Sell Your Car....Buy A Merlin Coupe!

[Lost Cause]

Okay, I'm prejudiced toward Harleys, so here's a environmentally friendly car/motorcycle! It's made by Corbin Motors in Hollister California, and when possible, I'm buying one! Would you like it? Why not?

The Merlin Coupe, a concept vehicle currently in development at Corbin Motors, is scheduled for production the latter part of 2003. Like the Sparrow, it is designed for the commuter market. Unlike the Sparrow, this "ultimate commuter car" is powered by a gasoline combustion engine with a 300 to 400 mile range on a tank of gas and a projected 70 to 90 miles per gallon.


Fully enclosed, fully appointed
Three-wheeled vehicle registers, insures and parks as a motorcycle
1000 lbs (approx. 450 kg) curb weight
75-inch (approx. 190.5 cm) wheel base
52 inches (132 cm) vehicle height
100-mph (161 kph) top speed
300-400 mile range
$18,900 retail price

 

[Lost Cause]

Then there's the roadster...

The Merlin Roadster comes stock with the following:

Specifications:

Harley Davidson 88-cubic inch, twin cam balanced, fuel injected engine including the Harley ignition and wiring harness
4-speed manual transmission with reverse
Front wheel direct drive and steering
3-wheel disc brakes
Tubular steel chassis
Composite body
Scissor door: (click to view)
Tilt steering wheel
Fully integrated dashboard
Stereo AM/FM radio + CD player
4.5 cubic foot trunk space
52" wide from outside of tire to outside of tire
117" total length
78" axle to axle length

 

[Spinaroonie]

Re: Then there's the roadster...

The Merlin Roadster comes stock with the following:

Specifications:

Harley Davidson 88-cubic inch, twin cam balanced, fuel injected engine including the Harley ignition and wiring harness
4-speed manual transmission with reverse
Front wheel direct drive and steering
3-wheel disc brakes
Tubular steel chassis
Composite body
Scissor door: (click to view)
Tilt steering wheel
Fully integrated dashboard
Stereo AM/FM radio + CD player
4.5 cubic foot trunk space
52" wide from outside of tire to outside of tire
117" total length
78" axle to axle length

How much?

 

[freakygirl]

I read about these a few months ago in a magazine.

Pretty cool little cars.. I wonder what the insurance rates on those are going to be like..

 

[Lost Cause]

For you fossil fuel-ophobes....

Onboard battery charger
Three-wheeled vehicle registers, insures and parks as a motorcycle
1350 lbs. curb weight, 72-inch wheel base, 57 inches vehicle height
70 mph top speed, 20-40 mile range
$14,900 retail price
Construction:
Double A arm front suspension / Single sided swing arm rear suspension
Cog-belt drive, Three-wheel disc brakes, Spring over hydraulic shocks, 14-inch five spoke wheels
Safety Features:
Spherical body design (like a motorcycle helmet)
Layered composite construction, low center of gravity
Three-point shoulder safety harness / Automotive safety glass
Emergency parking brake / Inertia switch / Emergency Power Off button
Hazard warning lights / LED dashboard indicators / Safety head restraint
Curb side driver door / Interior door lock


Creature Comforts:
Power windows, AM/FM stereo & CD player
Two power ports for laptop & cell phone
Heater/defroster, fan operated / Vents (3)
6 cf Trunk storage /Adjustable seat back
Tilt steering wheel / Rack & pinion steering
Brush DC motor continuous "E" rating
25 hp (20 kW) continuous, 40 hp peak
13 sealed VRLA AGM* batteries - will accommodate 4 different battery sizes
Battery life: 1 to 4 years depending on adherence to recommendations
Onboard high frequency battery charger (220-volt or 110-volt charger system)
*Valve regulated lead acid absorbed glass mat type

Batteries:
13 sealed AGM lead acid batteries weighing 46 lbs each / Total pack weight: 598
Recharging:
7.5-8.0 kilowatt hours (kWh) calculated as follows:
45 amp hours x 156 volts (thirteen 12-volt batteries) = 7020 watts divided by 1000 watts per kilowatt = 7.02 kilowatts.
Note: there is a 10-15% energy loss due to variables in charger, controller, outlets, cords and ambient temperature.
220-volt system charges in 2.5 hours; 110-volt system charges in 6 hours

 

[Laurel]

That is cute as a button!!

 

[Silverlily]

Sorry, but hell would have to freeze over then thaw first.

 

[Lost Cause]

www.corbinmotors.com

I saw it on Speedvision being put through the paces, the website has some quicktime vids on it.
The roadster:

$1,000 deposit due when reservation is placed, $10,000 second deposit due when production of your Roadster begins, and the balance due upon delivery. Destination charges, tax and license fee are extra.
Price: $23,900

Considering it's ease of design and mpg, it'll pay for itself!

 

[freakygirl]

What?

No financing available?

 

[Lost Cause]

There probably is financing...

They also say it insures as a motorcycle, my Harley is full coverage and costs me about $25.00 USD a month! Of course motorcycles aren't allowed Personal Injury Protection (PIP) by insurance companies, so you'd probably have to negotiate!

 

[freakygirl]

Re: There probably is financing...

They also say it insures as a motorcycle, my Harley is full coverage and costs me about $25.00 USD a month! Of course motorcycles aren't allowed Personal Injury Protection (PIP) by insurance companies, so you'd probably have to negotiate!

negotiate with an insurance company?? lmao.. that's nearly impossible.

Our bike is parked and not insured.. so I'm not sure what ours would be.. probably about the same as yours.

It would be nice to have around here.. considering the damn weather makes it almost impossible to ride the bike much.

Mr Freaky needs something like that to go back and work with.

 

[Lost Cause]

I'm serious....

As long as they don't put a killer airbag in it, I'm buying one! I could drive it to Oregon and back on a tank of gas, feel those sweet Harley vibrations, and with tinted windows...ride naked!