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

[civicefficient]

Very neat, I wonder what mpg it gets with that old geo metro engine?

[AbramWagner]

Originally Posted by civicefficient

Very neat, I wonder what mpg it gets with that old geo metro engine?

I was wondering myself, probably pretty good. Probably 94mpg....

[bhtooefr]

I'm gonna guess, with that old G10 (that in at least one video, looks like it's pretty clapped out) and 3-speed automatic, they're probably getting somewhere in the 55-65 mpg ballpark highway, and probably in the 45-55 mpg ballpark city. If it were a manual, I could see 55-65 city, 65-80 highway.

They're not that much lighter than a Metro (IIRC, 1200 vs. 1600 lbs), so city will be a little better, but not that much better, and their aerodynamics probably aren't that much better. And, window sticker on a 1.0 automatic Metro was 36/39. (The manual was much better, at 46/49 for the regular model, 53/58 for the XFi.) And, I doubt they're hypermiling it.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by AbramWagner

I hope they get eric the car guy to review it next

I actually suggested that! Maybe it would help if you asked them about it, too!

I went back to their Facebook page to see if there was a response. That page is busy! People keep asking if Elio will actually ever make a car. People defend that cars take x long to make, from concept to production, and motorcycles take y long, so they are ahead of schedule!

So why do they keep pushing back their own schedule?

I have not seen either of these here and I double-checked:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comment...f_elio_motors/

and:

http://www.eliomotors.com/wp-content...heet_v8_HR.pdf

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Trikes are motorcycles in the US, at least for now. I have a feeling get a bunch on the road with closed cabins and have then run over by all the big SUVs and pickups out there and public outcry will ensue along with lawsuits against Elio and the game will be over before it begins.

And then, someone would push for enclosed trikes to also feature crumple zones, airbags, whatever, thus eliminating their advantages regarding weight and the design freedom which even enables some more accurate aerodynamics...

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

And then, someone would push for enclosed trikes to also feature crumple zones, airbags, whatever, thus eliminating their advantages regarding weight and the design freedom which even enables some more accurate aerodynamics...

Exactly, they could build a new 4 wheel simple geo metro type car but then it has to have the laundry list of stuff required in a new US spec car. I'm amazed that the Mirage can be had new for just a tough over $11,000. You strip all the saftey and most of the emissions stuff and it would be pushing the 70 mpg if tested the Elio probably is and be under $8000. I bet the MPH claims Elio is throwing out are not a regular EPA automotive test.

[Xist]

Hersbird, it sounds like they are making their version of a Centurion, but you could make your own faster. Has anyone done calculations on its potential fuel efficiency? Less wind, weight, and motor to push around. I do not know about the EPA test, but that is not how normal people (or any of us) drive anyway.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

A few days ago I was debating about that crash worthiness issue with a cousin of mine. Dumb people still die even in a car with a plenty of airbags, crumple zones and a reinforced structure.

[freebeard]

I only see TV when I visit my friends. The other day we watched the local news and on one station there was a report of a fatal accident when a "1969 Beetle" failed to negotiate a corner. They didn't show the car, but the skid marks clearly showed it under-steered off the outside of the corner. ???

Then the other station showed the same story. They didn't show the skid marks but they did show the (probable 2009) New Beetle. The one with airbags and ABS.

An old Beetle would have gone off the inside of the corner backwards. Much safer.

[NeilBlanchard]

Elio raises $22M and the need $130M more:

Elio Motors Raises $22 Million From Small Investors, Still Needs $130 Million More