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Revision as of 08:28, 6 January 2006 by Interiot (talk | contribs) (Category:Three-wheeled motor vehicles)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Three wheeled cars typically have one wheel in the front for steering and two at the rear for power. However, a breed of vehicles having two wheels in the front and one wheel at the back has cult-like following among automotive designers and enthusiasts. One advantage of this configuration is improved aerodynamics.
For the lowest wind resistance (and best fuel efficiency) a rain drop shape is desired. The surface tension of the water in the rain drop as the air moves past it (or the drop moving through still air) naturally creates this low resistance shape. As the drop begins to fall, the force of the air pushes and distorts the drop. If the force is less in any place, the drop expands in that area. If the force is high in one spot, that spot is pushed in.
A rain drop is wide and round at the front, tapering to a point at the back. The three wheel configuration alows the two front wheels to create the wide round surface of the vehicle. The single rear wheel allows the vehicle to taper at the back.
A disadvantage of the standard three wheel configuration (one wheel at the front, two at the back) is instability - the car may tip over in a turn. The reverse tricycle configuration has improved stability, roughly the same as a conventional four wheel vehicle.