by Turo
posted on May 10, 2019
Drive into the sunset in this three-wheeler
It’s midday, and you’re daydreaming about your next weekend adventure. The wind is at your back, the sun is beginning to set, and your hair is a wild mess, a victim of wind, speed, and one seriously cool biker helmet.
Steve Hall, the founder of Vanderhall Motor Group, also had a dream. A fan of the original Morgan 3 Wheeler, Steve’s goal was simple, to “build a vehicle that nods to the past while advancing into the future at the same time.” And in 2016, he did just that. He called the first vehicle the Laguna, and the second more affordable three-wheeler, the Venice.
Hall’s dream turns yours into an even cooler reality, transforming regular weekend drives into an adventurous outing. And if that’s not enough, here are three more reasons to consider taking a Vanderhall Venice for a spin:
1. Explore in style driving a three-wheel car
With a (relatively) affordable price point, the Vanderhall Venice lures car enthusiasts to the style and adventure evoked by the three-wheeled vehicle.
But what is a Vanderhall Venice anyway? Is it a car, or a motorcycle? It all depends on who you ask. At its core, the Vanderhall Venice is just a tiny two-seater with an open cockpit and side-by-side seating, no-frills, all attitude.
THE SPECS
As a reverse trike, a three-wheeled car, an autocycle, or whichever current designation you want to use, the Vanderhall Venice has two wheels in the front and a single wheel on the back.
The Vanderhall Venice is powered through the two front wheels by a proven 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The body frame is made of an advanced patented chassis and lightweight composite bodyshell and weighs just 1,375 lbs.
It delivers an impressive 185 bhp via a six-speed sequential gearbox. And thanks to its phenomenal power-to-weight ratio, the Venice can go from zero to 60 mph (97.6 km/h) in under 4.5 seconds and climb up to a maximum speed of 140 mph (225 km/h). Which is impressive — and not just to the casual car enthusiast.
THE SPEEDSTER
The Venice Speedster follows the same specs of the Vanderhall Venice — well everything but the seats. While the original has room for two, the Speedster has one. Pumping out 180 horses and 185 pound-feet of torque, it’s definitely not a slouch.
COSTS OF OWNERSHIP
The Vanderhall Venice starts at $29,950 and the Speedster at $26,950, making it the most affordable among Vanderhall models.
You can book one for your next weekend adventure from Turo hosts like Jules in San Jose and Jesus in Doral, Florida.
2. Choose the Vanderhall Venice that speaks to you
According to the Vanderhall Motor Group website, there are three Vanderhall Venice trims, each one reflecting a unique personality. All you have to do is choose.
While each trim is unique, there is a standard list of features that each share. The Vanderhall Venice’s all-aluminum unibody frame is constructed using a new advanced method of construction, a technique that allows the construction of each hand-built vehicle to be done with very high accuracy.
VANDERHALL VENICE
The Vanderhall Venice is the mainstay of the bunch. Some have called this classic-looking three-wheeler “art on wheels,” a hotrod reminding us of a simpler time. One thing almost everyone will agree is that it’s just plain C-O-O-L. And you can never go wrong with that.
The Vanderhall Venice has an inline four-cylinder (I-4) engine, and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). To make things even more exciting, a new suite of color options will be available for the Vanderhall Venice in 2020.
VANDERHALL VENICE BLACKJACK
If you’re going for mystery and drama, maybe the Venice Blackjack is the right option for you. According to the Vanderhall website, the “Venice Blackjack is a menacingly beautiful way to begin your Vanderhall journey.”
VANDERHALL VENICE GT
The Grand Tourer or GT Trim has everything standard on the Venice, plus a few notable extras, including the bump shifter, a Saxony Brown V-Tex interior, extended front fenders, rear fender, and stainless mirror brackets.
In addition to the three Vanderhall Venice trims, there’s also the Edison, Vanderhall’s first vehicle, and the more luxurious Carmel.
3. Celebrities love the Vanderhall Venice
Celebrities have always had the luxury to afford the best toys, and cars are no exception. Ever since Jay Leno took a test drive of a Vanderhall Venice with Steve Hall, more and more celebrities have become obsessed with trying the car for themselves.
From Jamie Foxx and his Raven Black Metallic Venice to Shaq and his Ruby Red Venice, the Vanderhall Venice is the hottest addition to many celebrity car collections.
So if Jamie Foxx says, “in a word, Vanderhalls are fly,” how could you not want to try one?
Reverse trike, three-wheeled car, or autocycle?
On a final note, the recent surge in popularity of three-wheeled vehicles has further fueled the discussion on how these three-wheeled vehicles should be classified. What laws should apply, and what type of safety precautions should drivers take?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers autocycles in the same category as “motorcycles.” But while riding or driving a motorcycle requires a helmet, not all states require one to drive or ride in a three-wheeled vehicle. Though wearing a helmet might make your Vanderhall experience even cooler, regardless of what the laws say.
More and more states are setting specific provisions and definitions for three-wheeled vehicles or autocycles, and today you can drive three-wheelers with a standard driver’s license in most states. But be sure to check your state’s laws before climbing in.
More joy, more freedom in a Vanderhall Venice
There are many other reasons to get behind the wheel of a Vanderhall Venice. But words will only take you so far. You simply need to climb in and try it for yourself to grasp the full experience.
But a word of warning, you’ll have to find a way to keep your afternoon daydreaming to a minimum. Because once you experience the freedom and joy of driving the Vanderhall Venice, you won’t think of anything else.
Read our features on other popular three-wheel vehicles: Polaris Slingshot, Morgan 3 Wheeler, & Can-Am Spyder.
