morgan unveils the super 3, a three-wheeler powered by a ford engine

THE JET AGE INFORMED THE DESIGN OF THE SUPER 3

the morgan motor company has unveiled the super 3, a new three-wheeler vehicle designed to bring new levels of character, thrill and adventure. with the idea of enticing users to get behind the wheel and offering a unique combination of mechanical feel, connection to the environment and visual differentiation, the super 3 wants to encourage owners to feel present in the craft of motoring.

‘the morgan super 3 represents a new level of engineering integrity for morganm,’ said chris arthur, chief engineer, morgan motor company. ‘superform techniques have allowed us to achieve something that is typically out of reach for niche manufacturers. the monocoque platform is light, stiff, strong and resilient and looks good. throughout the vehicle, the quality of finish is comparable to that of much larger manufacturers, and we feel we have engineered a car that delivers a lot more value to morgan customers.’

MORGAN’S MOST CONFIGURABLE MODEL TO DATE

as the company’s most configurable model to date, the super 3 by morgan offers an extensive list of options and accessories that allow owners to tailor their own experience. the design has been informed by the jet age where there was a logical relationship between form and function. it’s because of this that both aerodynamic and mechanical requirements heavily influence the design of the vehicle. this is seen in the cast aluminum structures that provide its face, brace the engine and control the corner packages while also directing air into the side-mounted cooling packs.

‘super 3 is morgan’s first clean-sheet design since the launch of the aero 8 in 2000 and the company’s biggest visual departure since the 1962 plus 4 plus. super 3 challenges the typical perceptions of morgan design yet remains true to the company’s underlying principles and heritage.’

the engine — no car-derived and mounted-board — has been placed behind the front axle line, delivering optimum weight distribution and desirable proportion. bracing the engine are structural aluminum castings finished in silver or black. these castings support the engine and corner packages while also ducting air into the cooling packs. the mechanical requirements of these castings have delivered the character of super 3’s face and have become a crucial design element.

the front wheel design is by morgan. the wheels’ positive offset allows for the longest possible suspension wishbones, with the brakes mounted far out. this maximizes ride quality, handling and stability. the inside face of the wheel arches is closed-off, which works aerodynamically both to reduce wind noise and to help the flow of cooling air to the radiators behind them.

while the front end embodies mechanical honesty, the tail contrasts this with elegant, streamlined simplicity. an exposed rib forms a belt line around the vertical midpoint of the vehicle. this feature is a nod to traditional seam joining techniques deployed on mid-century aircraft fuselages, and it is often apparent in ‘belly tank’ racers and early jets. beneath it lies a unique cut-off tailpipe design, a feature that would normally be impossible but which meets regulations due to its positioning inbound of this belt line.

‘super 3 stands out as something different. it looks towards our past, is relevant in the present, and reinstates a firm vision of morgan’s design future,’ said jonathan wells, head of design, morgan motor company. ‘it felt natural to derive influences for super 3 from the succeeding decades its 1920s inspired predecessor was paying homage to. during the ‘jet age’, the balance of form vs function was equalized. it was within these decades that the most aerodynamic forms were, not only required, but also admired.’