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The Carver One is a slender, three-wheeled, twin-seat tilting vehicle. You steer it just like a car and it reacts just like a motorcycle, or better still, an aeroplane: when cornering, it banks. But unlike a motorcycle where the rider adjusts the tilt angle by shifting their weight and/or counter steer, the Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC™) system of the Carver One automatically adjusts the tilt angle to the speed and acceleration of the vehicle, thus ensuring an optimum balance at all times.
The Carver One combines the exciting agility of a motorcycle with the comfort and safety of a car: the best of both worlds. The thrill of this tilting capability combined with the handling of a sports car makes for an exhilarating driving experience unlike any other!
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Sharpen your senses! It’s like flying on the road. Are you ready for take-off?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdAaNU0FUrc
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The Carver One is a tilting three wheeled vehicle using an automatic balancing technology to balance the passenger compartment under all conditions. The first commercial Carver product, the Carver One, was designed to seat two people, and manufactured and distributed by Carver Europe BV (formerly named Vandenbrink) in the Netherlands. In June 2009 however the company reportedly declared bankruptcy, and ceased commercial production and sales. Ever since it became difficult to get spares and warranty adjsutments.
The Carver vehicle combines aspects of a motorcycle and a car, both in appearance and design. Like many microcars, the Carver has three wheels and the controls of a normal car. The three wheel Carver One is said to have the comfort, controls and stability of a normal car while showing the dynamic cornering behaviour of a motorcycle. The Carver can be driven by anyone with a normal car driver's license in the European Union, though other countries outside of the EU may not allow this. In most countries the taxation follows the motorcycle guidelines.
The dimensions are 3.4 m (11 ft) long by 1.3 m (4.3 ft) wide by 1.4 m (4.6 ft) high, giving it a low slim profile, similar to a motorcycle. It weighs 640 kg (1,400 lb), about half the weight of a medium size car or three to four times the weight of most motorcycles. The Carver One can tilt up to 45 degrees while turning. This is not based on how far the wheel is rotated, but on how much cornering force is applied to it.
The Carver has a 660 cc 4-cylinder 16-valve engine with a turbo intercooler giving a power output of 65 bhp (48 kW) at 7,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 100 N·m (74 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm. An option is available to upgrade the ECU to give 85 bhp (63 kW) output. The transmission is a 5-speed manual with reverse, and all wheels are equipped with ventilated disk brakes. The front wheel is slightly larger than the rear wheels (at 17" to 15"). The Carver One, as standard, has a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph). The acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds (0-60 mph in 8 seconds), is slow compared to most motorcycles and average for a passenger car (a Toyota Camry has a similar acceleration).
The unique property of the Carver One is its automatic balancing "Dynamic Vehicle Control" system, which is said to allow full stability under almost all circumstances. The DVC technology has been developed by Carver Engineering and is currently also offered to third parties. Thanks to this DVC technology its cornering behaviour is said to feel natural and pleasant. This technology has also purportedly been licensed for use in Persu Mobility of California's Persu Hybrid.
The Carver One was assembled in Germany by ACÜ and officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show on 7 March 2007. The Carver was reviewed by BBC's Top Gear programme in 2003. Jeremy Clarkson said: "I have to say, absolutely hand on heart, that I’ve never had so much fun in a car, really and truthfully, and I don’t think I’d ever tire of it." However in mid-2009, following missed sales targets, rumours surfaced on the "Fly the Road Club Forum" that the company's assets had been seized by the Dutch Treasury. The manufacturing company subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Ever since it became difficult to get spares and warranty adjsutments.
Mainly from www.wikipedia.com with own amendments
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Technical specifications (European model)
Dimensions
Length: 3.40 m
Height: 1.40 m
Width (tilt angle 0 25°): 1.30 m
Width (max. tilt angle): 1.60 m
Wheel base: 2.70 m (D: 2.65 m)
Fuel tank capacity: 34 L (D: 32L)
Unladen mass: 643 kg (D: 670 kg)
Maximum permissible mass: 841 kg
Performance
Top speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in: 8.2 s
Max. tilt angle: 45°
Max. tilt speed: 85°/s
Turning circle (curb to curb): 9.5 m
Fuel consumption
Urban 7.0 L/100 km (40.2 mpg)
Extra-urban 5.0 L/100 km (56.0 mpg)
Combined 5.8 L/100 km (49.0 mpg)
Engine
Cylinders / valves: 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo intercooler
Displacement: 659 cc
Compression ratio: 8.2:1
Cooling: water-cooled
Max. power: 50 kW (68 bhp) at 6,000 rpm
Max. torque: 100 Nm (74 lb.ft) at 3,200 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual & reverse
Fuel: lead-free EURO
Emission system: catalytic converter with oxygen sensor
Electrical system: 14 V / 32 A alternator, Volts 12 V / 30 Ah battery
Ignition: ECU multipoint injection with knock sensor
firing order: 1-3-4-2
CO2 emission: 136 g/km
Wheels, tyres, suspension and brakes
Wheels: 5-spoke alloy
Front: 4.0 MT x 17
Rear: 6.5J x 15
Tyres:
Front: 140/70 R17 66H
Rear: 195/45 R15 78V
Brakes: discs on all wheels
Front suspension: single-arm with hydraulic shock absorption
Rear suspension: McPherson suspension with rear-wheel steering
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Standard package
- Removable hard top roof in body colour
- Alloy wheels - double 5-spoke - front 17" / rear 15" (silver)
- Sports interior (black fabric trim)
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3-spoke sports leather-covered steering wheel
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Aluminium dashboard and gear lever knob
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Instrument panel: speedometer and milometer (odometer), rev counter, fuel
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gauge, engine temperature
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Built-in class III remote control alarm system incl. remote control power door lock
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Carving LED indicators (continuous indication of the vehicle's tilt angle) with
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audible signal
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Heating / ventilation / windshield defroster
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Electric windows
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Front and rear seat belts
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Ashtray / drink holder / 12 V socket
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Tyre repair kit and tyre pressure gauge
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Black carpet
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Side mirrors, air intake vanes and back of driver’s seat: black
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Front suspension, tilting cylinders, engine frame and engine covers: black
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Exterior colour - basic palette (yellow, red, blue)
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Two Carver One Key rings
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Carver One Owner Manual
Options and accessories
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Full leather (mono-colour or bi-colour) or leather/Alcantara® interior upholstery
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Exterior metallic paint (standard palette)
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Special exterior colours (matte black, pearl white, magma orange, marinas blue)
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Rear spoiler (body colour) with aluminium mounting brackets
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Graphite wheel pack (alloy - dark silver)
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Black wheel pack (alloy - matte black)
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Turbo pressure dashboard gauge
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Radio/CD/MP3 player with USB and Bluetooth connection
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DVC™ mode selector comfort/sport
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Aluminium body strips (sporty look during tilting)
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Silver pack (engine frame, front suspension & air intake vanes silver)
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Body colour pack (side mirrors and back of seat in body colour)
From Carver One broschure
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