Posted on 02/05/2014 6:06:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Paul Elio wanted to bring affordable transportation to drivers and create jobs for American workers. The company is planning to release vehicles for sale in the first quarter of 2015. The car is planned to use 95% American parts and American labor, vitally important to Paul.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
The company says that the vehicle will cost $6800, achieve an 84 miles per gallon fuel economy, and they anticipate a five star NHTSA safety rating. The eight gallon tank will theoretically allow a driver to go 672 miles on a tank of gas. Top speed of the Elio is said to be over 100 miles per hour.
http://www.eliomotors.com
Vehicles will be built in the abandoned Shreveport Louisiana assembly plant. Elio will sell the vehicles themselves at specialized retail centers in the top sixty markets across the United States. Eight different colors are all hip, now and named things like Licorice, Sour Apple and Rocket Silver.
Elios come with standard equipment - a reinforced roll cage and airbags for safety, radio, air conditioning and power windows for comfort. Most of the components of the Elio are already in production, allowing the vehicle to keep a low cost and hopefully low insurance premiums. Because most of the components can be purchased at a corner auto parts store the carmaker is expecting low maintenance costs.
The small front mounted engine in the Elio is 70 horsepower, 1.0 litre, three cylinder device that resembles a Geo Metro more than a standard Chevrolet or Ford offering. Two seats are available in tandem configuration, or the driver can go solo and stow gear on the fold-down second seat.
The Elio is incredible because of its massive ambition. It's hard to think of another automaker starting out like this on such a large scale with such a radical product. Massive marketing campaigns aren't hitting venues like the Superbowl but the vehicle was featured last month at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Even with heavy funding in place, a location secured to build the product, and suppliers on board for production there is a heavy question in the air of whether or not the Elio can become a fully realized product. Obtaining a five star crash rating will go a long way toward winning consumer confidence and once production begins it will be exciting to see how popular the vehicle is with American consumers.
I’d buy one, but, hey, years ago I bought an AMC Pacer.
Remember the “Davis”? 1950’s 3 wheeler.
Bravo Mr. Bean!
You were the one? Prepare to die....
:^)
Sitting in the back of that SOB would be a bear.
But for the college set, it would be great. I can see the Elio taking off, especially as a town car.
Best,
Chris
How will it fare against the brutal cold we're having this winter? Seriously, this winter has been a female dog.
It’s a trike with a body.
Not a bad idea for a cheap, safe and more or less comfortable commute-o-box, but...a little too French for most Americans.
They’ll still sell some.
I’d buy one. The pictures are of a precious version. I don’t like the new one as well but they refined it to improve mileage. There’s a lot to like about the car. Good MPG, low price, probably fun to drive, not gimmicky, just basic engineering with a standard motor.
I always wanted to drive a go-cart on the road so yea, I’d be interested. I like the buy America concept, but would be more concerned what side of the isle their politics lay.
Definitely a car for whose who lack taste in aesthetics and styling.
I like it. But how would you rotate the tires?
I once ordered a Ford EXP from the factory.
They will sell a lot of them.
A three-wheeled vehicle is classified as a motorcycle, so the driver can use the HOV lanes. In some cities, that will be a big incentive. Insurance will be cheaper than a regular car.
You can also finance it in part when you refuel. Say you put $20 worth of gas in the tank, it will bill your card $60 and $40 of it will go towards paying off the vehicle.
The three wheelers of Europe were more tax dodge than engineering. They were considered a motorcycle and were cheaper to license.
I hope so. I like Elio's focus on U.S. jobs. The fact that he's going to do it in Shreveport means he's focused on cost.
Have actually thought about this design myself for a long time: essentially a motorcycle with a body on it. Not good for anything except the commute.
True it can be used in the silly HOV lanes, but one caution...it's not a good mix with Class 8 trucks.
I like it. But how would you rotate the tires?
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Put the car in the preferred gear and when it moves, you are rotating the tires.....
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz!!!! <: <: <:
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