Trikes Aren't Just for Kids Anymore: Meet the Avvenire Leggera

Today, let's get into something a little quirky. We're talking three wheels, wind blowing in your face, and what looks to be a whole lot of fun – if you're into that kind of thing. It's time to look at the Avvenire Leggera, a plucky little electric roadster that's taking the three-wheeled world by storm… or maybe a slightly enthusiastic summer breeze.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Sure, it looks the part. It's tiny and kinda cute, like a scaled-down Polaris Slingshot, just without the whole "angry bulldog with extra wheels" attitude. And yeah, the price is where things get interesting. We're talking about an electric three-wheeler that starts under $12,000! I know, right? You could almost buy a nice used sedan for that – heck, some folks spend that much on bicycles these days! But where's the fun in boring practicality?

This little beastie comes in three flavors: Sport, Deluxe, and Ultimate. It's a little like ordering fast food: you start with the basics and work your way up to the super-sized meal with extra cheese and a side of questionable life choices.

The Sport model, your starter option, gets a single 4 kW motor. That gives you a rip-roaring… wait, no. Sorry, let's manage expectations. You get enough power to scoot around town. It'll hit 62 mph (100 km/h) eventually, and they claim it can get from zero to 31 mph (50 km/h) in 4.2 seconds. Look, it's not drag-strip material, but hey, neither was my first car. And that thing was a rusted-out bucket of questionable reliability held together by hopes and prayers. At least with the Leggera, you can go about 65 miles (105 km) on a charge, good for running errands, or having a blast pretending you're a low-flying fighter pilot in slow-moving traffic.

The Deluxe ups the game, getting an extra motor up front so you have all-wheel drive. Power gets a kick, top speed goes up a tad to 68 mph (110 km/h), and you can apparently rocket to 31 mph (50 km/h) in 2.3 seconds. Okay, now we're approaching amusement park ride territory. More importantly, you get a bigger battery, enough for around 90 miles (145 km). That opens up a few more possibilities, like venturing beyond city limits. Maybe even challenge a particularly brave cyclist to a race.

Finally, the Ultimate – the big kahuna of the Leggera lineup. More power, more battery, 127 miles (205 km) of range…and even off-road tires! Hold on a second, an off-roading three-wheeler that tops out at a blistering 50 mph (80 km/h) when geared for the dirt? Well, folks, you'd better pick your trails carefully or it'll be the most leisurely off-pavement jaunt you've ever had. Kind of like rock climbing with a cane and slippers.

So, the burning question: is the Leggera worth your hard-earned money? That depends. Are you looking for basic, open-air transport? If so, maybe! If you want something more practical, well, even a scooter seems like a better option. This isn't a minivan replacement. This is the motorized equivalent of a mid-life crisis on a budget. It's buying a jet-ski instead of fixing your leaky roof. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a toy, pure and simple.

But you know what? Sometimes toys are awesome. And if a quirky, surprisingly affordable electric three-wheeler sounds like your kind of ridiculous fun, then the Avvenire Leggera might be just what your inner child ordered. Just, maybe skip the off-roading unless you want to spend an afternoon making new friends with the local tow truck drivers.