Design+Industry Strike Trike Straddles the Line between Supercar and Superbike [w/ Video]

Design+Industry Strike Trike right front 3/4 view

There’s a good chance your first ride was a tricycle. And there should be no mystery as to why they’re so popular: They combine the simplicity and maneuverability of a two-wheeled vehicle with the stability of a four-wheeled vehicle. Trikes are pretty much the optimum mobility solution for tykes on the go.

But what about the transportation needs of adults? Sadly, three-wheelers get pushed to the periphery for us mature audiences. However, trikes seem to be experiencing a bit of a renaissance among designers and manufacturers. This group of three-wheeler true believers includes the Australian firm Design+Industry, which has unveiled the racy looking Strike Trike seen here.

Design+Industry Strike Trike left front 3/4 view

Unlike the Big Wheel you grew up hooning up and down the driveway, the Strike Trike has two wheels in front and one in the rear. They’re attached to a tubular spaceframe chassis that’s wrapped in a stylish semi-enclosed body with a removable roof panel. The tip of the nose sits well above the front splitter, and there is a set of “tusks” leading down to the lower body, while a pair of wedge-shaped kick-ups on the front corners house the auxiliary lighting. It’s very Formula 1-esque face.

Design+Industry Strike Trike x2

And its looks aren’t the only facet that loosely resemble an F1 car; drop the hammer and you might feel like you could take on Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Thanks to the 194hp 1.3L four-banger borrowed from a Suzuki Hayabusa (plus a 6-speed sequential transmission), the Strike Trike can purportedly blast to 62 mph from a dead stop in 3.5 seconds. No projections on top speed have been offered, but we’re betting it would be deep into the triple digits.

Design+Industry Strike Trike cutaway view

Design+Industry says the Strike Trike meets Australian Design Rules, and that it’s hoping to begin production as soon as next year. No word on price or the possibility of a lefthand-drive model for export markets (*cough*United States*cough*), but even if not a single Strike Trike is built, we still love the thinking behind it. Who says there should be an age limit on the fun and freedom of trikes?

Source: Design+Industry