Comments on: Carver Europe Goes Bankrupt – Manufacturer of Tilting Three Wheeler

By: OTTO MANN

OTTO MANN — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:57:38 +0000

TED SAID IT BEST, THEY WENT FOR THE WRONG KIND OF PEOPLE. WITH PRICE AT 48,000 US . THIS WAS DOOMED FORM THE START. BUT IN THER DEFENCE. THE PRESIDENT OF CARVER SAID THEY BEEN TALKING WITH LARGE A COMPANY. TO BRING THE PER UNIT COST DOWN. I WONDER IF THAT WAS THE DEAL IN MAY THAT FAILED.

By: kneeslider

kneeslider — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:03:26 +0000

BMW didn't just announce that, it was 3 years ago.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:49:34 +0000

Is it a coincidence that BMW just announces their 3-wheeled car called the ‘Clever’
link here
http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmws-clever-concept-completed.html

By: Art

Art — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:32:06 +0000

Without adding a lot more electro/gyro-mechanics/hydraulics wizardry, leaning vehicles would seem to have to keep the variable driver/passenger/load weight close to the vehicle center line. Otherwise how to deal with driver-only use with a side-by-side driver/passenger arrangement, to name just one example of possible passenger/load weight distributions. I’m sure it can be done, but at what cost and complication?

Non- leaning 3-wheelers still tend to embody all the inherent worst handling characteristics of both single and dual track vehicles, and few of the positive ones of either. I agree the Piaggio MP-3 concept is the best handling 3-wheel development I’ve seen to date, but the lack of cab/amenities and fore/aft seating leaves its potential appeal with the moto crowd, unlikely to attract many drivers from their cars.

Honda tried the same 2-rear/single front wheel with the tilting “body” layout in its scooter line decades ago. It may have been caught up in the 3-wheel ATV ban, but more likely the functional issues and neither-fish-no-fowl nature of it was what led to poor sales, and it being pulled from the line fairly quickly. In the day, saw one sitting in a Honda dealer showroom for nearly a year, never saw one on the road, have seen one (perhaps the same one?) at local vintage races and rallies. Maybe Carver and Advanced Tech Licensing Co should have looked at some moto-history before committing big bucks…

By: pabs

pabs — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:31:32 +0000

well i dont want to sound naysarayish ! but its a bad design, closed cabins with fore/aft seating are an antisocial non starter and 3 wheelers should never ever have a single wheel at the front, do it like the brillliant piaggo and it makes sense this one is nonsense.
a better soloution for this concept in terms of practical social fun would be the T-rex which doesnt lean