BMWs Awesome Simple Concept Tricycle

Personally I would not touch a Tricycle with one wheel at the front only, the other way round yes I might!!

I prefer such an arrangemet ever since driving a 3 wheeler many years ago with one wheel at the front, the steering had little centering and meant you always had to support your arm(s) = Tiring for long distances.

Also I still feel that two tyres and two brakes up front can stop better than one......there was a Triumph 3 wheeler of the 30's in the UK that was a great car to drive, but 2 wheels up front......

There is also the question of crash resistance, I am sure that two wheels up front will improve this as well.

Tyre wear is better with two also.....where the main braking effort is made.

There are several vehicles around in Germany, basically motorbikes with two wheels up front, for reasons that allow a car driver with no motorbike license to drive them, the ones I have spoken to think that the concept is really good and well worth paying the extra for.....

Just an F.Y.I., my AVG anti-virus software had blocked the video today because of a risk.

Uh, it's a youtube video?

I wish they'd flip that around so the two wheels were in the front...same concept otherwise. I'll be one of the first in line to buy a single seater commuter car someday but I get the joy and pleasure of thinking of what it would be like on snowy winter roads since buying a single season commuter car doesn't make much sense. If I'm going to have a 3 season car I might as well be able to at least fit my wife in with me for date night!

BMW already has experience with a 2 front wheel tricycle. When I was in Europe in the mid-60's, Messerschmits were pretty common. They looked like an aircraft drop tank with an aircraft canopy that flipped to the side to open and seated two in tandem. (Actually, now that I think about it, this may not have been a BMW product, but it was kinda cute; I wouldn't mind having one.)

They also made the Isetta which had four wheels with the two rear wheels about 10" apart. The front of the car opened for access and it seated two side-by-side.

I'd love a messerschmit! I actually have a pinup on the wall by my desk as a reminder of simple functionality. A simple vehicle demonstrating some crazy efficiency levels could likely get the attention of lawmakers who allow hybrids in HOV lanes or even create dedicated commuter car (half width) lanes since they could actually fit onto the side and not interfere or displace any regular lanes.

Then I ask again, why did they put the two front wheels at the back? I cannot for the life of me fathom that one out. Big screwup....

I certainly won't buy one as it is now, and you lot neither.....

The car really reminds me of the 'carver' I saw on Top Gear once but the whole chassis pivots instead of just the driver's compartment and front wheel. Modifying a motorbike into something like this would be a great project.

If someone would at least start to produce something (even if it were backward) an evolution of the idea could at least start. Until then they'll all be concept cars

This is what I would like to have on the road:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhR9Et_Cx_k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3qqjYWc9IE&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laaDvTCLda4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhTjRzWiPg&feature=related

It could be made narrower and sit people one behind the other and bank into the corners as well, but never ever 2 wheels at the back please......

Also, it must be far simpler for a concept car or home built one to use a motorcycle engine, transmission and rear wheel, rather than design from scratch a rear axle with say only 1 meter of width!!!

British Morgan cars of the 20's & 30's were better laid out than BMW's latest (Cry?) Baby...:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsi_G38khEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZXzO1K2mRc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9jKYCpXLw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liDdhfXD1tk&feature=related

There's a lot of neat 3 reverse trikes but they sit the driver and passenger side by side which increases the aerodynamic drag. I like the narrow stance of the bmw wheels and the leaning...it would make it more comfortable to drive since you'd always just get pressed down into your seat on corners instead of thrown towards the door. I guess a leaning vehicle would need an interesting lean-by-wire system to control the leaning since, unlike a motorbike, you and enclosed and sitting in the wrong position to do it by yourself.

Hey BMW! Turn it around and I'll take one! ;)

I concur completely.....