As much as we would like to believe otherwise, the conventional gas-powered car is going to be the primary mode of transport for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t mean, though, that we can’t innovate when it comes to secondary vehicles, as is the case with the E-3POD Antistatic.

Designed by Royal College of Art student Heikki Juvonen, the E3-POD Antistatic is the winning entry in a Double Challenge sponsored by Citroen. The goal was to create an ultra-compact electric vehicle and the E3-POD is exactly that.

It has two slightly angled wheels in the front and a giant wheel in the back. In this way, it’s kind of similar to something like the T-Rex, but it’s also completely different. For starters, the large back wheel is hubless and it houses the cabin where the single passenger will be seated. It’s also fully electric, using all kinds of lightweight construction to allow for a smaller battery pack and more efficient design.

Since the cabin is domed, you get more of a “personal space” that is separated from the rest of the world, quite unlike a regular bicycle. This also shields you from the elements. I imagine there could be some serious vision problems, though, as it looks like there’s a giant bar blocking the center of your windshield. That can’t be safe, can it?

[CarSession via Royal College of Art]

The post Citroen-sponsored E-3POD Antistatic electric trike concept vehicle appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Johnathan Cote of Morelli Designers has now come around to giving a fresh look to the T-Rex super trike, tearing off the roof and adding some vital roll-over protection. He’s beefed up the frame for increased “structural fortitude” and the overall appearance is more “dynamic” and “modern.”

As far as I can tell, the engine and other vital components have remained largely unchanged. It’s still looks like a blast to drive… I wonder if they’d give me a review unit.

The post T-Rex Super Trike Gets Reworked by Morelli Designers appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

As a refresher, the T-Rex has two wheels in the front, one big fat tire in the back, and a couple of seats that are situated side-by-side, each accompanied by a set of racing harnesses. This “trike with bite” is powered by a 1.2L 4-cylinder engine (courtesy of Kawasaki) good for 187hp. That’s just as much juice as a Lotus Elise, except the T-Rex is half the weight.

The styling of a car, the manueverability of a motorcycle, and an engine that lets you go like stink. Sweet.

The post Video: T-Rex high-powered trike terrorizes test track appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The 1.2L four-banging engine is enough to propel this trike (officially classified as a motorcycle) to speeds of up to 225km/h (140mph). The 0-60mph time is pretty impressive at 4.1 seconds, but while inside, it feels more like a track car with its side-by-side seats, adjustable backs, and 3-point retractable safety belts. That said, you operate the manual transmission with your hand.

But how does one go about making something like this? What better way to answer that question than with a video:

The post Video: The making of the T-Rex super trike appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The T-Rex has a tubular steel chassis and frame covered by reinforced sandwiched fiberglass and plastic and a carbon fibre windscreen and headrest. The two wheels in front and one behind are driven by a 187 bhp 1,400cc Kawasaki motorcycle engine which rockets the car from 0-60 in just 3.3 seconds. There are two seats, and the three-point racing seatbelts seem like a particularly good idea. It’s hard to decide whether this thing is a car or a bike, but if Londoners like it, then those with enough cash in their pockets can decide for themselves.

The post The T-Rex trike to invade London appeared first on Mobile Magazine.