Outsider’s Perspective: I Believe in Paul Elio

paul-elio-press-ubj-580xx960-640-0-110
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…
ELIO_STILLS.00-723x406 (Copy)
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.
668x374xelios.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.4O_Hw2qQX0 (Copy)
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?
screen-shot-2014-05-15-at-5-53-54-pm (Copy)
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 20th and through to the 28th 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.
elio-motors-84-mpg-3-wheeler-image-elio-motors_100468709_l (Copy)
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.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

  1. Bret Avatar

    I also am pulling for Elio. However, I’m afraid when it comes time to buy, many folks will opt for a traditionally styled used car instead.
    That said, I do like the idea of a sportbike powered Elio GTI. I know of a perfectly good liter bike engine sitting unused on a shelf…

  2. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    There’s 43,000 of us (reserved buyers, myself included) that believe in this company. I can’t wait to get my grubby little paws on this car!

  3. Eric Rucker Avatar

    I hope they can pull it off. I don’t trust that they will enough to put money down, but if they pull it off, maybe?

  4. mdharrell Avatar

    I want the Elio to succeed. My garage may not have enough space for another failed U.S. three-wheeled economy vehicle.

  5. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    Ecclesiates 1:19
    What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

    1. mdharrell Avatar

      Isaiah 35:8
      A Freeway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it.
      http://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/1978342_736899639680921_963108349802419126_o.jpg

      1. Tanshanomi Avatar

        Think of the Freeway as Elio’s John the Baptist, a lone voice in the wilderness crying, “Prepare ye the way…”

        1. mdharrell Avatar

          Seems reasonable. John and I do share a birthday.

  6. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    The third and fourth pictures look like they were taken around Fair Park in Dallas.

    1. Cool_Cadillac_Cat Avatar
      Cool_Cadillac_Cat

      I’m 99.9% certain that’s the automotive building. Good catch!

  7. Cool_Cadillac_Cat Avatar
    Cool_Cadillac_Cat

    I really do want this to work, because it’s EXACTLY what the US commuting public needs.
    Low-cost, A/C, small, lightweight, high MPG, should have a very low operating expense too… This is good for all of us because it means more fuel for the fun machines!
    To me, the only way it could be better, as a commuter, is if it had a turbo-diesel in it, but I’d rather not rush things…

  8. Rover 1 Avatar
    Rover 1

    A good example of the strange things that can happen in a market cut off from competition.
    And in Japan, there are these.
    Which also get 50+ mpg and are fun to drive and meet car crash standards. And the lost one is just in production and perhaps bound for the US at your Honda dealer. So it’ll have Honda build quality.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/SuzukiCappuccino.jpg/800px-SuzukiCappuccino.jpg
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/MAZDA_AZ-1.JPG/800px-MAZDA_AZ-1.JPG
    http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201503/2016-honda-s660-21_800x0w.jpg

  9. Rover 1 Avatar
    Rover 1

    Meanwhile, in Europe, in production now are real production cars that get 100+ mpg and meet crash standards and emission controls and cover the same area of road and fit more than 1 person.
    Indeed, room for four. And fuel consumption of 2.0 litre/100km or 141.2 mpg.
    http://content.worldcarfans.co/2015/5/4/big/7754865551595610338.jpg

  10. Roger Wildermuth Avatar
    Roger Wildermuth

    Elio Motors is not a ‘New Company’, they’ve been around since 2008, and
    have a ‘history’.
    Just remember, back on (Sep 6, 2013); “Founder Paul Elio told Red
    River Radio that 25 prototypes are – under construction — in
    Detroit as the company enters into the product testing phase. “
    (Never happened)
    – BEWARE– Elio Motors has been taking ‘RESERVATIONS’ for 2 ½ years, but is
    still short $230 MILLION needed to reach ‘production’.
    – In fact, their $100 – $1,000 reservations DO NOT guarantee that you
    will ever get a vehicle; Elio Motors says: “ we are under no obligation to supply you
    with a vehicle.“
    – And when asked, they refuse to provide which ‘reputable financial
    institution’ is responsible for their “Refundable” escrow account.
    – Even with the “$17 million collected for “reservations”, they have
    NOT BUILT nor TESTED one complete Pre-Production Prototype with
    operable systems to ‘validate their claims’ of fuel economy, or
    safety!” …. since 2008.
    –If you ask any ‘difficult’ questions, or express ‘discontent’ on their
    FaceBook page, it is [DELETED], and you are “BLOCKED”!
    Interesting ‘concept’; but NO WAY they will be in production and on
    the road, by Mid-2016, as they ‘claim’. – Their ‘Production Date’
    has already ‘slipped’ from Jun/Jul 2014 → 1st Qtr 2015 → 3rd Qtr
    2015 → to First ½ 2016! (now mid to late 2016?)
    – They have NOT demonstrated their “84mpg” and do not guarantee
    their ‘selling price’ of $6,800. They have never ‘demonstrated “at
    least 75mpg” to QUALIFY for the ATVM LOAN. They are ‘fleecing’ our
    citizens.! Please do your ‘Homework’!