November 15, 2005 In summarizing the opportunities for different technologies, there are some that we just can’t figure out. Why for example, are three wheelers so spectacularly unsuccessful in the marketplace when they make so much sense? There have been one or two notable three-wheeled motorized conveyances in history that have achieved success on some level – the Morgan and Reliant and maybe the Asian three wheeler known as the TUK-TUK but nothing of genuine mass appeal. The advantages of a three-wheeler are so great (light weight, stability, high power-weight, great fuel economy, narrow road footprint, protection to occupants), that we expect far more commercial success from the layout, particularly as the last five years has seen a raft of stunning concepts float across our pages, but none of them has yet proven successful. Check out this stunning array of three wheelers – Magnet, Hermes, Life-Jet, Rider, Skipee, the 20CUP and most recently, Toyota’s I-Swing. Now there’s another exciting three wheeler to have reached proof-of-concept stage – The Phiaro P67b ETERNITY has three weheels, two seats (arranged in tandem), a 50kW 660cc motor and it banks into corners like a motorcycle.
Built for the 50th anniversary of the Japanese family design company, PHIARO the Eternity is a fully-functioning three wheeled concept with remarkable detail and workmanship characterizing its show model. The project was a collaboration of style and technology between several Japanese and European corporations, most notably the well-established Carver three-wheeler developed by Peter Van Den Brink in Holland.
"Yes, we were seriously involved with Phiaro to make their P67b Eternity", confirmed Van Den Brink.
"They did the exterior and interior styling, said Van Den Brink . "The engineering, in particularly, the DVC tilting technology, originates from us."
The P67b uses a fully automatic tilting mechanism, which Phiaro claims offers the driver an “exciting experience that can't be felt in any other vehicle.” The main body can tilt to around 45% in the corners and top out at 180 km/h in a straight line, though we suspect that with the sleek aerodynamics and a bit of tweaking of the turbo-charged and intercooled four-cylinder 68 bhp motor, much more spirited performance would be possible.
At more sedate speeds, the low weight of the machine and its efficient motor are reported to offer exceptional fuel economy.
The Dutch Carver One can be purchsed direct from Carver for 35,000 euros. The image library includes pics of both the Carver and the Phiaro and we're expecting to have a more extensive article on the Carver and a chat with Peter Van Den Brink in the next week or so.
So stay tuned!