If these become popular, the above will become the next indespensible tool for EMS and other emergency crews.
Posted on 02/26/2006 10:49:16 PM PST by Lorianne
Cross a motorcycle with a small car, and you get a new kind of hybrid -- the three-wheeler
Auto makers -- even some big ones, like Daimler-Chrysler's (DCX ) Mercedes-Benz -- have been developing car-motorcycle hybrids and other three-wheeled vehicles for years. But what's different now is that some of these concepts, such as the Volkswagen GX3 unveiled this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, could actually make it to the marketplace (see BW Online, 1/12/06, "Concept Cars Are Getting Real"). And the GX3, backed by VW's global distribution capability, would stand a chance to develop a niche market.
Three-wheeled vehicles of one kind or another are quite common in the developing world, and were familiar sights in European countries as recently as 20 years ago. In emerging markets, three-wheel vehicles are basically large mopeds, according to Sam Fiorani, forecast manager of research firm AutomotiveCompass.
The concept of three-wheelers is, in fact, as old as the modern car itself: The first gas-fueled car as we know it today, patented in 1886 by Karl Benz, had only three wheels. The jet-powered Spirit of America three-wheeler recorded a time of 566.27 mph in 1964. Three-wheeled and other small vehicles rose in popularity in Europe when the 1956 Suez crisis made gas prices soar.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
No way. That's hilarious.
ping
Now all they need to do is fix all the potholes in the road.
cute, zippy. . .yes. But wondering what niche or just how big. . .certainly not any road that a three-wheeler meets an l8-wheeler; and usually, that's just outside town; and sometimes inside. . .
they need to make sure they put a "Hemi" engine in it. and but "HEMI" badges all over it.
who cares if it handles like a shopping cart with a busted wheel...
Its a "hemi"
cute pic. bet it ain't so hot in the rain, tho.
all kidding asied, the three-wheeler has been around for decades. hasn't taken off yet, why would it do so now?
You neglect to mention the probable drastic increase in fuel economy. As to who will work on them--they ARE powered by internal combustion and have wheels--so any decent auto mechanic will be qualified to "work on these things".
Looks like a perfect vehicle for the daily commute.
This might be a very small market, but I think older baby boomers who are experiencing the aches and pains of age might LOVE these things. You don't have to swing your leg over, so your hip joints aren't affected.
There's another market, too. I'd love a motorcycle, but I've had a lot of foot reconstruction that would make mounting and dismounting a painful process. This critter seems like a great alternative. It would go well with my Re-Trike!
Someone say Hemi?
Still just a three wheel motorcycle. No matter what you put on the wheels.
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Three-wheeled vehicles of one kind or another ... were familiar sights in European countries as recently as 20 years ago
Yeah, well so were Man-Purses.
Which are quite common today- in the form of laptop bags. If you were to dump out half of them, they'd probably be full of purse-type crap and no laptop. :-)
Sorry, but 3 wheelers are hardly a NEW KIND of anything.... just because this reporter has lived in a cave doesn't mean he should get away with that sort of nonsense.
Yeah, I saw a bunch of those down at the Hollister factory.
Yahoo! was using them for tooling around town at one time.
They had a transverse-mounted V-twin in the front.
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