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Dordrecht, the Netherlands – Carver Europe BV ('Carver') today unveils the production model of the Carver One, the world's first-ever commercially available self-balancing tilting three-wheeled vehicle. This world premiere is being staged at the Geneva Motor Show where the Carver One will be on display until 18 March. Previously, examples from the pre-series were shown in London, Birmingham and Paris. The Geneva Motor Show marks the international launch of the true production model.
The cornering genius
Dutch by design, the Carver One is steered like a car, but when cornering it banks like a motorcycle, or better still, an airplane. The mechanical-hydraulic Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC™) system automatically adjusts the tilt angle to the speed and acceleration of the vehicle, ensuring an optimum balance at all times, resulting in an agile but safe, stable and comfortable platform. The thrill of this tilting capability combined with the handling of a sports car, makes for an exhilarating driving experience unlike any other.
Its predecessor, the Carver, received European type approval in 2002. A first exclusive series of Carvers was produced in the Netherlands and sold to enthusiasts worldwide. Encouraged by the unanimous positive feedback from the press, industry watchers and owners, Carver decided to take the Carver to the next level and to increase production to about 500 vehicles per year. Last year Carver teamed up with British company Prodrive, one of the world's leading motor sport and vehicle technology providers.
The Carver redesigned: meet the Carver One
Together with Prodrive an entirely new production process has been developed. During the re-engineering process to make the transition from ‘prototype’, which the Carver actually still was, to exclusive end product, every single of the near 1200 components of the Carver has been under scrutiny. The total number of components has been reduced to improve production efficiency and maintainability. Special attention has been paid to improving the vehicle’s reliability. About half of the original components have been fully re-engineered.
The Carver One is equipped with a new brake system with integrated handbrake and custom-designed brake discs and callipers for maximum brake efficiency, a re-engineered upper arm front suspension and a new rear suspension for accurate front and rear wheel alignment, a fully re-engineered front shock absorber for even better road handling, reliability and durability, a new generation Daihatsu engine with tuning option, new gearbox and new gear ratio's and an improved DVC™ system extended with optional DVC™ mode selector, an ingenious piece of programming for driver-controlled driving mode selection. The comfort mode is the ideal mode for the novice pilot, for city driving or long comfortable commutes and easy parking thanks to the enhanced power steering mechanism. The sport mode is for those who really have the knack of carving and makes for an extremely agile and dynamic system with immediate response to any steering movement. A second air intake duct has been added for enhanced intercooler performance. The Carver One now has two louvered air intake ducts, one on either side of the cockpit. Newly designed engine covers provide for better protection and aerodynamics. In addition, the interior, the instrument panel and the wheels have been restyled, and for extra storage space, an optional aluminium luggage rack with Carver bag can be mounted underneath the rear spoiler.
Worth the wait
“The transition process from prototype to exclusive end product not only helped improve reliability and production efficiency,” says Frank Vermeulen, Managing Director at Carver, “the driving dynamics have been optimised as well. If at all possible, driving pleasure is even increased. If the Carver was already a vehicle to be proud of, then even more so the Carver One. After a year of intensive preparation, we are extremely satisfied indeed to present the Carver One production model. This is the one our clients have been waiting for, and they will not be disappointed.”
Exclusive hand-made vehicle
For the time being, the Carver One remains a handmade specialty item with only 500 vehicles being produced per year. Final assembly is taking place in Germany, near Saarbrücken.
Powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder 660cc, 16 valve, five-speed rear-mounted engine the Carver One goes from 0 to 60 mph (100 km) in 8 s and attains a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/u). An extremely safe and enclosed ‘monocoque’ cockpit structure seats the driver and passenger in a tandem configuration. The removable body-coloured roof panel, alloy wheels, sports interior and design aluminium accents are part of a comprehensive standard package. Each Carver One can be personalised through additional options such as metallic or special paint, leather seats and engine tuning.
Due to tax differences and transportation costs, prices differ from country to country. In Europe, prices for the basic model range from 30.000 to 35.000 euro excl. taxes.
Interested buyers will have to wait just a little longer. Production and delivery is on a ‘first ordered – first served’ basis and there is a waiting list. For orders received from now, delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2007.
source : Carver Press
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