Elio Motors, The Next Big Thing?!!...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Honda is probably best suited to make something like this. They could sell it at both the motorcycle dealers and the car dealers using off the shelf motorcycle and car parts they already have.

Not sure if Honda would really attempt to do something similar to the Elio, even though it does have the technical resources needed.

Still no way it comes in under $10,000 but at least it would be reliable.

It actually wouldn't be impossible to get it under $10,000 if the economics of scale are achieved. Had Honda been making a similar tricycle, I could easily bet it would have quite a high parts commonality with the Fit and the NC-series motorcycles.

The 1000cc African Twin is over $13,000, but it should be under the $17,000 Honda Fit.

But a big-displacement motorcycle usually has more high-end brake and suspension components than a car with a comparable displacement, even though they're in an overall smaller number, not to mention the higher level of automation in the manufacturing of a car's pressed-steel unibody compared to motorcycle frames.

Actually after typing that I don't see how it could really "fit" in their line. More than a mid pack motorcycle but less than the least expensive car is a narrow gap at Honda.

There is a niche market for something that could be featured either as a "comfort-enhanced motorcycle" for those who don't need a car due to its size but also don't want to compromise safety and comfort too much as they would have to in a regular motorcycle or scooter. The challenge would be up to the marketing department.

[BLSTIC]

Honestly if they just released the Gen1 Insight without the Hybrid system I'm sure people would buy that. They *may* have to up the displacement a little (or use a different VTEC system) to bring the performance up though, even without the 40kg battery pack it would still be too slow for the general public.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by BLSTIC

Honestly if they just released the Gen1 Insight without the Hybrid system I'm sure people would buy that. They *may* have to up the displacement a little (or use a different VTEC system) to bring the performance up though, even without the 40kg battery pack it would still be too slow for the general public.

Here in Brazil there are many penalty boxes fitted with 3-cyl 1.0L engines, heavier and less aerodynamically-enhanced than the Insight, and they still fare reasonably as all-around commuters. But anyway, even though such a low-performance approach wouldn't be a strong sales argument for a vehicle that already feels quite compromised, I could bet a non-hybrid Insight with better gearing would still not really need any enhancement to its engine.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by BLSTIC

Honda *could* use the Gen1 Insight 3-cyl engine with a bespoke flywheel, it already functions perfectly in a lightweight aero 12v non-hybrid format...

[citation needed]

[Grant-53]

According to DMV laws in most states a trike is a motorcycle not a car. Who makes a 1.0 liter motorcycle for less than $10,000?

[BLSTIC]

Originally Posted by freebeard

[citation needed]

AutoSpeed - Project Honda Insight, Part 1 – Introduction

Half way down. Author also wrote a previous article about installing aftermarket management to allow full functionality without the hybrid system, and there are other places that mention having a 12v starter motor as well

[niky]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

According to DMV laws in most states a trike is a motorcycle not a car. Who makes a 1.0 liter motorcycle for less than $10,000?

Not a motorcycle, but the Suzuki Alto K10. Starts at around $5,300 in India.

The engine is used in Europe... so with added hardware, it should meet US emissions.

Or keep the Elio certified as a tricycle to skip the more stringent regulations.

Front wheel drive, narrow track... a proven 70 mpg engine. In the more aerodynamic Elio, with better gearing, 80+ mpg should be possible.

The only problem left is how to keep the cost of manufacturing down. The first cars, without mass-produced stamped bodies, will cost extra. You could bring things down under $10k with Chinese bodies... and maybe even Chinese engines. The Chery 1.0 (which is, not coincidentally, based on a Daewoo 1.0, which is based on an older Suzuki) is sold in the US for use in UTVs, so EPA certification is certainly possible without a lot of trouble.

Do this for the first batch, and promise to bring production Stateside AFTER you have started moving products, rather than promising this and that, aiming for the stars and getting contracts with State governments for factories and more support and more money...

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The Elio was possible. Is still possible. Can be built and sold.

Or could be if they were serious about selling it. Instead, going for those extra "stretch goals" (as kickstarter would call them) overextended the company and allowed them to continue on forever without putting a single product in the hands of a paying customer.

The Chinese, in the meantime, have developed and built dozens of different three-wheel "car alternatives" that cost peanuts. Fulu still sells the same three wheeler I tested over a decade ago... still at around $3,000 wholesale.

Granted, you'd never want to be in one in a crash, but building one that's crashworthy and EPA compliant for twice the price should not be an issue.

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If you actually wanted to build it.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

According to DMV laws in most states a trike is a motorcycle not a car. Who makes a 1.0 liter motorcycle for less than $10,000?

This one is $12,000 plus your $5500 500 Enfield Bullet. But it is 10 times cooler so that's the same as (12,000+5500)/10 or $1750.
Home - *


seriously the Yamaha Bolt is a 950 for $8000 MSRP
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/cruiser/models/bolt

[Xist]

Had the Gen1 Insight caught on, they should have been able to make it for less money. A thee-wheeled version should be cheaper and lighter, but even so, I do not think it would be popular without more power.

[freebeard]

We're all such nay-sayers. It turns out there's an Elio 'owners' forum:

https://www.elioowners.com/

Introduce Yourself: 842
General Elio Discussion: 1601
Elio Drivetrain: 112

I didn't read anything because I also just found out about:

Welcome to SRKowners.com