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The latest Turbo Trivettes use a high performance 220 hp engine whilst still maintaining the weight at 1,140 pounds. This allows the vehicle to
travel from 0 - 60mph in 3.5 seconds (non-turbo models use the Honda Civic engine). Because of this high speed characteristics a high speed pursuit vehicle was made for the California Highway Patrol under a grant
from the National Science Foundation
In 1993 the first Vigillante prototype appeared and has to currently be the most powerful road 3-wheeler in the world. Powered by a 700 hp Chevy
engine this two seater is an enhanced version of the Trivette. Sprinting from 0 - 60mph in just 3 seconds and with a top speed of over 200 mph the Vigillante is quicker on acceleration and braking than a £634,500
(over $1 million) McLaren F1 road car, and comparable in cornering. The car has a maximum theoretical tip-over limit is calculated to be 3.27 lateral "g" and so the car will slide long before it
reaches its tip-over limit. The vehicle is made from a light weight aluminum, honeycomb, foam, and composite tub, whilst the body work is a composite of aircraft fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber in an epoxy
matrix helping to keep the weight of the Vigillante down to 1,480 pounds.
Both the Trivette and Vigillante are still in production with vehicles being made to order and a new Trivette Two that utilizes the Honda
Civic powertrain is currently being designed.
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