Elio motors

https://www.eliomotors.com/

Interesting concept, price almost too good to be true, wonder how they're going to make out...

Another contraption to spoil motorcyclists fun on the PCH I see. Looks like a Canam Spyder with a roof. The price point makes me wonder when things will start to fall off? Hopefully that won't be the case.

The price point is scary inexpensive, it makes it sound down right cheap. With AC, a steering wheel and reverse it begs the question of why not just put a 4th wheel on the friggin thing. With 55 hp and I'm guessing a weight around 800 lbs (without the driver) it should go 0-60 in about 6.2 hrs. I guess it is setup to go head-to-head with Smart Cars and any left over Yugos for the tofu and kale class of drivers.

If you must have an enclosed three wheeler it might as well be a meat eater.

ionbeam said:

The price point is scary inexpensive, it makes it sound down right cheap. With AC, a steering wheel and reverse it begs the question of why not just put a 4th wheel on the friggin thing.

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Because if they put a fourth wheel on it, it's an "auto," and has to be tested/licensed like an auto. With the three wheels, it only has to meet the safety requirements for a motorcycle (though they claim to be trying for a five-star crash rating), and be licensed as a bike - and with it being enclosed, having a steering wheel, and a seat belt, in most states you don't need a helmet or endorsement to drive it.

When I first heard about this thing, I was really skeptical. The more I read, I think there is a niche market there.

I have a car, and I use it almost exclusively to go to the grocery store and get more than will fit in my saddlebags. This Elio would do that. In the DFW area, there are just about an average of 3 days a year where there just might be ice on the road. Whenever anyone asks me about how often I ride to work, I always say - every day that does not have ice on the road. The Elio - based on a couple of the pics and videos on the site - just might get some very good traction in icy conditions.

It's not supposed to be fast, but, "2 Fun", '0-60 in 6.2 hours' is nonsensical hyperbole. The site claims 0-60 in under 10 seconds. That is going to be more than enough to keep out of the way of all other vehicles, except the idiots on crotch rockets trying to go highway speeds in residential areas. Top speed of 100 is just fine. Getting 80+ mpg on a couple of hundred mile trip on the superslab in July in Texas with A/C running...doesn't sound bad. I have places that I need to go that I simply cannot ride a bike to, and this thing just might be an option.

It wouldn't be for everyone. Pickup trucks are not for everyone. Corvettes are not for everyone. Minivans are not for everyone. Motorcycles are not for everyone.

They are supposed to be at the State Fair in Dallas in September. I'm going to see if 6'2" and 36 inch inseams will fit in the front seat. If so, I just might put my $100 down for a shot at the first ones off the old Hummer Factory Floor.

birkdale10 said:

...It's not supposed to be fast, but, "2 Fun", '0-60 in 6.2 hours' is nonsensical hyperbole. The site claims 0-60 in under 10 seconds...

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Never in a million years would I engage in hyperbole. But, I would point out that the mission of this trike is not the same as other trikes or motorcycles. You are right, this machine would be a killer in a Geo Metro race.



I borrowed my wife's Geo Metro last night. One liter of raw power, three cylinders of asphalt-tearing terror on thirteen-inch rims. It's stock, alright, nothing done to it, but it pushes the barely 2000 pounds of metro around with AUTHORITY. I'm always catching mopeds and 18-wheelers by surprise...

I was headed back from Baskin Robbins with my manly triple-latte cappuccino blast ("No Cinnamon, ma'am, I take it BLACK"), when I stopped at a streetlight. As the Metro throbbed its throaty idle around me, I sipped my bold beverage and wiped the white froth my stiff upper lip. I was minding my own business, but then I heard a rev from the next lane. I turned, made eye contact, then let my eyes trace over the competition. Ford Festiva - a late model, could be trouble. Low profile tires, curb feelers, and school bus - yellow paint. Yep, a hot rod, for sure. The howl of his motor snapped my reverie, and I looked back into the driver's eyes, nodded, then blipped my own throttle. As I tugged on my driving gloves and slipped on my sunglasses (gotta look cool to be fast, and I am *@#%$* cool, hence...), the night was split with the sound of seven screaming cylinders...

Then the light turned... I almost had him out of the hole, my three pounding cylinders thrusting me at least a millimeter back into my seat, as smoke poured from my front right tire... my unlimited slip differential was letting me down! I saw in the corner of my eyes, a yellow snout gaining, and I heard the roar of his four cylinders. He slung by me, right front wheel juddering against the pavement, and he flashed me a smile as his .7 extra liters of motor stretched its legs. I kept my foot gamely in it, though, waiting for the CHECK ENGINE light to blink on in the one-gauge (no tachometer here!) instrument panel. I saw a glimpse of chrome under his bumper, and knew the ugly truth... He was running a custom exhaust-probably a 2-into-1 dual exhaust...maybe event cutouts! @#%$ his hot-rod soul! The old lady passing us on the crosswalk cast a dirty look in our boy-racer direction... Yet still I persisted, with my three pumping pistons singing a heady high-pitched song, wound fully out.

Though only a few handfuls of seconds had passed, we were nearing the crosswalk at the other side of the intersection, and I heard the note of his engine change as he made his shift to second, and I saw his grin in his rear view mirror fade as he missed the shift! I rocketed by, shifting, and nursed the clutch gently in to keep from bogging, keeping my motor spinning hot and pulling me ahead, now trailing a cloud of stinking clutch smoke. Not ready to give up so easily, he left his foot in it, revving, and I heard one wheel *almost* chirp as he finally found second and dropped the clutch. We careened over the crosswalk, now going at least 15 miles per hour. A bicyclist passed us, but intent on the race as we were, neither of us batted an eye.

He pulled slowly abreast of me, and neck and neck, we made the shift to third, the scream of motors deafening all pedestrians within a five foot circle. He nosed ahead as we passed 30 miles an hour, then eased in front of me, taunting, as we shifted into fourth. I was staring up the dual 6" chrome tips of his exhaust, snarling, my cappuccino forgotten, as he lifted a little to take the next corner.

I saw my opportunity, and counting on the innate agility of my trusty steed, I pulled wide into the number two lane and kept my foot buried in carpet. Slowly, I inched around him, feeling my Metro roll slowly to the left as I came abreast in the midst of this gradual sweeping turn. I felt the Geo ease onto its suspension stops, and felt the right rear wheel slowly leave the ground - no matter, though, because my drive wheels, up front, were pulling me through the corner, and around the Festiva ...

The Ford driver beat his wheel in rage as my wife's car eased past him on the outside, my P165/55R13's screaming in protest, as we raced to the next light. We coasted down, neck-and neck, to the red light. I tightened my driving gloves, ready for another round, when this WIMP in the next car meekly flipped his turn signal and made a right. Chevy superiority reigns!!! I drove off sipping my masculine drink, awash in my sheer virility, looking for other unwitting targets.... Perhaps a Yugo, or maybe even a Volkswagen Van!

I'd rather have a Carver. It looks much more fun. https://www.carver-technology.com/

lonerider said:

https://www.eliomotors.com/Interesting concept, price almost too good to be true, wonder how they're going to make out...

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Those Elio pictures look like artwork, or maybe a static mock-up. I'd like to see a human sitting in one, and some pictures of the interior and drivetrain. Their web page says they have not yet hired the workforce to build them. For price comparisons, the Carver (~US$40000) did cost cost over five times the price of the Elio. The Polaris Slingshot (~US$24000) costs over three times the price of an Elio, and the Slingshot is not an enclosed vehicle.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

Dang... that really leans over... looks like it would be fun! B)

Streethawk said:

I'd rather have a Carver. It looks much more fun. https://www.carver-technology.com/

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Streethawk said:

I'd rather have a Carver. It looks much more fun. https://www.carver-technology.com/

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Does this mean that Don has his own bike company? The Don Carver Tilted Thrills?

They had it on fox news a couple months ago.

https://video.foxnews.com/v/3518985823001/elio-motors-gives-sneak-peek-of-new-eco-friendly-car/#sp=show-clips

ionbeam said:

Streethawk said:

I'd rather have a Carver. It looks much more fun. https://www.carver-technology.com/

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Does this mean that Don has his own bike company? The Don Carver Tilted Thrills?

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YES, it does!

Send your 20,000 USD to my paypal account immediately for top priority delivery when manufactured.