Quote:
Originally Posted by ME_Andy
Are any of those brands you mentioned cheap, though? Morgans, BMWs, Lotuses, and Shelby Cobras are not, for sure.They can afford to pay a premium when they buy an engine from a middle man. Elio can't. Plus, they got IAV to design the engine for them. IAV is 50% owned by Volkswagen and has done design work for practically everybody.
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No they aren't - and that is a problem for Elio.
Buying a decent engine package wouldn't be cheap, but neither is developing one. If you purchased an engine you could be producing completed vehicles much quicker. The R&D and manufacturing time and cost just for the engine are significant, plus you need to produce additional spare parts and inventory them.
Even large established companies like Hyundai had engine problems with their first attempts. It has taken them quite a while to overcome their first failures and restore consumer confidence.
I wish Elio luck (it's a neat concept and design) but they are taking quite a big bite with developing their own powerplant - many before them have choked on it.