There aren’t many motorized tricycles, or trikes, on the road. Harley Davidson and Yamaha have a few models. Bombardier-owned brand Can-Am specializes in three-wheeled vehicles. Not much lies in the space beyond that.
But Morgan, one of the first automakers to introduce a three-wheeler, is back with a new model
, the Super 3. The new vehicle is creating quite a stir amongst auto critics, but regulators are having a hard time deciding how to categorize it. Jerry
, your car insurance super app
, took a closer look at the Super 3 and its manufacturer to help you get your head around this perplexing new set of wheels.Morgan—a British continuation car brand
You’d be forgiven for not having heard of Morgan. Although it was founded in 1910, the company’s vehicles changed little in style since it produced its first four-wheeled car, the Morgan 4/4, in 1936.
You see, Morgan belongs to a British tradition of small automakers that build what’s called “continuation cars.” Many of these brands produce two-seater roadsters that change very little year-over-year.
Other British carmakers in the continuation market include Caterham, Alvis, and more familiar companies with modern models like Aston Martin, Land Rover, and Jaguar.
The first vehicle built by Henry Fredrick Stanley Morgan, the founder of Morgan Motor Co., was a three-wheeler, and his company continued producing this type of transportation until 1952. It was revived in 2012 as the 3-Wheeler, the model the Super 3 is set to replace.
What is the Morgan Super 3 anyway?
With its long history in the United Kingdom, the country’s regulators are comfortable calling Morgan’s three-wheeler a car. In the U.S., things aren’t so simple.
Even though it’s directed using a steering wheel, the odd number of wheels technically makes the Super 3 a motorcycle on this side of the Atlantic.
Autoweek
says the Super 3 replaces the Harley-style air-cooled V-Twin engine with a water-cooled 1.5-liter Ford three-cylinder unit that offers 180 horsepower to propel the tiny car’s 1,400 lbs. The vehicle’s body has also changed into a unibody structure, doing away with the steel and wood (yes, wood) of its recent predecessor.
MORE: Inside the Tiny World of Microcars
How much will a Morgan Super 3 cost to own?
Unfortunately, despite its label as a motorcycle in the U.S., starting prices for a Morgan Super 3 are expected to look more similar to its rival sports cars than most two-wheeled transportation. Autoweek predicts that the vehicle will start for around $70,000.
Car insurance will likely follow suit with the Super 3’s price tag, but its in-between status makes it difficult to know for sure. Either way, shopping for coverage with Jerry will help you save money.
Jerry is your ultra-talented car insurance broker for life. No need to sit across from him at a desk: Jerry is an app! It takes less than a minute to sign up, and you’ll be presented with competitive rates from dozens of top providers. Don’t lose coverage—find savings with Jerry.
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