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Two New T-Rex Fighters
Anybody who has hung around Gadgetopia long enough has heard about the T-Rex, the North American built, motorcycle-based trike/sports car. The T-Rex will out corner and out accellerate most any exotic car built today, and riding on three wheels made it pretty unique.
But now two other manufacturers — Peugeot and Volkswagen — are showing three wheelers; the VW GX3 (in white) and the Peugeot 20Cup (in black. Gotta wonder where the name came from.) And both seem reasonably serious about putting them into production.
Why three wheels? Well, because it’s different.
The company (Volkswagen) sees the GX3 as a continuation of its tradition of unique oddities, which includes the jeep-style Type 181 (The Thing), the Baja buggies, the Microbus and the original Beetle.
Both vehicles also benefit from light weight and low profiles to squeeze a lot of miles (kilometers?) from a tank of gas (petrol?), and since they have three wheels they can be licensed as motorcycles, allowing them to be driven in car pool lanes. Given the fact that neither has a roof, I don’t see them being terribly popular in the upper midwest, especially this time of year.
The Peugeot is a front drive machine, which makes me wonder why the fat rear tire is needed. The VW places the engine behind the seats and uses the rear wheel to drive it, going so far as to use a chain drive. No word on how much the Peugeot might cost, but VW is throwing around a price of $17,000 for the GX3; not bad considering the price of a T-Rex.
Volkswagen will look for signs of consumer approval to help in the build/not build decision, and expects to sell them primarily in the US.
What Links Here
The SUB G1
File this one under YATWO (Yet Another Three-Wheeled Oddity): Gizmag.com has an article on the SUB G1 — a 135hp, 1000cc V-twin 3-wheeler that looks like it's going 95 while standing still. The SUB G1 differs pretty radically from other three wheelers that we've talked about in that it seats just…
What This Links To
T-Rex
T-Rex: I saw one of these driving around The Empire Mall here in Sioux Falls. I about snapped my neck trying to get a better look at it. I would have chased after it with the minivan, except my wife was in exchanging some clothes. It looks like a…
Comments
Why three wheels? Well, because it’s different.
I think it's because with three wheels they're not legally considered cars, so they don't have to comply with as many laws and can get away with some of the hariy things they're doing.
As for the single wheel in back, it's much more stable since you have two wheels for steering, and two contact patches for handling cornering forces. Plus, a single wheel tends to follow cracks and imperfections in the pavement, whereas two wheels don't.
The peugeot will not make it to production as most of their concepts don't. The rear wheel on the peugeot does the steering and the front are driven, but i could be wrong.
man these freaking three wheel fighters better make it to production because im saving my money now to invest in one of these.
I have a Friend that has one with a Spalding Basketball paint job titled "Game Over" They come with a motorcycle engine, Kawasaki ZX12, or Turbo Hayabusa 1300cc. They are extremely nice at $40K.
Looks like VW is actually planning to build this thing; a prototype has been spotted on a test track in England. The track is owned by Lotus.
Can you say "Lotus-tuned suspension"? I knew you could! Zoom Zoom baby!
Not an incredibly new design, but still very nice. A similar design from the 70's is here: http://www.vortexplans.com/
Built using a lightweight car front-end, custom rear-end, and fiberglass/plywood composite chassis, this thing screams. And it's all-weather, too.
Yo dat is nice!!!!!!!
will i be able to drive in the rain. i have enough money to buy one, but i dont know if ill be able to drive it to high school and leave it in the rain. will all of my things get soaked. is there a full windshield? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. ANSWER MY QUESTIONS PLEASEEEEEEEE
Regarding the T-Rex, I got mine on 7-21-05. It is bright Yellow and the Licence plate says "AGILE". Today 10-23-07 it has about 19,000 miles on it and I have to say that the majority were very happy ones.
I have met "Game Over" at a T-Rex Get together on Newburry St in Boston. That machine is a good example of the 'tall kit', a factory option that should be considered by anyone over 6' if they plan to wear a helmet, or anyone over 6'2" regardless. It is also a good example of a self designed exhaust system. The stock setup uses the stock pipes from the "donor" motorcycle. This clever system runs the pipes straight up the. Frame, out under the toilet seat, together and upward out over the duck tail. A sharp araingement and likely far lighter than the stock setup.
I have not fully resolved the helmet question. Obviously, I would wear a helmet on a motorcycle but this is really a car that has been designed to take advantage of motorcycle rules in order to be at least several hundred pounds lighter at 900 lbs than it otherwise could be. With regard to helmets, my stste (NH) does not require them, MA, my closest neighbor, does, but in my two encounters with enforcement people there I have told them either that, 1) the helmet is built into the car or 2) there is an exemption for motorcycles equipped with seat belts. Both of these answers are total "fignewtons" of my imagination invented by me. However both worked at the time as the officers involver sped right on to their next question. So the helmet issue has not been resolved with regard to me, the T-Rex and the state of Massachusetts.
If you have other questions about this vehicle or it's manufacturer, please write to me. Mike at agileair dotcom. Cheers.
I Love these gadgets allways had love the 3 wheeler
Hi I would like to know the price of T-REX trike. And a number so I can contact you for more info. Thank you!
they are ogly
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