural to derive influences for Super 3 from the succeeding decades its 1920s inspired predecessor was paying homage to. During the ‘jet age’, the balance of form vs function was equalised. It was within these decades that the most aerodynamic forms were not only required, but also admired,” he further said
“Super 3 stands out as something different. It looks towards our past, is relevant in the present, and reinstates a firm vision of Morgan’s design future,” he said with a smile on his face (probably).
