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

[freebeard]

Gee, I wonder why I like it so much.

If you're curious there's a five page article here:
SIA Flashback – Mopar’s Star Cars | Hemmings Daily


In general, SIA Flashback is a goldmine.

[doclees]

Here is the latest from Eliomotors concerning their financials. Doesn't tell me anything. Also I am frustrated that they will not say how may pre-orders they have to date. At least Lit motors said 75% of their first run of 1000. Maybe there are some executive types that can interpret this email.

"Thank you so much for reaching out to us with your question. Elio Motors has been
blessed with some core investors who have great resources available to them. One can
just take a look at our board of investors to get a better understanding of the weight
that is behind our mission. From Stu Lichter, the CEO of Investor Resources Group (the
#2 commercial real estate group in the nation), to Jim Holden, the former CEO of
Chrysler, Ken Way, the former CEO of Lear Seating (the company that provides 40% of all
vehicle seats in the world), to David Schembri, a former Mercedes Benz exec and first
President of smartUSA, we recognize that we are quite fortunate! Our management team in
conjunction with our board of directors inspires a commensurate level of investment level
expertise for moving forward.

Our overall strategy takes us well through year one of production and includes many
pieces such that if one piece is not successful we have sufficient alternative pieces
that are ready to fall into place. Most significantly, our investors are just as excited
as you about our project, and therefore they are determined to make sure that we are
successful- something that is WONDERFUL to have behind us. As structured, we are
extremely confident with our financial game plan, and we do recognize that this
information will help you better understand who we are and how we are going to be
successful where others have failed. While we are providing you with a macro level view
of our finances, please know that our investors themselves have the micro level details
and that our financial statement is strong.

As far as how many orders we have, we are not currently releasing those numbers
publically.

We look forward to hopefully having you as an Elio Motors customer- and please tell your
friends about us too!
Best,
The Elio Team"

[Frank Lee]

Wow- that's even fluffier than this:

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...in this picture, it looks like a BIG american VW!

Speaking of Big American .......

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by doclees

Our overall strategy takes us well through year one of production and includes many
pieces such that if one piece is not successful we have sufficient alternative pieces
that are ready to fall into place.

That scares me a little. Sounds like their engineering is more focused on cheap workarounds and trial-and-error.

[slamson911]

i guess I am "a cup half full" kinda guy. I went "all in" for $100. $100 isn't the end of the world if the company goes belly up, but I will be in line to get a car I am very excited about if it comes to fruition. I did the "all in" alternative because it puts me in front of the refundable deposits and if it goes out of business you won't get your deposit back anyway.

I sincerely hope this car makes it to market, both for myself, and I think it will be a game changer.

[doclees]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

That scares me a little. Sounds like their engineering is more focused on cheap workarounds and trial-and-error.

I think this is there financial plan they are talking about and not actual manufacturing. I too am very hopeful and was going to go "all in". Even sell my bike. But I need to be a realist. As of this moment they have no engine or transmission. That could be an issue, no? They may have great talent but have also missed some important issues like knowing the legal spacing for headlights causing them to redesign the nose. Then that evasive email regarding their finances. I would have been much happier having them say "BS, we have all the money we need to make this thing work."

[brucepick]

Actually Elio did show their new engine the weekend they were in NY. The one designed by IAV. It was not in the car, it was displayed on the side.

See a photo in this thread
engine

On a related note, I sure hope there is an actual manual transmission available, hopefully a six speed with 5th and 6th being overdrive gears. A tiptronic computer controlled manual tranny - I don't think that would support EOC the way a regular standard trans does.

[Daox]

Weird looking intake manifold... The individual runners look really large in diameter.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

The engine looks basically like a copy of the Metro engine.

Originally Posted by brucepick

I sure hope there is an actual manual transmission available, hopefully a six speed with 5th and 6th being overdrive gears. A tiptronic computer controlled manual tranny - I don't think that would support EOC the way a regular standard trans does.

Eventually, if an AMT become available, a standard manual has less chance to be offered. Well, a racing-inspired sequential manual transmission with paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel (similar to the one available in the latest versions of the Toyota MR2) would be cool