Elio Motors, The Next Big Thing?!!... - Page 27 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

sheepdog 44 · 12-27-2013, 09:57 PM

The new "production" prototype is getting ready to be unveiled this January. Till then here are cad line drawings of the new body: http://eliomotors.wordpress.com/

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The front view: There are a couple of changes that you may notice from this view that many of you have asked about and requested over the last 8 months. The headlights are now in boarded and are part of the front of the body. This obviously has great benefits from an aerodynamics standpoint and the styling is improved as well! The other change that you may have noticed is the fender on the front wheels has been expanded and made to be more aerodynamic. This area was very “noisy” when it comes to aerodynamics and the new style makes it much more “slippery” and helps us get to the 84 mpg highway. Additionally the front suspension has been modified to make that more aerodynamic as well.

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The side view: The changes can been seen again from this view and you can see the great lines at the front of the vehicle too! For those of you that have not seen the front windshield wiper and don’t believe that it has one, here it is… click on the picture to make it larger

Please check back in next Friday for the next installment of “P4 – the blog!”

HydroJim · 12-27-2013, 10:15 PM

I do hope this works out. While they may not be a perfect company, their values(affordability and efficiency) are great values to have.

freebeard · 12-27-2013, 10:41 PM

Thanks. I've bookmarked the blog. I wonder how they'll hold their value against depreciation. I've never bought a new car.

There's always one in every crowd. The new headlights are too close together. Oncoming drivers will mis-judge the distance and make left turns in front of you. I would have moved the bug-eye pods up and rotated them 45°. Then they could pre-qualify the airflow around the rear view mirrors.

Then there's the fenders. I like the simpler design, but you're on a roll so I'll just say the front profile could mimic the nose more closely, and the rear should resemble the rear of the car. At least a 'family' resemblence.

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The other change that you may have noticed is the fender on the front wheels has been expanded and made to be more aerodynamic. This area was very “noisy” when it comes to aerodynamics and the new style makes it much more “slippery” and helps us get to the 84 mpg highway.

Anything you can share on this part of the subject? Tuft testing? Wind tunnel? CFD?

sheepdog 44 · 12-27-2013, 11:02 PM

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Originally Posted by freebeard

Anything you can share on this part of the subject? Tuft testing? Wind tunnel? CFD?

I hope you don't think i did it, i'm just passing passing along their info.

Superfuelgero · 12-27-2013, 11:25 PM

Their business plan is not feasible. Other than that, you would think they could do a better job with the exhaust pipe.

doclees · 12-28-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebeard

There's always one in every crowd. The new headlights are too close together. Oncoming drivers will mis-judge the distance and make left turns in front of you. I would have moved the bug-eye pods up and rotated them 45°. Then they could pre-qualify the airflow around the rear view mirrors.

Anything you can share on this part of the subject? Tuft testing? Wind tunnel? CFD?

I was told the headlights had to meet motorcycle lighting spacing regs.

NeilBlanchard · 12-28-2013, 11:40 AM

I'm glad they have wheel pants, but they can't have very long trailing surfaces because those would get in the way of the door and come too close to the car when turning. I agree, the exhaust system looks terrible under there.

What makes their business plan so terrible that you just "know" instantly they are doomed to failure?