Vandenbrink Introduces Ultra-Wild Three-Wheeled Carver Sports Car

What allows the Carver to tip at such great angles is Vandenbrink's advanced Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC) system. DVC takes

What allows the Carver to tip at such great angles is Vandenbrink's advanced Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC) system. (Photo: Vandenbrink)

into account all the critical factors involved with tilting the vehicle, such as its speed, the angle of the tilt, and the angle of the front wheel, in order to create the optimum balance and the best performance. DVC is quick, smooth and nearly seamless in its operation, tilting up to 80 degrees per second. The system is constantly active except at speeds less than 10 km/h and while reversing, for visibility reasons and ease of low-speed manoeuvrability.

The Carver is powered by a motorcycle-sized 660-cc turbocharged inline four with four valves-per-cylinder, mated to a regular five-speed manual gearbox. Despite the engine's tiny capacity, and rather meager outputs of 65 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque, it's enough to propel the lightweight Carver to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. Top speed for this three-wheeled machine is pegged at an estimated 185 km/h. Aside from delivering quick performance, the engine is quite frugal: Vandenbrink claims an estimated 5.5 L/100

The two-seat Carver holds its occupants in tandem, in racing-style bucket seats due to the body's narrow design. (Photo: Vandenbrink)

km driven on the mixed cycle, which is equivalent to about 51 mpg.

Entry to the cockpit is through conventional doors; however, the layout is anything but conventional. The two-seater Carver holds its occupants in tandem, in racing-style bucket seats due to the body's narrow design. Looking out the tall but narrow front window, which forms part of the roof, one gets the impression that they're in a small aircraft - a feeling that grows once underway from the glasshouse side windows, low seating position, brisk performance and banked cornering abilities. Due to the restrictions of the tandem layout and rear-mounted engine, the rear seat (when not in use) doubles as the trunk and storage space.