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Tri-cycles for grownups? Maybe
Business Week ^ | 27 February 2006 | Mira Serrill-Robins

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: brosofthethirdwheel; carsfortheproles; gownups; hooligan; hooligans; motorcycle; transportation; tricycle; trike
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To: freepatriot32

No way. That's hilarious.


21 posted on 02/26/2006 11:57:48 PM PST by Choose Ye This Day (Read any book you want on child discipline and you'll find they're all in favor of bud-nipping.)
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To: Lorianne
The only way to get around the 4 wheel rules and regulations. Many will be light enough to get 100mpg.
22 posted on 02/27/2006 12:24:28 AM PST by John Jamieson (Hybrids are a highway around CAFE, that's all they're good for.)
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To: Lorianne

ping


23 posted on 02/27/2006 12:42:32 AM PST by Rick_Michael
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To: Lorianne

Now all they need to do is fix all the potholes in the road.


24 posted on 02/27/2006 1:14:37 AM PST by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: Oztrich Boy
I was thinking of the Morgan also.

At one time I owned a Morgan +4, very nice sports car based on the engine and tranny of a TR-2.
25 posted on 02/27/2006 1:14:51 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (“Don't approach a Bull from the front, a Horse from the rear, or a Fool from any side.”)
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To: Lorianne

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. . .


26 posted on 02/27/2006 1:20:18 AM PST by cricket (Truth - the first enemy of a Liberal. . .)
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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"


27 posted on 02/27/2006 1:33:28 AM PST by KneelBeforeZod (Someday a real rain will come and wipe this scum off the streets.)
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To: Lorianne

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?


28 posted on 02/27/2006 4:04:25 AM PST by camle (Keep your mind open and somebody will fill if full of something for you.)
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To: Blue Jays
"From my perspective I see minimal increases in safety, virtually no increase in cargo capacity, absolutely increased operating expense, and who is going to qualified to work on these things?"

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.

29 posted on 02/27/2006 4:10:02 AM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: Blue Jays
From my perspective I see minimal increases in safety, virtually no increase in cargo capacity, absolutely increased operating expense, and who is going to qualified to work on these things?

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!

31 posted on 02/27/2006 4:15:04 AM PST by Kieri (Midwestern Snark Claw and Feather Club Member)
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To: Don W


If these become popular, the above will become the next indespensible tool for EMS and other emergency crews.
32 posted on 02/27/2006 4:19:42 AM PST by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: KneelBeforeZod

Someone say Hemi?

33 posted on 02/27/2006 4:27:42 AM PST by usmcobra (I always sing Karaoke the way it is meant to be sung, drunk, badly, and in Japanese)
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To: Lorianne

Still just a three wheel motorcycle. No matter what you put on the wheels.


34 posted on 02/27/2006 4:45:59 AM PST by G-Man 1
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To: 230FMJ; 506trooper; 68 grunt; AdamSelene235; angry elephant; archy; Askel5; baddog1; baltodog; ...

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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.

35 posted on 02/27/2006 5:11:29 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Lorianne
Just for the hell of it, someone should invent a five-wheeled car. That'd show 'em.
36 posted on 02/27/2006 5:13:59 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro
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. :-)

37 posted on 02/27/2006 5:51:17 AM PST by Riley ("What color is the boathouse at Hereford?")
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To: Don W
new kind of hybrid

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.

38 posted on 02/27/2006 5:54:30 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: martin_fierro
Corbin Motors Sparrow, production died in 2003



39 posted on 02/27/2006 5:57:15 AM PST by JoeSixPack1
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To: JoeSixPack1

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.


40 posted on 02/27/2006 6:00:22 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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