Automotive Blog

There’s no question that consumer automotive preferences have changed. Just go by a dealership and look at the lonely lines of SUVs and pick-ups that Americans, burned from their foray into $4 a gallon gas this summer are eschewing in favor of smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles and hybrids. Some drivers, however, are going a step beyond. Not comfortable being “wild hogs” on motorcycles and not ready to try getting around under their own pedal power, these folks are getting aboard trikes like those made by Piaggio.

According to figures compiled by CNW Marketing Research and cited in the New York Times on October 30, sales of trikes — or three-wheeled motorbikes — are up in the United States 8.6 percent over last year. The numbers are still small — 24,443 as opposed to 22,496 — but 63 percent of those buying the trikes in the past 12 months did so because they were after fuel economy. (Even venerable Harley Davidson is getting onboard with this transportation trend, just introducing its Tri Glide Ultra Classic with a price tag of $30,000.)

We’ve blogged about three-wheeled vehicles before, like the Aptera, which has a closed cockpit and tops out at 95 miles an hour. (Also a $30,000 vehicle.) The bottom of the line Piaggio, the MP3, however, costs just $7,199. These trikes are much more like conventional motorcycles, but with greater handling stability for drivers inexperienced with two-wheelers.

Just another indicator of the degree to which personal transportation is getting redefined in the new realities of our economy and environmental situation.

Posted on October 31st, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: lifestyle |

del.icio.us Digg Reddit Google Netscape StumbleUpon