Elio motors. 3 wheeler car that promises 84 mpg and $6800

[AustinInDallas]

This thread is rather old so start a new one please...

AT Moderator
Bartman39



http://www.eliomotors.com/

Looks very interesting. If all these things were true(5 star crash test rating is pending) and they were on a lot available right now I would buy one.

They are currently in the prototype(mule) phase. And I think it fairly attractive with the exception of the rear. The real question is how do they make it, much less sell(production, profit, service, market, etc)

 

[wirednuts]

i like these better- http://tritontrikes.com/

theyre even making a 300hp, 3 wheel drive version... the car only weighs 1200lbs so it should be disgustingly fast.

 

[Kelvrick]

Looks like a can-am with a shell around it. A 5 star crash rating would be awesome. I'd love to see those slow-mo crash videos.

I think it would look awesome with a giant fake mustache across the top of the grill.

 

[brainhulk]

will i be able to split lanes with that? :biggrin:

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Looks like a can-am with a shell around it. A 5 star crash rating would be awesome. I'd love to see those slow-mo crash videos.

I think it would look awesome with a giant fake mustache across the top of the grill.

And about 1/4 the price of a Can-Am and has air conditioning

 

[AustinInDallas]

will i be able to split lanes with that? :biggrin:

only in ca would that be legal

 

[AustinInDallas]

And about 1/4 the price of a Can-Am and has air conditioning

and close to 4x the mileage

 

[brainhulk]

is that $6800 target price realistic? sounds dubious to me

 

[wirednuts]

not sure why you guys care about the crash rating... these are so light that nearly any wreck you get in will be bad...

 

[wirednuts]

is that $6800 target price realistic? sounds dubious to me

does to me too. i think if they mass produced them, yes its possible but if these are just a team of guys building these in a warehouse then i dont think theyre going to make much money at that price point.

the triton trikes i listed go for $12k, but they are high performance and have seats you can get a blowjob in.

 

[KDOG]

Needs to come in two seater version.

 

[AustinInDallas]

does to me too. i think if they mass produced them, yes its possible but if these are just a team of guys building these in a warehouse then i dont think theyre going to make much money at that price point.

the triton trikes i listed go for $12k, but they are high performance and have seats you can get a blowjob in.

isnt the triton more of a kit car? I just saw the salvage yard part list

this is a new car that you will buy at a dealership with a warranty and service.

Both are great in their own way. Triton looks great for a car guy that wants a fun ride, elio is a commuter car

 

[AustinInDallas]

Needs to come in two seater version.

it is a two seater

 

[wirednuts]

isnt the triton more of a kit car? I just saw the salvage yard part list

this is a new car that you will buy at a dealership with a warranty and service.

Both are great in their own way. Triton looks great for a car guy that wants a fun ride, elio is a commuter car

yeah pretty much.

 

[EagleKeeper]

i like these better- http://tritontrikes.com/

theyre even making a 300hp, 3 wheel drive version... the car only weighs 1200lbs so it should be disgustingly fast.

Electric will get up to 50mph.

15-20 mile range

My grandsons electric tractor(toy) can get that range on a full charge

 

[KeithP]

Like the vehicle but not a fan of a company that has a 22 minute press conference to introduce a product and doesn't actually reveal the product until the final 30 seconds. The executives seemed more interested in camera time than anything else.

Hopefully it lives up to its promise.

-KeithP

 

[Midwayman]

Only really realistic as a replacement for an existing car. Gas prices aren't high enough yet to really justify such a special purpose car, and I doubt many would be happy with it as an only car. The worst thing to me is that its not physically that small for its strange configuration. Its almost as long as a compact and still fairly wide. That means there isn't really any huge parking advantage for urban use. If they had done no back seat to limit the length it really would be a better vehicle.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

not sure why you guys care about the crash rating... these are so light that nearly any wreck you get in will be bad...

Not necessarily,
it may be similar to the smart car, where it will just bounce off anything that it hits or hits it. The most dangerous scenario would be to get smushed between to other vehicles. Otherwise, it might be safe-ish.

 

[Bacstar]

Looking at the pics, I can't help myself and think of Luigi from Cars...

 

[AustinInDallas]

Only really realistic as a replacement for an existing car. Gas prices aren't high enough yet to really justify such a special purpose car, and I doubt many would be happy with it as an only car. The worst thing to me is that its not physically that small for its strange configuration. Its almost as long as a compact and still fairly wide. That means there isn't really any huge parking advantage for urban use. If they had done no back seat to limit the length it really would be a better vehicle.

i just assumed it would be smaller, looking at the specs its pretty much as wide and long as a honda civic.

time to call gordon murray and order a t.25

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I think there is a pretty good sized niche market for super fuel efficient commuter sub-compacts under $12K.

If the Original Hon Insight could get 48/59 - 53mpg combined in 2002 - think of the technology 10yrs later to achieve 58/69 and 63mpg overall.

The 3cyl cars are coming along with the Cruze TDI that should get everyday compacts in to the 40- 45mpg overall range. They are just too expensive.

At $12K or under would sell very well.

 

[phucheneh]

In Europe, there's a market. But not in most of the US, IMO.

You need a niche that is essentially 'scooters for old people.' A small, efficient, 'better than walking' vehicle is hard enough to market...when you've got a cheaper, smaller, less miserable alternative (as I think scooters are)...why bother?

6800 is crazy money.

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/150/0/home.aspx

 

[SSSnail]

Like the vehicle but not a fan of a company that has a 22 minute press conference to introduce a product and doesn't actually reveal the product until the final 30 seconds. The executives seemed more interested in camera time than anything else.

Hopefully it lives up to its promise.

-KeithP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w-SawjhfwQk

Only the second video after the first one, you know... on the same freaking page, no less.

 

[Doppel]

i like these better- http://tritontrikes.com/

theyre even making a 300hp, 3 wheel drive version... the car only weighs 1200lbs so it should be disgustingly fast.

http://tritontrikes.com/electric.html

With a full charge 15-20 miles is going to be about it. To charge up a flat battery pack it takes 6 hours at 110 volts or 4 hours at 220 volts. Top Speed: 50 MPH is about it and it takes a while to get there.

Wow, way to sell it.

Not necessarily,
it may be similar to the smart car, where it will just bounce off anything that it hits or hits it.

That's not how it works. In a crash a smart car is a ready-made coffin and this will be, too.

The car is not terrible, though the $6800 is probably a pipe dream. I don't think it will sell all that terribly well. A lot of people still mock the Prius, which is many times the car this is. Getting people into this isn't going to be easy. Some would do it though.

 

[jaedaliu]

In Europe, there's a market. But not in most of the US, IMO.

You need a niche that is essentially 'scooters for old people.' A small, efficient, 'better than walking' vehicle is hard enough to market...when you've got a cheaper, smaller, less miserable alternative (as I think scooters are)...why bother?

6800 is crazy money.

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/150/0/home.aspx

for a 5 star crash rating that's freeway-able, I'd rather get the trike.

Of course, I would need a second vehicle for the days I need to move more than 2 people.

In conclusion: I may buy this in a couple years when my wife and I move and we ditch the aging civic.