Recently I had the privilege of visiting an automaker based in Utah,
of all places, called Vanderhall Motor Works. At first glance the sole
model, called the Laguna, is a pretty wild vehicle. Also crazy are the
obstacles Vanderhall has been facing in its home state, thanks to
restrictive dealer laws undoubtedly passed to keep Tesla Motors from
selling within the borders, because someone must think of the children.
During the recent Utah Auto Expo, Vanderhall had its booth literally
walled off at the last moment. Consumers with sensitive eyes couldn’t be
exposed to a direct sales model, because it would certainly violate
them in the most heinous of ways. The funny thing is the move has spread
word of the company even further.
In the interest of full disclosure, Vanderhall Motor Works did treat
me to a Diet Coke and some Cheetos during my visit. I also became aware
that several of my friends are related to or live in the same
neighborhood as Daniel Boyer (the director of marketing) and Steve Hall
(owner). Still, I was pretty skeptical of the company and its product,
considering it looked potentially like a marriage between a Morgan and
Polaris Slingshot.
Unfortunately, my scheduled visit at Vanderhall happened to coincide
with a fairly substantial snowstorm. That meant I couldn’t go out in one
of the auto-cycles. I was told they actually perform quite well in the
white stuff, but the concern was morons on the road crashing their Camry
into a $77,000 vehicle. That seemed pretty legit, considering that I
had to navigate to Vanderhall’s shop on I-15 with a group of people who
acted like they’d never seen, let alone driven in, snow before.
I did get to sit behind the wheel of a Laguna in the showroom, and
was surprised at how comfortable and roomy it was. At 6-foot 2-inches
and 240 pounds I don’t fit in most roadsters, yet I was able to not only
get in, but breathe and stretch my legs a little. The little
three-wheeler doesn’t look that big, so I was genuinely surprised.
On paper, the Laguna is impressive. The GM-sourced turbocharged
1.4-liter four banger might not be a fire-breather with a peak 200
horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque, but it doesn’t have to be since
the vehicle tips the scale at a mere 1,550 pounds. Acceleration is
supposed to be brisk, with a claimed 4.5 second 0 to 60 time.
Just try to compare the Laguna to a Morgan or Polaris (even worse, an
Elio) and you can see Steve Hall, who has worked on his creation
tirelessly for years, bristle. He’s quick to point out that the
auto-cycle is front-wheel drive, which he says makes it handle far
better. The aluminum frame comes with all the fasteners integrated, plus
the Laguna’s center of gravity is only about 11 inches off the ground. A
70/30 front-to-rear weight distribution, pushrod front suspension and
swing arm setup in the rear make for a ride Hall claims isn’t like
anything out there. When pressed, he conceded that the closest
comparison is probably a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine car, while
insisting it’s still a little different. Fair enough, the Laguna is
weird in a strangely compelling sort of way.
Vanderhall also offers a level of craftsmanship that exceeds most
other auto-cycles. The body panels are fabricated out of carbon fiber,
which makes it feel like you’re flinging a stack of papers when shutting
the doors. Wool carpeting like what you find in Rolls-Royces graces the
floor. Snapping the roof on or off is quick and easy, and there’s even a
boot in the rear that’s large enough to stow a weekend bag or two, not
that owners would likely take the Laguna on an epic road trip, which
could be a true adventure.
Steve Hall has big plans for Vanderhall. Right now buyers can get
four different editions of the Laguna, or opt for a bespoke vehicle.
Even at a price that some might view as steep, the company has no
problem selling each auto-cycle it makes. Most of the work is performed
by hand, which is part of the appeal. A new facility that would boost
production as much as tenfold is in the works, and should be operational
soon. Of course, being able to sell to consumers in the company’s home
state would be a nice bonus. Hall and Boyer have been busy pushing for
the new vehicle laws in Utah to be done away with, giving consumers more
choices while celebrating a little thing called capitalism.
Some think the Vanderhall Laguna is ugly, and that’s their
prerogative. After all, not everyone finds the Porsche 911 or
Lamborghini Aventador attractive. Others think it’s outrageously priced,
which is a rash judgment if they haven’t seen it in the flesh (I should
know). The fact is the auto-cycle is aimed at affluent people who want
something fun, finely crafted and incredibly different, not shoppers
who’re looking for a budget-friendly performance vehicle. Seeing the
Laguna in person, you realize it exudes a certain panache, drawing you
in as you take in the deceptively simple details. That’s why Vanderhall
isn’t exactly struggling and in fact faces what seems to be a bright
future.
Vanderhall Laguna (Credit:Ted7 Photography)
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