dragonfly three wheeler drives as half-motorcycle, half-steel car

teardrop-shaped body for dragonfly three wheeler car

Here’s Dragonfly Three Wheeler, a car that combines the design of a motorcycle and on-road vehicle into one steel-covered ride. Named VIN #1, many of its exterior elements can immediately draw viewers in: the sculpted sides that create an aggressive look for the car, the teardrop-shaped body that makes it appear as if it were speeding away, and the centered third wheel at the rear that underlines the nearly-pointed back part of the vehicle. The Dragonfly Three Wheeler is the first on-road vehicle for the startup motor company, Dragonfly.

It can accommodate two people, including the driver, and has a manual, five-speed transmission with right-angle gearboxes and shaft drive. The body is covered entirely in steel sheets, and the rooftop is removable. Power steering and air suspension are also in place, and the doors? They’re electric and can be opened with a remote. So far, the Dragonfly Three Wheeler car runs on gas, but the design team, led by mechanical engineer Greg Kunsch, says that the vehicle’s design can be optimized for electric-engine use.

all images courtesy of Dragonfly Three Wheeler

Putting the engine at the rear for weight distribution

Another feature that vehicle enthusiasts can appreciate is that Dragonfly puts the engine of the Three Wheeler car at the rear instead of the typically front positioning. The design team shares that passengers can have different weights, so this effects the stability of the car, especially because there’s only one wheel at the back.

What they’ve done then to balance this is to install the engine at the back so as to hold down the Dragonfly Three Wheel and steady the car, and distribute the weight evenly. Now, there’s a balanced center of gravity in place. The design team opts for two wheels at the front too, because having only one up there lessens the traction of the car.

front view of the Dragonfly Three Wheeler car named VIN #1

Futuristic, teardrop shape helps with the aerodynamics

They add that the teardrop shape of the Dragonfly Three Wheeler car is naturally dynamic, which is important for the wind drag and weight. ‘Wind drag is an exponential function, meaning that smaller increases in speed (say between 55 and 70 mph) require much more power, which hurts your range,’ says the Dragonfly team.

With an aerodynamic vehicle shape like this, transforming the Dragonfly Three Wheeler into an electric car may not be challenging because it’ll require fewer batteries to achieve the same range it has now with a gas engine. So far, Dragonfly has brought their Three Wheeler car to the 2023 Coastal Virgina Car Show, and the team says electric configurations and variations of the model, as well as other multiple-seater car designs, are underway.

the sculpted sides that create an aggressive look for the car