I just happened to be taking a trip to Phoenix this week, so I went ahead and called up Robert Riley, the man behind the XR3 hybrid three-wheeled vehicle and, previously, the Tri Magnum. I was going to head over there and take a look at the progress, but unfortunately, the timing wasn't quite right. The body and the chassis are separated as of the moment, and the drivetrain is apart for refinement.

But, I do have one piece of news to share with our readers. The vehicle will definitely be sold in kit form, along with plans to build one for yourself. There is a good possibility that complete vehicles will be available as well, being that the hard work will have already been done getting the kits ready for sale. Bolting it together after that is the easy part.

I have had a few questions that I'll take a moment to answer here. The car is currently not equipped with air conditioning, although it could be added if the plans for the vehicle were bought and modified slightly. Robert mentioned that there is a possibility that there will be an alternative plan available for version with a lengthened front end which would allow space for the condenser, plumbing and the like. Plans can also be modified to produce a vehicle with no canopy, so if you like the "wind in the hair" feeling and have the climate for that, good for you. Any other questions? Feel free to ask, and check out the official site here.

Related:

• Robert Q. Riley Enterprises is set to introduce their new XR3 hybrid 3-wheeler in June
• Technical details of the XR3 learned during our visit to Robert Q. Riley Enterprises
• In-progress pictures of a diesel\electric plug-in XR3 hybrid from Robert Q. Riley

[Source: Robert Riley]

Robert Q. Riley, who you may already be familiar with due to his past projects like the Tri-Magnum, is working on a new diesel\electric hybrid three-wheeled vehicle. Like other three-wheelers, this one will be a motorcycle when it comes to regulations in the U.S. Also, like his past projects, the plans for the vehicle will be for sale for consumers to purchase in order to build the vehicle themselves. Using fiber-reinforced-plastic, or FRP, the body shell will be constructed over the chassis, using the chassis as a jig to ensure a proper fit. Many people with the DIY spirit have already done this when building his past project vehicles. Check this site out for examples. And, check this site for more on three-wheelers.

Riley claims that the vehicle will be able to travel 40 miles on electric power only, and the vehicle offers plug-in capability. Lithium-ion batteries provide the power. Alternatively, the driver can choose to activate the small diesel engine, which, along with the electric motor, should be able to provide between 125-225 miles per gallon, depending on how much use the diesel powerplant gets. Interested in more? Good, because we plan to run a feature article next week after a visit to his shop.

[Source: Robert Q. Riley Enterprises]