By Tim Odell
Polaris recently filed patent applications both domestically and internationally for a three-wheeled road-going side-by-side. The application describes the vehicle in excruciating detail, down the motor proposed (Specifically a GM 2.4L Ecotec LE5 (P/N 12619532)). Typically when a corporation files a patent this detailed (using what are clearly CAD renderings devolved to patent line drawings), it’s to protect a specific product, rather than claim wide swaths of IP territory. In short, this is very probably going to happen, and that makes us very happy.
The sit-in reverse trike checks all of my personal commute boxes: cage around me, no special attire
needed, can carry extra people and stuff easily, fast and fuel efficient. I’m not alone, as our own Tanshanomi proposed a similar vehicle as his own pie-in-the-sky, guy-in-a-shed project as the Cyrobuka. Typically offroad side-by-sides sell in the low-to-mid teens new, meaning there’s hope something like this could be in the same range. With a price like that and a high-100s to low-200hp Ecotec pulling roughly 1500lbs, it could make for a hell of a ride.
Sources: USPTO App 20120241238 A1, WIPO WO2012129294, Via TheKneeSlider (who didn’t bother to share the patent #s) and a hat tip to tipster CherokeeOwner!
Jeff Glucker
3 wheel competitor to KTM X-Bow because 4 wheel car would be too similar?
No, because a 4-wheel car of this configuration would not be legal in the USA.
Yes, but they registered this Solaris thing internationally too. They will sooner or later meet KTM somewhere.
And because you can't make terrified passenger videos in a Sub G1.
The Sub is still my favorite. But it is a solo affair.
Morgan says DENIED!
<img src="http://www.autotrader.co.uk/articleresources/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/morgan-cover-3.jpg">
Mid teens? I pray.
I'd be running every track day I could and still drive this cross country.
Honestly, I'd be shocked if this thing went for less than $30,000. Morgan's Three-Wheeler, if Jalopnik is to be believed, goes for around $37K here in the US, and the only three-wheeled car that's cheaper than that is a Blackjack Zero at $30K. ($15K if you get the DIY kit.)
The discrepancy is crazy.
Bikes are $10k, 4×4 side by sides are like 10-15k, then all of the street trikes (T-rex, Ace, Morgan) are $30-70k.
There's definitely not double the engineering, labor or materials in a trike Vs a 4×4 side by side.
Currently, all the trikes are essentially hand-built super low volume. I think if a major powersports manufacturer could build them at volume, you could drive the price down. Sub-25, sub-20k, there's definitely the demand for such a thing.
…particularly if you offer some kind of detachable soft top.
Couldn't find a Polaris patent drawing, but I did find a schematic for a Trident…
<img src="http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/slbm/d5_19.gif" width=400>
This appears to be reminiscent of a Trihawk.
<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3341/3434100130_11136fe6fd.jpg" width="500">
Except the Tri-hawk is awesome and retro, and this is superghey.
Is this car on your bucket list?
I don't have a list; it's more that I'd consider it were the opportunity to present itself.
Can anyone tell if it's front wheel drive or rear wheel drive?
Rear, with a drive shaft through the passenger compartment, then a belt along the rear swing arm.
Very, very cool commuter/twisties machine. Urban commuting MPG likely in the high-50's with said Ecotec, and it'd have borderline supercar scoot, too.
However…being in the weather of Texas, I gotsta haz me some A/C and an enclosed seating area.
I can't show up to work dripping wet when it rains…or looking like a tornado grazed me on the way in.
$20-$25K and I'll buy it.
Why doesn't GM, Ford, VW, or someone else build something like this? They have the capabilities to do so. Is it because the Feds would eventually require crash test standards for heavy three wheelers?
Check this out too: http://www.spydertalk.com/forums/topic/10939-pola…
Or this one too, more pics: http://thekneeslider.com/polaris-patent-reveals-a…
I'm English, but find it hard to believe that nobody in the USA has heard of Mark Grinnall and his trikes…
http://www.grinnallcars.com/scorpion-III-sports-c…
I wanted one of these – as far as driving to the other side of the country to test drive one (which was awesome… at the time I drove a Porsche 993 and it felt numb and slow on the way home) and putting down a deposit. Sadly this was in 2001, just before the WTC attacks, and the subsequent market uncertainty clobbered that dream – I had to pul out. Still want one though. It's a well developed machine as well – over a decade later, Mark is still selling them – so all the bugs will have been ironed out by now.
I guess they're not available in the USA? If they are, then Polaris have a bit of a 'prior art' problem here….
<img src="http://www.grinnallcars.com/gallery/s3asp1010149.jpg" width="500">
Price-wise, a fully built example is not far from the comments above, but in the UK we get screwed on car prices – not sure if US prices of UK cars are similarly blown up to rip-off levels…