Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Swan song

No, it has been dormant now for at least 25 years. I roll it around once every few years for garage cleaning and re-org.

Per American car magazine “Car & Driver”, Morgan IS planning a new 3 Wheeler model soon with an emissions compliant engine:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34788776/morgan-3-wheeler-dead-2021/

Thinking about the replacement engine for the new Three Wheeler (see what I did there Three...) after chatting at work today with a colleague who is into his Caterhams and the conclusion was a Ford engine 4cyl not the 3cyl. Mainly because the Duratec fits neatly into the Caterhams but mainly because Morgan have a very long history with Ford plus the Mazda box fits too. Obviously a EU6 complaint engine.

So there you go, all solved...Ford

Per the article:
"Morgan plans to bring back the 3 Wheeler with a European-emissions-compliant motorcycle engine in the near future."

The above stated it as if it is confirmed, but later on in the article they use the term most likely with the topic of water cooling, which I suspect they are referring to rather than 'water cooled motorcycle engine' :

we're told to expect the next-gen 3 Wheeler to launch with a combustion powerplant capable of passing European emissions, most likely a water-cooled motorcycle engine.

Another tidbit:
"We're also assured it will be launching a new three-wheeled model after what we're told will be a brief gap, one that will be fully type approved for the U.S."

The above would indicate that a current, in production, engine (motorcycle?) will be used. A brief gap may mean that the next M3W will be similar enough to the current M3W for a relatively easy transition in production.

The only engine that I am aware of with water cooling (heads), which the manufacturer offers separate from the motorcycle, has a dry sump, expected Euro5 emissions, and would be a fairly easy adaption (the 'short wait' wording) would be Harley Davidson's M8.


A CX chassis M3W with 1.5 BMW/Mini front wheel drive has been the best guess for the next gen otherwise. This is in keeping with Morgans latest offerings using BMW power plants and the CX chassis, yet the article states a motorcycle engine.


So what motorcycle engine and from who will the next M3W use if not Harley's M8? Maybe MotoGuzzi worked out Euro5 on their big V, that would be a good choice. Not sure about BMWs R18, will there be enough room for the double A-Arm front suspension? These are wet sumps as far as I know and I don't know how they would deal with side forces pushing oil to one side of the wet sump. The Harley is a dry sump, so not a prob there.


Edit: from the above "US approved" means EPA approved, the EPA approval takes some time, so this points to an engine already for sale in the US which would seem to leave the BMW R18 and Harley M8.

The Harley M8 would be a good choice. Harley are supplying this engine separately.
Lots of after market engine upgrades to boost power.
Also this engine can have the counter shaft weighted to reduce the torque spike.

Lots of info on Baxter's garage on You Tube.

Hmmm, not so sure about that....M8 has been full of problems since its launch and Harley just turn there back and deny it

Maybe this years engine has improved but certainly the first year or two's production was full of problems.
Their Twin Cam was a much better engine.

Olwyn, it does indeed state "motorcycle" engine, not meaning to be argumentative but Morgan have been very secretive these past few years about new models, they even built a big wall in the factory to hide the prototypes. I was roughly escorted once from Area 1?? (Not allowed in here, get out) and had to have a cup of tea and scone to calm my nerves

Also, as its pretty certain from all accounts that the engine will be undercover, is there any point for having a V Twin (apart from the lovely noise and looks of course) wouldn't a more conventional engine be easier for longer term compliance (2030 anyway...) Morgan 3 Wheeler is a separate company to Morgan Motor (last time I looked) and wouldn't using a BMW engine be a little bit eggs and basket.

Fingers crossed it is a VTwin from whom I don't mind. We will find out in the next year or two.

"Morgan 3 Wheeler is a separate company to Morgan Motor (last time I looked)"

According to companies House - The Morgan 3 Wheeler Ltd dissolved via a voluntary strike off July 2019...had same registered address and Directors etc as MMC

Personally I doubt another Morgan 3 wheeler will ever materialise, and if it does it will be BMW based engine and quite tame/sanitised as in its everyday driving experience.

So a true compensator rather than the erroneously described cush drive on current M3W's.

Sho

Shows how long ago I looked them up at Companies House