[RedDevil]

We had a 1998 Maruti Alto, err sorry Suzuki Alto.

It was very basic. Seat belts, no air bags, no ABS, no A/C.
It had a decent 1 liter engine with just enough power to get it to highway speeds.
There was literally nothing on it that could be downgraded to make it cheaper, yet retaining functionality and rigidity.
Its original sales price was just under € 8,000, that was about $ 8,500 at the time.

We now have a € 9,500 Hyundai I10 with an 1.1 liter engine, air bags, electric windows, radio/CD, A/C and so on. It is bigger, faster, much safer and just as economical.
If you had to choose between the Alto and the I10 as they are, almost everyone would choose the I10.

You can have the I10 without A/C and with wind-down windows for 1000 less.
It would still have the safety gear and be better than the old Alto, for about the same money.

In 2000 Suzuki had to stop selling the Alto, it no longer met the minimal safety requirements.
Hardly anybody noticed as there were enough other small cars available that did for the same money.

Stop dreaming about $ 5,000 cars. Not gonna happen.
To make them that cheap they have to be cutting cost where even Maruti does not dare.

And the Elio? What Elio?
i'd love to see that dream come true.
Up till now it is just a dream, or maybe better put: a nightmare.