Next I jumped into the V13R, the “roadster” three-wheeler. At low speeds, turning is quite a workout but once you get going it is an absolute blast. The steering combined with the taut suspension means you feel every crevice or bump in the road. With the purely manual steering rack, turn-in is sharp and it feels as if there’s no separation between you and the front tires. It’s an incredibly visceral experience, with the BMW engine howling behind you and wind directly in your face. Once you get the hang of it, however, the T-Rex’s appeal comes sharply into focus. Eric looked worried, but I couldn’t confirm it. When I first hopped into the T-Rex, I may have killed it pretty much immediately. Trying to work a motorcycle transmission with foot pedals is a tough proposition the clutch is heavy without much travel and a catch point that is hard to locate. The T-Rex is among the most difficult things I’ve driven. This mattered less than you’d think it was so loud in the T-Rex that verbal communication was a moot point and I was relegated to watching his hand signals to get the gist of it. My co-pilot while driving the T-Rex was a Qu éb écois fireman named Eric who spoke not a lick of English. The only modification Campagna makes is to add a Reverse mechanism, so you can back them up (like a car). Moving the stick forward puts you in 1st and then pulling it back moves the gearbox into 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on. The T-Rex and V13R only come with manual six-speed sequential shift transmissions, which also come from motorcycles. All that power also goes through a single tire, so if you punch it and drop the clutch hard, it will break loose almost instantly. The T-Rex has serious pickup and it will go from zero-to-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. For perspective, a 2017 Ford Mustang GT with its 435-hp V-8 comes in at 8.52 pounds per horsepower. The T-Rex only weighs 1,157 pounds, which factors out to 7.23 pounds per horsepower. The engine comes from BMW’s K 1600-series of sport bikes and the 1,649 cubic centimeter six-cylinder engine makes an impressive 160 horsepower and 129 pounds-feet of torque. I tested the performance-focused P// edition with an upgraded suspension, brakes and steering. After the crickets stopped chirping, it was mercifully time to drive.įirst up was the T-Rex. “Maybe you should say that you measure them in smiles per gallon?” I replied, and to Morissette’s credit, he didn’t even chuckle. So we don’t bother with things like miles per gallon.” I didn’t even get a question in before he said, “Look, these are not practical things. Before I hopped in for a drive, I spoke to Andr é Morissette, president of Campagna Motors, to figure out exactly what I was in for. However, both scream the kind of unpretentious fun that I adore. That makes them cars to me.Ĭampagna’s two models have different approaches and aims: The T-Rex is the sharper, edgier version while the V13R was designed to be more of a cruiser. So why are we covering these things on if they have motorcycle engines and only three wheels? Well, they’ve got seat belts, turn signals, headlights and in most states - including California where I live - you don’t need a Class M license (or a helmet, for that matter) to drive them on the street. I had the chance to try out both of its three-wheel vehicle offerings, the T-Rex and the open-air V13R, in Los Angeles. CARS.COM - For those of us who love to drive and want maximum exposure to the road but don’t want to hop onto a motorcycle, there is another way and it comes courtesy of Campagna Motors.
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