Three fellows, working at the GM design studio in southern California had a plan. Their goal was minimal weight, distributed 50/50 front and rear including driver, compact dimensions and great handling, with aesthetic appeal and overall efficient design. The result is the SUB 3 Wheeler, powered by a Suzuki TL1000R V twin engine situated next to the driver. They wanted a canyon carver not a drag racer and that's what they built.
The SUB has a handbuilt TIG welded frame, a fiberglass body and three wheels with motorcycle tires. Most 3 wheelers these days have some version of car tires, the motorcycle tires gave them the right contact patch area distribution and weight distribution while limiting frontal area. Their choice was a version of Avon's cruiser tires.
They used an array of high tech tools beginning with the computer models, CNC machining to create the reusable molds and even used some rapid prototyping. The SUB weighs 750 pounds and has 120 horsepower which translates into a lot of fun.
They're considering a limited production run of 25 priced at $80,000 with $25,000 down. This may seem a bit steep but everything on this 3 wheeler is custom made, even the wheels and there are custom choppers out there that cost a lot more. Pretty neat.
SUB 3 Wheeler
See also: Motorcycle powered cars
Highsider says
If you like this you will love this: http://www.carver-europe.com
todd says
I still don’t understand the use of motorcycle tires on a 3-wheeler. There are more appropriate car tires available. You can see from the dirt on the tires that only half of the tread is in contact with the ground. maybe it’s because they used 18″ rims. If they used a 15 or 16″ rim with a car tire you could get all of the tire on the ground with the same frontal area. Oh well, looks really neat and makes me want to build my own much more now. I like the idea of offsetting the engine to shorten the wheelbase. Too bad I wouln’t be able to take my wife along for the ride…
-todd
Alejandro says
The body style reminds me of the shape of a plum-bob tool, having helped a buddy do some remodeling lately. The vehicle looks clean, but needs a little more spice for my taste. I too do not understand the use of motorcycle tires on a vehicle that doesn’t lean. They want it to be a mountain carver, yet they did excatly the opposite by using motorcycle tires. It would be nice to see some skidpad numbers?
camilo osejo says
I totally dig this concept, it looks neat, clean, sporty and the gt40 scheme makes it look fast, I just wish it was 160 or 180cc for two people… that would make a hell of a cummuter.
james says
—- yeah ! Thats my next project but a little more functional
Darrell says
This kills me. I love the look of this vehicle. As one of the other posters said, it would make a great commuter. Here is where I have a problem. These three work for GM and have produced a valid concept vehicle. Now for production purposes why not pull some parts out of the GM catalog and make this an affordable vehicle. At $80k the market may be a little smaller than the 25 they want to build a year.
Tim B. says
Now is the time for the BIG THREE to get off their combined asses and develop the econo trikes as well as motorcycles!
Make them affordable to the masses! Do they hear us?