Thursday 5th January 2006

VW GX3 concept mixes it up

Car-bike hybrid for California only

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VW GX3: unsuited to the M62?

VW's generated a weird car-bike hybrid concept for the Los Angeles auto show this week. The GX3, dubbed "a completely new type of motorcycle", was conceived by the Moonraker team and VW's Design Center in California, exclusively with the US market in mind.

With its two seats and three wheels -- two at the front, one at the rear -- it's said to be "light, fast, and environmentally friendly". VW reckoned that "it allows you to cruise in the carpool lane, even if you're driving solo and opens up new horizons for recreational driving".

Costing under US$17,000 (about £9,700), the 570Kg GX3 will be driven by a 1.6-litre 125bhp engine, a power-to-weight ratio that results in a dash to 60mph from rest in 5.7 seconds with fuel consumption of 46 mpg (US). According to VW, a production version of the GX3 could be available soon, depending on American drivers' feedback.

Design elements

According to VW, the focus for its design team was "to create a quintessential and pure driving machine". As a result, it sports "an exposed single sided swing arm, aggressive central exhaust, open front wheels and stealthy matte finishes", along with anodised gold and black suspension components and LED lighting. The driver's cockpit is equipped with five-point racing harnesses and the rear boasts a single 18"x12" back wheel.

Chassis and transmission

The basic structure of this driving machine is formed by a high-density, warp-resistant, steel construction space frame, draped in GRP bodywork. The 215/45 R17x8J front wheels are controlled by a double lateral steering axle. The engine's power is delivered via six-speed transmission and chain drive to the rear wheel, which has a tyre size of 315/30 R18x12J.

Don't think it'll make it to the UK...

[Tuna]

Morgan three wheeler anyone?

[dinkel]

14 more:

[kingb]

not really a motorcycle!! is it just me or are a few manufactures starting to make 3 wheelers. im sure i saw an article on a pug one the other day. Are they gonna make a revival

[Tuna]

[TimRaven]

Always had a fasination for trikes, think it stemmed from stories from my father about epic journies in his Morgan Blackburn 3 wheeler such as the driving right through the night to get from Guildford to Donnington to view the original Silver Arrows in 1938, which involved such adversities as getting the real wheel stuck in the tram (Electric bus) tracks crossing London (no M25), being so cold that he had to stop and warm himself at a "night watchman's brasier (Fire)"
Has anyone seen the Blackjack Zero, designed by Richard Oats (who did amounst others the GTM Libra & the Midas ). I reckon the Zero is much more convincing than VW's effort !

Check out www.blackjackzero.com

>> Edited by TimRaven on Thursday 5th January 13:24

[mikeveal]

Or maybe even :

www.malonecar.com
(my other car is a Skunk)

I'd love to know why the author thinks an open top bike engined car is not suitble for UK use. There are loads of fourwheelers out there and a few three wheelers too. Check out JZR, Blackjack's Avian and Zero, the Grinnal Scorpion, and the ubiquitous Lomax. These are all British!

For those more acostomed to driving on the wrong side of the road, Try looking up the sport cycle, the indy cycle, the T-Rex or the 700hp Trivette. Although admittedly the latter does have a roof.

Loads more info can be found courtest of "Elvis" at www.3wheelers.com.

[mrmaggit]

The Grinnall Scorpion knocks it into a cocked hat, and was designed nearly 15 years ago. 50 to the gallon, shaft drive, high build quality and creates more attention than most people would know what to do with.

Oh, and we've got number 081, by the way.

[smtk]

No one twigged the killer application for this if it’s counted as a motorbike?

Let just say it would be a congestion charge killer

[ceebmoj]

hi all,

I like it but I have a bit of a soft spot for 3 wheelers. Has any body seen www.sub3wheeler.com

[bimsb6]

its no more a motorcycle than a reliant robin ! looks cool but what is the engine
its not a bike engine ?

[bimsb6]

how can it have a central exhaust if the rear wheel is in the centre?

[smele]

bimsb6 said:

how can it have a central exhaust if the rear wheel is in the centre?

That's what I was thinking.

Like the idea, think it is fantastic and for $17K, that is a lot of performance. Expect it might handle to some degree as well, but I doubt it will ever be made. I mean what is the chance that this thing is going to be made and sold? In the US of all places? It will need to many safety features to make it work. Unless, that is the attitude with the motorcycle line. If they call it a three wheeled motorcycle, perhaps VW can get away with all that safety equipment and rules that make it slow, fat and heavy.

[Sonic Nonsense]

bimsb6 said:

how can it have a central exhaust if the rear wheel is in the centre?

It's in the middle above the wheel...

but more inomretantly, am I the only one that thinks it's way more of a car than a car/bike hyrid. You it in it and it's got more than 2 wheels.

Sounds like a car to me. Feel free to disagree



www.sonicnonsense.com

[FestivAli]

It's probably going to be a blast to drive, but your going to have the same old shit from both car and bike driver/riders - its got three wheels, so its not a proper car and its got three wheels, so its not as convienient in traffic as a bike and also isn't a proper bike. Fug it, I says, I like things like this, even if they are pointless.

Ali.

[jd]

bimsb6 said:

its no more a motorcycle than a reliant robin ! looks cool but what is the engine its not a bike engine ?

Looks from spec to be Polo GTI (~2001) engine

[Jimmy Mc]

I used to own a Grinnall Scorpion 3. Cheap to run, low insurance, and put a bigger smile on my face than any of the cars or bikes that i've owned. Sweet machine.

[4WD]

Looks great cosmetically. Now they just need a faster version for petrol heads. Shame I don't live somewhere hot as it's irrelevant for us brits.

[snorky]

If I ran Toniq cars a summons would be heading their way.....

[Chris71]

Has anyone else noticed a lot of these about lately - along with that Peugeot thing? Some strange new tax breaks for 3 wheelers?? Sudden environmental concious?

....or is it just that all the designers are taking the same drugs at the moment?

[JonRB]

ceebmoj said:

Has any body seen www.sub3wheeler.com

Blimey! That's really minimalist.