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

[sendler]

Honda has obviously been around long enough to use the same types of cost cutting strategies and the 430 pound CBR500R is made with cheap labor in Thailand and costs $6,200. Without a front drive trans axle and engine, chassis and body work, door, windows, and air bags, ect. A cheap motorcycle costs $6,200.
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It will take a $7,500 federal tax rebate like the electric cars get, to put the Elio anywhere near $6,800.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by sendler

Honda has obviously been around long enough to use the same types of cost cutting strategies and the 430 pound CBR500R is made with cheap labor in Thailand and costs $6,200. Without a front drive trans axle and engine, chassis and body work, door, windows, and air bags, ect. A cheap motorcycle costs $6,200.
.
It will take a $7,500 federal tax rebate like the electric cars get, to put the Elio anywhere near $6,800.

Cardboard-Aided Drafting is quite one thing, but I do not think they would be able to ship with cardboard body panels.

[bhtooefr]

I think it's very much possible to get a car like the Elio in at $6800, but you need economies of scale to do it.

The Nano LX - comparable trim to the Elio - is about $3650, for what it's worth. And, before you say "it doesn't have to meet crash tests or current US emissions standards", Elio doesn't have to either.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by bhtooefr

I think it's very much possible to get a car like the Elio in at $6800, but you need economies of scale to do it.

The Nano LX - comparable trim to the Elio - is about $3650,

$3650. In India. There is a huge gap in the currency conversion of the Indian Rupee. And in manufacturing costs in India. The Indian Honda CBR250R retails for $2,600 in India but is $4,200 in the USA and higher in other countries. A difference of 160% which makes the Tata more like $6000. With no air bags.
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If Elio shifted production to India, They might make it to an $8000 price point after importing to the US.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

1,228lbs. You'd have a hard time finding a car anywhere that light.

Just look for an Elio. It's a rolling chassis with no engine or transmission. Very light weight.

[NeilBlanchard]

I think that is the curb weight, so it is a running car.

[Xist]

Elio just needs to start an after-school drug- and crime-prevention program, which has minors assembling cars for ten or twenty hours a week.

[HydroJim]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

I think that is the curb weight, so it is a running car.

I believe he was making the Joke about the Elio not really having an engine or transmission yet. It still uses Geo Metro parts.

[bhtooefr]

Really, the Elio makes me wonder how a Geo Metro-donor kit car would do.

Of course, being a kit car, the safety standards go away, and the emissions standards are engine donor model year, not current model year, so then it can be 4-wheel... and if you've got 4 wheels, you don't need the engine up front for stability any more... and then you can go to a more Edison2-like layout (the catch being that the stock engine positioning puts the exhaust very close to the back seat and makes it quite tall, but a bellhousing adapter (or maybe a custom bellhousing) could rotate the engine over to 75 degrees forward of vertical, then you've got a low load floor, the exhaust is kept away from the seat, and the center of gravity is dropped).

Edit: Oh, re: the whole pricing thing, I'd argue that using a Honda isn't exactly the best bet, given that Honda is known for particularly high pricing in the US.

A Hyosung GT250R is $3799 in the US, and no, it's nowhere near as nice of a bike as the CBR250R, but it's in the same class. Compare to the GT250R in India, at 2.75 lakh, or $4561 - MORE expensive in India. And, expecting Honda or Kawasaki quality out of the Elio is probably asking a bit much.

[kYLEMtnCRUZr]

I find it weird when people bring up safety standard of cars when the cars purpose is for fun (Miata) or for saving gas (Elio) Sure it's not ideal for a family, but nobody seems to complain about motorcycles 1 star crash test rating, but when it comes to an enclosed vehicle everyone brings it up!