Morgan's trike: a vehicle whose time has come... back

Europe's legislatures are corralling auto makers towards ever lighter, more fuel-efficient product. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that British sporting specialist Morgan has exhumed the iconic three-wheeler on which it built its name.

Badged as the Super Sports, the two-seater is hard to pick as a new product, with its skinny wire wheels and original-look grille and bodywork. The interior is upholstered in leather, the steering wheel is big and flat, complementing simple retro-toggle switchgear. The starter button has even been modelled on the bomb-release button from a WWII aircraft.

Like the original, it's powered by a V-twin -- this time a 1.8 litre Harley Davidson 'Screaming Eagle' putting out 75 kW. That's enough to give the sub-500 kg machine a top speed of 185 km/h and a 0-100 sprint time of 4.5 to five seconds.

Between 1909 and 1953, Morgan built more than 30,000 of founder Harry Morgan's lightweight half-car-half-motorcycle, with thousands more being built under licence across the Channel in partnership with French company Darmont. After production ceased, the car's eccentricity continued to attract loads of celebrity attention. Stirling Moss once called it 'a great babe magnet'. Brigitte Bardot proved it by buying one; Peter Sellers used his to win over Claudine Longet in The Party. Mick Jagger turned up in one, Marianne Faithful in tow, looking like anyone but the defendant, for his drugs trial at the Old Bailey.

The Super Sports hails from a back-and-forth deal with Seattle engineer Pete Larsen, who bought the concept rights from Morgan and released them in 2009 as the Harley-powered Liberty Ace. Such was that car's success that Morgan has bought back its original concept rights along with Larsen's modernisation formula, which it has in turn extensively rejigged to turn into the Super Sports.

Part of the attraction of the early cars lay in tax avoidance, care of their classification as motorcycles rather than cars. The 21st century Super Sports bears something in common with its predecessor in leveraging the tax breaks and other concessions the UK government uses as incentive to consumers to buy light, fuel-efficient cars. Homologation under laws governing motorcycles rather than cars allows the company to dispense with airbags and secondary safety structures, the latter extending not far beyond the twin rollover hoops extending from its aluminium coachwork and tubular frame.

Protection from the elements is equally rudimentary -- twin flyscreens and no roof, although Morgan is already talking about extensive customisation options which will most likely eventually include some kind of lid.

The company has not yet confirmed prices, but has told UK media it's working to bring the Super Sports in at around £25,000 pre-tax.

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