British automaker Morgan has been producing cool and unique three-wheelers for some time now, but the current model – which launched in 2011 – is getting a bit long in the tooth. As Ford Authority reported back in September, that model will soon be replaced by the brand new Morgan Super 3, which has been teased for some time. Now, Morgan has officially revealed its next-generation model, and as expected, it’s packing Ford power under the hood.
The outgoing three-wheeler is powered by a 1998cc S&S V-Twin engine that produces either 68 or 82 horsepower, but that motorcycle-derived powerplant was beginning to have trouble passing Europe’s increasingly stringent emissions standards. Thus, the Morgan Super 3 utilizes Blue Oval power in the form of Ford’s naturally-aspirated 1.5L I-3 engine, which produces 118 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque in this guise.
That Ford inline-three is mated to a five-speed manual transmission pulled from the Mazda Miata, which in turn sends power back to a single rear wheel. With just 1,400 pounds to move around (the outgoing model weighed a bit less at 1,100 pounds), Morgan estimates that the Super 3 will do 0-62 miles-per-hour in 7 seconds and top out at 130 miles-per-hour. Stopping is handled by a pair of disc brakes up front and a single drum in the rear.
Outside of this engine upgrade, the Super 3 is the first Morgan model to utilize monocoque construction, while the outgoing model and all of its predecessors had a body that was mounted to a wooden substructure. The newly widened body (to make room for the bigger engine) is made from aluminum, while the interior is both spartan and waterproof – just the way a British sports car should be.
Morgan has yet to announce pricing for the Super 3 in the U.S. – but did say that it will be cheaper than the current model, which costs $59,000. In the UK, the unique three-wheeler will start out at £34,995.83 ($46,844 USD). Stateside, the Morgan 3 is considered a motorcycle, not a car – and will launch by the end of 2022.
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Comment
One could purchase a nice Can Am tri bike for about half the cost, and have the same open air experience. No rain protection though on the Can Am. I assume that at least a snap on top comes with the Morgan.