Since 2008 Elio motors has worked hard on delivering an 84 MPG three-wheeler vehicle that would provide the commuting public that’s not inclined or capable of riding a motorcycle with a cheap and efficient method of transportation. So far some developments have surfaced here and there. Especially regarding the continued development of prototypes as the early 2016 production date looms ever closer. A lot of people are of the mind that continued investment in Elio Motors will just mean we’ll end with another dead car brand in a few months time.
I hope not, because he’s as close as he’s ever been to making a damn good vehicle.

Let’s start from the beginning. The idea of an uncomplicated vehicle is one that resonates a lot with most of us here in the Hooniverse. How many people have learned the basics of car maintenance underneath the shade of a tree following the instructions on a dog-eared second hand copy of “How to keep your Volkswagen alive” and made it into their hobby? A hobby that saved them thousands of dollars to boot. Even if you don’t want to get your hands dirty from touching a car it means that when you take it to your friendly mechanic (who probably learned the basics of car maintenance underneath the shade of a tree following the instructions on a dog-eared second hand copy of “How to keep your Volkswagen alive”) you’re not going to have a hard time trying to source some Vibranium valve guides or a heart attack when you get the labor bill. But what really got me excited was the weight, apparently the weight goal is 1,228 lbs. And from that point I only had one word in my mind…

Fun.
Even if it’s built with an economy-oriented mind that featherweight figure means that, unless the chassis development is atrocious (and in a three-wheeler it can’t for safety reasons) and the new 1.0-liter three pot is as gutless as a sloth, that on a Sunday, when there’s no traffic and there’s no distractions you could take your Elio out for a quick blast around the canyons. Maybe try and drop that average MPG figure down to about 50 or thereabouts. There’s not even a need to worry about toppling over while you’re having high (but legal, isn’t that right officer?) speed shenanigans. Partly because the powertrain means all the fun happens at quite legal and safe speeds, but mostly because the single wheel is in the rear. And if you do somehow manages to crash the Elio comes with three airbags so the cockpit becomes your own teeny-mini bouncy castle as you roll down a hillside.

Besides, it’s nice to see that Elio wants to keep most of its manufacturing and developing on American soil. And before you ask: yes! It is odd that someone that isn’t from America is doing emphasis on American patriotism. But I don’t see anything wrong with someone trying to do his bit to improve his country. Do you?

So what Paul Elio is doing really is making a fun, cheap commuter car that’s easy to buy, cheap to run, will most likely be easy to repair and keep running for the long haul and doing all of that while trying to add a couple more stable non-slavey jobs to the economy. I don’t know about you but that’s something I can get behind. And we get a pretty nifty vehicle for it. Right now some men in Detroit are very hard at work developing the fifth prototype (creatively called P5) which should contain the final version of the drivetrain that will actually propel the production model. On June 20^th and through to the 28^th an Elio will be on display in cities where The great race, a 1900-mile 9-day journey across the country (Or at least from Missouri to California), is scheduled to make a stop. There is also a preview tour going around and two locations (Iowa and Missouri) have been confirmed to be getting a visit in July. Nobody is sure just exactly when will the P5 make a debut however.

Ione last thing, because the Elio is supposedly so simple, it means it should also be simple to tune or modify. Just Spitballing here…but a Hayabusa turbo engine could be made to work in there. Elio GTI. Just don’t expect a guide to it in any edition of “How to keep your Elio alive.”