British Leyland · 1982–present
British Leyland ECV3
The ECV3 is a concept car developed by British Leyland's BL Technology division, led by Spen King. The ECV3 was first shown to the public in December 1982, and was the third in a series of Energy Conservation Vehicles that BL was developing, incorporating new engine technologies and construction materials. The prototype is on display at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Technical details
The ECV3 was powered by an experimental 3-cylinder, 12-valve 1.1 L (1113 cc) petrol engine, developing 72 bhp (54 kW; 73 PS) @ 5,800 rpm and torque of 72 lb⋅ft (98 N⋅m) @ 3,750 rpm, and mated to a manual 5-speed transmission. The engine was a lightweight 84 kg, and while the engine did not reach production, it did influence the design of the 1988 K-Series engine. The car is built using an aluminium spaceframe chassis, co-developed with Alcan, and was the first ever bonded structure, and the body incorporates flexible plastic body panels made of polyurethane reinforced reaction injection moulding (PU-RRIM). The design of the five-door hatchback was unconventional, but resulted in a low drag coefficient of Cd=0.24. The car was claimed to have a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h), and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 11 seconds. Fuel economy was "impressive" with "81mpg at 56mph, 61mpg at 75mph, and 49mpg on the urban cycle." The prototype also demonstrated packaging efficiency, being a short 12 ft 7.2 in (3.84 m) supermini sized car, but offering family car sized accommodation. == References ==
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- British Leyland ECV3
- Manufacturer
- British Leyland
- Production
- 1982 (prototype only)
- Body style
- Hatchback
- Engine
- 1.1 L 3-cylinder petrol
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- Length
- 12 ft
- sp
- uk
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16991649CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Leyland_ECV3CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1367376109 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.