All-new Morgan 3 Wheeler teased ahead of Feb 24 debut

Morgan has confirmed it will introduce an all-new replacement for the quaint Morgan 3 Wheeler on February 24, based on a lightweight aluminium structure, offering substantially more power and available with a range of options that will make it the British brand's 'most-customisable' car ever.

The historic Malvern, Worcestershire-based sports car-maker has also hinted that the next-gen 3 Wheeler, the company's first clean-sheet design since the Morgan Aero 8 was introduced back in 2000, will get a new name and it's hotly tipped to be badged as the Super3.

Three different versions of the new 3 Wheeler will be introduced in an attempt to "highlight some of the personalities that have inspired its design, from bold, individual, and eccentric colours to fit-for-purpose adventure and motorsport-inspired mid-century racers", said Morgan.

It's not been confirmed but it's likely that Morgan, which released a teaser image of all three versions driving in the desert, will pull the drapes off a track-bred version, a grand tourer and a third more luxurious model.

Despite the start-from-scratch approach, the all-new 3 Wheeler will carry over its skinny tyres, prominent mudguards and familiar round headlights, retaining its retro look.

However, the teaser image suggests the frontal area has been reshaped to accommodate the new, more conventional engine that is almost certain to drop the outgoing model's side-exit exhausts.

Replacing the old S&S-sourced air-cooled 2.0-litre V-twin, the new range of three-wheeled Morgans will come with the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that powers the Ford Fiesta ST – except in the tiny British roadster it's likely to miss out on forced induction.

There's no word on power outputs, but the new motor is rumoured to produce around 100kW – a sizeable bump on the outgoing three-wheeler's 60kW output.

The historic British car-maker says its new 3 Wheeler will benefit from several 'engineering enhancements' that include the same advanced aluminium chassis tech that underpins the latest Plus Four and Plus Six roadsters.

We expect a sub-500kg kerb weight and a 0-100km/h sprint time of less than six seconds, plus a blustery top speed that could exceed 200km/h.

Channelling its might to the single rear wheel (via a toothed belt), the new engine will be combined with the current car's five-speed Mazda MX-5-sourced manual transmission.

To cope with the big performance lift, new aero elements have been added including diffuser plates on both sides to improve stability at high speeds.

Even though the 2022 Morgan 3 Wheeler is said to share the same footprint as the quirky model it replaces, the new car will get a wider, lower floor that can better accommodate both taller and broader drivers.

While the instruments and other cockpit clocks, dials and toggle switches will draw heavily from the past, one feature that will not be introduced will be a roof, although a fabric tonneau cover and hard half-tonneau will be offered as an option.

The outgoing 3 Wheeler is already Morgan's best-selling vehicle of all time, and the British car-maker hopes the new model will match its sales performance in 2012, when it was selling around 28 cars a week.

Back in 2016 Morgan was primed to introduce an all-electric EV3 version (pictured above), but those plans were axed at the last moment following reported issues with a key supplier. Morgan says there are currently no plans to introduce a battery-electric version of the new-generation 3 Wheeler.

Commenting on the eve of the next-gen 3 Wheeler's launch, Morgan boss Steve Morris said: "The next chapter of Morgan’s three-wheeled story will begin on 24 February, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally show it to the world. The all-new model continues a 113-year legacy of three-wheeled Morgan cars, and – as has always been the case – the new model will be totally different to anything else."