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

[Yuriman]

How about getting rid of a ratty old king size bed for a neighbor who didn't have a truck? Or moving a piano? Or (with the doors removed), adding my bike rack attachment to it and moving 4-5 bicycles up to the top of a mountian via dirt road, for some mountain biking? It really makes me wonder why more people don't have small utility trailers.

(no picture of the piano in the trailer, unfortunately)

This type of thing is a frequent sight around here; people ask me for help with things all the time, because sometimes it costs a fortune to use their trucks for these things.

A few weeks ago I picked up a stack of 8 truck tires an hour and a half away, and paid $5.25 in gas round trip. I had the guy buy me lunch and I'm owed a favor now. Tomorrow I'm going to get a cord of wood with it.

For the record, when moving absurdly large things, I do so safely. I take back roads, drive slowly with my hazards on, and signal/stop for other drivers to pass.

 

[SSSnail]

But you live in Vermont... You can virtually traverse the whole state without stopping for another soul, maybe some moose, but that's about it!

 

[KeithP]

Elio looking for money again. I wonder how many will fall for it this time?
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/11/elio-motors-delays-trike-deliveries-2017/

Elio Motors will sell 100 pre-production examples of its super-efficient trike to fleet customers in the fourth quarter of 2016. The move will be the company's latest small step towards finally getting its vehicles to the over 50,000 people with reservations for them. Unfortunately, these customers now need to wait a little longer to experience the three-wheeler.

Elio originally told the Securities and Exchange Commission that the automaker would use these pre-production vehicles for internal purposes, but it now decided to sell them. By getting the trikes on the road, the company claims there's a better opportunity to evaluate how they perform in real conditions. This also offers a chance to improve the three-wheelers before the full launch.

The business now expects "the bulk of the consumer launch will have to be moved into 2017 at a date to be determined, as the company continues to seek additional funding," the statement says. It originally planned deliveries to start in July 2014 and later claimed late 2016.

Que up PT Barnum.

-KeithP

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

It looks top heavy. If this thing has good handling, I'd get it in a heart beat.

Oh, and I'll be frank. they need to offer a sport package. I want this but I'd rather spend an extra $2K to get a nasty engine in it.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Elio also started a high profile media campaign by engaging in a national television campaign -

Very well done.

https://theweeklydriver.com/elio-motors-debuts-tv-commercials-6800-vehicle-video/

Not sure how the current gas prices are effecting their deposit program. If this comes in at $8K or less and 70+mpg, I'll be a buyer.

 

[Charmonium]

Elio also started a high profile media campaign by engaging in a national television campaign -

Very well done.

https://theweeklydriver.com/elio-motors-debuts-tv-commercials-6800-vehicle-video/

Not sure how the current gas prices are effecting their deposit program. If this comes in at $8K or less and 70+mpg, I'll be a buyer.

It seems like it has all of the disadvantages of both a car and a motorcycle. It's too big to navigate between lanes and at least from the side, crashworthiness seems suspect.

It's nice to see any truly unique when it comes to cars, but this couldn't come at a worse time with oil prices what they are - and are likely to be for years to come. All the people who care about global warming are going to go either hybrid or electric plug-in. And the people who actually care about getting good mileage probably can't use something that only carries 2 people. You're basically targeting the same market as the SmartCar and I I've seen 2 of those in the wild since they were introduced.

 

[shabby]

It seems like it has all of the disadvantages of both a car and a motorcycle. It's too big to navigate between lanes and at least from the side, crashworthiness seems suspect.

So you want to be able to split lanes and have 5 star side impact? Ooooook

 

[Charmonium]

So you want to be able to split lanes and have 5 star side impact? Ooooook

No of course not. I'm saying that when I first looked at, my thought was that it has the disadvantages of both w/o any of the advantages of either. Aside from gas mileage I can't think of any reason to own something like that. I wouldn't mind getting 84mpg but then I'd need 2 cars since that one is useless if you live in the burbs or the country. And in the city, if you're going to go for a 2 seater, the smartcar makes a lot more sense. It can fit into smaller parking spaces and navigate congested roads a little easier. Plus according to one website I looked at, if you convert electricity used to the gas equivalent, the Smartcar gets over 100mpg.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You're basically targeting the same market as the SmartCar and I I've seen 2 of those in the wild since they were introduced.

88,383 Smart ForTwo's sold in the US since 2008.
15,695 Scion IQ's

Elio will sell for less than half of these other two cars.

The Elio is perfect 2nd or 3rd car for our household. No kids, long commute of solo driving, access to HOV lanes, cheap to run/insure/buy, room for 2 and some luggage space if we decide to use it going on a weekend trip.

I don't live my life thinking what if on car crashes, if I did, a behemoth SUV/Full size truck would be the only answer. I'm sure its crash test results will equal that of a Smart or a Fiat 500 or a Chevy Spark.

 

[Charmonium]

Those are all good points I hadn't thought of. If I were going to have a second car, I'd probably go for a 2-seater. The problem in NJ is that my insurance rates would double. But if I needed a second car for kids or other dependents, I can see getting something that wouldn't bust the budget. I'm not sure I would want my kids driving around in that. I'd probably prefer to get them some old beater that would hold up better in an accident. Still, I can see the attraction if it's half the price of its nearest competitors.

 

[OutHouse]

ripoff of the Messerschmidt KR200

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_KR200

 

[Yuriman]

Just an FYI about the Smart ForTwo - EPA rating of 36mpg combined. Ditto Scion IQ - 36 city, 37 highway. Standard 4-door Corolla and Civics do better than this.

The electric versions have a higher "mpge" of course, but even the Nissan leaf gets 115mpge. If your electricity is costing you even close to a third of what gas does, you're doing it wrong, given how much you have to sacrifice in a pure electric vehicle.

 

[DAGTA]

Just an FYI about the Smart ForTwo - EPA rating of 36mpg combined. Ditto Scion IQ - 36 city, 37 highway. Standard 4-door Corolla and Civics do better than this.

The electric versions have a higher "mpge" of course, but even the Nissan leaf gets 115mpge. If your electricity is costing you even close to a third of what gas does, you're doing it wrong, given how much you have to sacrifice in a pure electric vehicle.

No sacrifices in a Tesla. Of course, you're paying for that level.

 

[Mandres]

Elio also started a high profile media campaign by engaging in a national television campaign -

I saw one of the commercials and couldn't believe my eyes. It was very well produced and professional.

Still don't expect a single Elio vehicle to ever be for sale for $6,800.

 

[WackyDan]

They just announced another delay. They have 50k reservations on the damn thing too.

Now even I'm starting to believe this is vapor car.

 

[Kaido]

In-depth review on Saabkyle04's Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGUO8AucxhQ

Custom configurator:

http://myelio.me/

$1k reservation fee locks in the $7,300 base price:

https://www.eliomotors.com/

The red one that Business Insider test-drove looks pretty nice:

http://www.businessinsider.com/elio-motors-first-drive-2016-8

There are about 57k pre-orders at this point. From Twitter, it sounds like they only have 9 states left to push for autocycle legislation. Production schedule per Facebook:

With a reservation, you'll be able to receive an Elio within one year from the start of production, and if you do not place a reservation, you'll be able to purchase an Elio at one of our stores starting the second year of production. Production will start after we build and test the E-Series testing vehicles (being built now https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zo6S66bQgI), build and test the 100 pre-production fleet vehicles (planned to start being built this December), and raise the remaining funds to tool up our Shreveport plant.

In summary:

1. They need to build & test the E-series test vehicles
2. In December, they plan on building & testing 100 pre-production fleet vehicles
3. They then need to raise funding to tool their plant up
4. Shipments begin one year from product

So perhaps as early as mid-2018. Maybe. If it's not vaporware & there aren't any further delays.

 

[A5]

In summary:

1. They need to build & test the E-series test vehicles
2. In December, they plan on building & testing 100 pre-production fleet vehicles
3. They then need to raise funding to tool their plant up
4. Shipments begin one year from product

So perhaps as early as mid-2018. Maybe. If it's not vaporware & there aren't any further delays.

The bolded sounds like a, uh, pretty big step that they're missing?

 

[Charmonium]

0-60 times are quoted as 9.6 seconds. IDK if that's based on calculations or actual tests but I'm going to guess that's on the low side and we're probably talking more like 10+ seconds.

Anyone know what the various crash ratings are like or if they've even been done? I did a quick google and NHTSA was supposed to remove Elio's motorcycle classification. And according to a Jalopnik article from 2014, their claim of a 5 star crash rating is mainly fiction.

 

[Yuriman]

10 seconds isn't quick, but it's not terrible either. For cars from the early 90's and older, 10 was pretty typical. The Geo Metro, whose engine Elio modified for their car, is closer to 14 seconds.

 

[Kaido]

The bolded sounds like a, uh, pretty big step that they're missing?

With 100 working prototypes, funding should be a piece of cake to get. People like to see prototypes in action before committing money.

 

[Kaido]

0-60 times are quoted as 9.6 seconds. IDK if that's based on calculations or actual tests but I'm going to guess that's on the low side and we're probably talking more like 10+ seconds.

Anyone know what the various crash ratings are like or if they've even been done? I did a quick google and NHTSA was supposed to remove Elio's motorcycle classification. And according to a Jalopnik article from 2014, their claim of a 5 star crash rating is mainly fiction.

I like the idea of the Elio & would be interested in a second-gen model, especially if they offer a turbo version, but there's something to be said about mass vs. crash test ratings. I've read plenty of horror stories about huge, heavy cars like Teslas plowing through other cars & killing everyone inside. One guy in a Tesla rear-ended a car ahead of him & killed three people:

http://insideevs.com/3-dead-in-toyota-corolla-tesla-model-s-collision-video/

With all of the giant SUV's rolling around (at least where I live), I'm not sure how safe I'd feel in a rolling coffin, despite whatever claims they make. It's like the IIHS having the Mini Cooper as a Top Safety Pick...yeah, for its class.

 

[Yuriman]

^ Mass creep. Everyone needs a bigger car so they can win in an accident, so cars get heavier, and people want still bigger cars. Eventually we're all paying at the pump to haul around 6,000lbs of steel.

 

[Kaido]

^ Mass creep. Everyone needs a bigger car so they can win in an accident, so cars get heavier, and people want still bigger cars. Eventually we're all paying at the pump to haul around 6,000lbs of steel.

Speaking of that, I've been seeing more & more Infiniti QX80's driving around. They are hilariously giant & the lines just add to the ridiculousness because it looks like Dr. Suess designed it. In photos, they don't look so bad, but in person, I laugh every time I see one. I parked my Renegade next to one & felt like I could have tucked it into the trunk lol. I'm sure competing SUV's are just as big, but the bubbly design looks looks really...whimsical, irl.

 

[tweakmonkey]

QX80 5,633 to 5,878 lbs

$8/gallon gasoline can't come here soon enough. People are just recklessly buying these monster trucks.

 

[Kaido]

QX80 5,633 to 5,878 lbs

$8/gallon gasoline can't come here soon enough. People are just recklessly buying these monster trucks.

Seriously, photos don't do it justice. You have to see one in person. It's like they filled a clown car with helium. It's a monument to 'Merican culture