A Dodge Tomahawk?
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 ...
Sorry---disagree. The "exoskeleton" design of the framing lends itself perfectly to a great "roll cage". Would work just like the safety cages on dragsters.
"A VW Golf TDI with the 1.9 liter diesel engine gets mileage that hovers around 42-45 miles to the gallon."
I'd guesstimate that a gas-powered buggy like this with all the computerized tricks would probably get twice that. It would certainly get better gas mileage than an equivalent motorcycle (I'm talking a "closed version") due to reduced aerodynamic drag.
That "dragracer exoskeleton" is designed to slide down a racetrack in the event of a mishap involving no other vehicles...not to get slammed by a dumptruck hauling a load of sand to a landscaping job. Heck, we're talking about a vehicle that has a passenger compartment that is probably 30" wide and lower than many truck bumpers. These trikes will only be incrementally more secure than a motorcycle in a collision. If you're concerned about your safety on a bike as you mentioned earlier, please don't look to this type of vehicle as a solution.
These trikes will get decent mileage, no doubt, but I don't think it will be nearly as radical as the "doubling" you're expecting to see. In order to double the VW TDI diesels or even some of the wonderful Toyota Corolla models, we're talking nearly 100 miles per gallon of fuel. That kind of economical mileage isn't just around the corner.
~ Blue Jays ~
The problem is that these three wheelers are lists as motorcycles. There is no "commuter vehicle" class.
Check out Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion car: http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/images/car3.jpg
And how many motorcycle drivers get "slammed by a dumptruck hauling a load"---not many. The majority get the ax by separating from the bike and trying to emulate a bird.--which is exactly what a roll-cage and safety harnesses are all about preventing.
"These trikes will get decent mileage, no doubt, but I don't think it will be nearly as radical as the "doubling" you're expecting to see. In order to double the VW TDI diesels or even some of the wonderful Toyota Corolla models, we're talking nearly 100 miles per gallon of fuel. That kind of economical mileage isn't just around the corner."
Disagree. I think 100 mpg with a really aerodynamic exoskeletal safety frame and an engine fully electronically controlled is quite do-able.
The accident scenario was designed to paint a picture. In simple terms, these trikes (whether exoskeleton or not) are far from the safety of an automobile or truck since they're positioned practically right on the ground.
They have greatly decreased capability in challenging weather and limited comfort with regard to A/C, heating, and ventiliation.
Mileage remains to be seen, but the Corbin models gets around 35 m.p.g. with the open model with the closed version still in pre-production status. Even then, they're only predicting 80 m.p.g. once everything is said and done. As mentioned earlier in the thread, my friend's father was consistently getting 49 m.p.g. more than a decade ago and could carry a few people and a load of groceries simultaneously. Why not put some eggs in that basket? Diesel hasn't been explored enough in this country. Simple engines with less moving parts.
The trikes look like they would be loads of fun to drive, but to say they're as safe and as comfortable as a modern car or truck is an enormous stretch. Can we at least agree on that?
~ Blue Jays ~
Yes, but neither of your "superior alternatives" (Volkswagen Golf/Toyota Corolla) would survive that particular scenario any better.
"They have greatly decreased capability in challenging weather and limited comfort with regard to A/C, heating, and ventiliation."
I disagree. This is "just engineering". None of these problems can't be overcome with proper design.
"Even then, they're only predicting 80 m.p.g. once everything is said and done. As mentioned earlier in the thread, my friend's father was consistently getting 49 m.p.g."
MOST compact cars get no more than 40 mpg "highway mileage". Eighty mpg is damned close to twice 49 mpg. And that is without the incremental advances that will ABSOLUTELY happen once the basic model is released.
"Diesel hasn't been explored enough in this country. Simple engines with less moving parts."
I absolutely agree---but what is to stop Diesel cycle engines being developed for these conveyances?? There is no lower limit in size for Diesel engines. Heck--the Russians built Diesel MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES.
"but to say they're as safe and as comfortable as a modern car or truck is an enormous stretch."
But they WILL be far safer and more comfortable than any motorcycle. And with proper design, CAN be safer from MOST types of accidents than today's cars. None of them yet come with a "roll cage" frame.
A Dodge Tomahawk?
I'll stick with two and four wheels.
I did see a groovy trike with a Turbocharged Corvair engine, that kinda tickled my fancy. :):)
Love that too fast bike!!!!!! Someone made one out of a Boss Hoss Motorcycle and a Dodge Viper motor. I would love to put 2 wheels on the back of one of those, because I can't reach the ground on the left side anymore.
That'll get your butt kicked almost anywhere...
LOL!!
As a final strategy, you could use it as a war hammer and beat the thilly thavegas with it! :-)
ARRGgghhh!!AARGGGRRR :-)
I saw one of those little things up in the Bay Area (Figures!) last week. It was going down the 101 about 15 seconds behind a Hummer H2. I remember thinking that the order the two vehicles had going down the road was probably a good thing.
Note having 2 wheels in front and one in back is much more stable, since most of the time you are moving forward, not backwards.
What you do get is a vehicle you can commute in in any weather, in a suit if need be, and arrive comfortable, dry, and unruffled. Depending on the model, fuel economy could be through the roof, and performance still better than that of an economy car.
I wear mine proudly!
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