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

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by The Other Andy

Is it? I wonder, how many prototypes does any other manufacturer make when introducing a new model? Usually they are grabbing quite a bit from parts bins on lines they already produce as well, for Elio every component is new.

True only for the body and some Elio-specific interior parts. And the engine, which was designed for Elio by IAV. IAV does engines for most/many auto manufacturers, a world class outfit.

Transmission is from Aisin. Seats from Lear. Electrical, exhaust, steering/suspension/climate control and everything else are all from major suppliers, utilizing existing available items.

[brucepick]

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.

Full safety cage, three airbags, and long front/rear crumple zones. Overall length and width are right up there with medium size sedans. The skin is FRP (fiber reinforced plastic?) with painted on finish, which is better than molded in color. Body frame skeleton is high strength steel tubing.

Designed for a five-star safety rating. However the official goverent agency test is only done on cars so Elio will have to get their own done.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by brucepick

Full safety cage, three airbags, and long front/rear crumple zones. Overall length and width are right up there with medium size sedans. The skin is FRP (fiber reinforced plastic?) with painted on finish, which is better than molded in color. Body frame skeleton is high strength steel tubing.

Designed for a five-star safety rating. However the official goverent agency test is only done on cars so Elio will have to get their own done.

I hope they don't try and do their own but send it to the regular test facility. Still there will be no getting around physics. The tests simulate hitting something of equal mass, odds are you will hit something with twice the mass or more. The Elio will look like somebody used it in a suicide bombing while the other car will be reparable with no injuries.

[Arragonis]

Of course if it had the regular number of wheels...

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

I hope they don't try and do their own but send it to the regular test facility. Still there will be no getting around physics. The tests simulate hitting something of equal mass, odds are you will hit something with twice the mass or more. The Elio will look like somebody used it in a suicide bombing while the other car will be reparable with no injuries.

I don't understand this comment.

Are all vehicles on the road supposed to have equal crash resistance?

Are all vehicles on the road supposed to have equal mass?

What?

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I don't understand this comment.

Are all vehicles on the road supposed to have equal crash resistance?

Are all vehicles on the road supposed to have equal mass?

What?

Cars and motorcycles are treated completely different in the US. Elio is trying to use the motocycle loop hole to avoid motor vehicle standards more then any slight benefit 3 wheels might give you in economy. I strongly believe if these ever get built the government will move to reclassify them as cars and require all the same standards at which point they end up costing more then a Mirage or Fiesta and don't end up with a much higher EPA rating. If Elio really wanted to play with cars they would get the law to say enclosed 3 wheelers are cars not some new classification. They want the benefits without the drawbacks of helmets or special endorsements.
Why can't we just import the Indian cars as is? Knock a wheel off one of those and you'd be good to go. China is going to figure this out and have them on the road long before Elio gets theirs out.

[Frank Lee]

Why would the govt do that? They haven't yet, and there are real trikes out there now, not including this imaginary one.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by brucepick

Designed for a five-star safety rating. However the official goverent[sic] agency test is only done on cars so Elio will have to get their own done.

Even without an outright ban, you can crash it into a wall of indifference.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Why would the govt do that? They haven't yet, and there are real trikes out there now, not including this imaginary one.

All its going to take are a few crashes where Elio occupants are killed and they would have survived if they were in a Civic. Even more likely if it's some celebrity

[Frank Lee]

Dream on.