ELIO - has anybody driven one ? (84mpg)

[3930dave]

While I have never ordered one, I imagine getting a OEM motor cycle engine would prolly be a littler harder than a crate auto one as they are such low production comparably. But, if you are into Harleys, Indians, etc, you can get one from a third party builder very easily.

I'm picturing the ELIO, with one of those hot-rod Harley motors poking up through the hood ! If this car makes it into production, you know somebody is going to do this !

Rgds, D.

 

[Milo]

Morgan, a British 3-wheeler, buy their V-twin engines from S&S but it's mounted exposed in front. The Elio's is covered so it needs to be water cooled.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1208_2013_morgan_3_wheeler_first_drive/

 

[3930dave]

I like the car and hope it's successful BUT, there were numerous micro cars produced in Europe after WW II. Few, if any are still in production. I'm afraid there isn't a large enough market to support the effort. Virtual Tour of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum

You may well be right, but I'd like them to have a reasonable chance to prove the market wrong.

From what I know of post WWII, those cars came about largely due to a shortage of materials and manufacturing capacity. Today, we tend to have a surplus of both. What we lack enough of is buyers of new vehicles, one of the reasons the car companies are drooling over 2'nd world markets.

As a proportion of people's avg. annual income (esp. after taxes), new vehicles are getting very expensive. A lot of young people don't even bother to get a license today, let alone buy a car. That might change, if new, reliable cars were available at a low cost.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Morgan, a British 3-wheeler, buy their V-twin engines from S&S but it's mounted exposed in front. The Elio's is covered so it needs to be water cooled.

2013 Morgan 3 Wheeler First Drive - Motor Trend

Scarf and Goggles stuff, Eh What 'ol Chap !

Morgans have always had their fans, and I'm sure they'd be a lot of fun to drive. Not practical a lot of the time, being open, but great for sunny Sunday morning Get Lost runs..... :thumbsup:

OK, so the ELIO hot-rodders should be using the V-Rod motor - you sold me !

Rgds, D.

 

[Scooby074]

There are SO many good, proven, small engines out there, be it in motorcycles, Euro compacts or even Japanese Kei cars.

As I understand it, the test car is currently running a motor out of a Swift.

I cant understand why they want to engineer one from scratch, particularly at launch.. It'd have to be cheaper to set up an arrangement and buy from a major as opposed to developing your own.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I'm picturing the ELIO, with one of those hot-rod Harley motors poking up through the hood ! If this car makes it into production, you know somebody is going to do this !

Rgds, D.

They do it on light planes..

HogAir

 

[3930dave]

They do it on light planes..

Interesting.... Lot's I don't know about planes. Light/experimental market seems to have more flexibility in what they can do.... a little surprising to see a belt drive though.

Maybe ELIO needs to start planning their Harley Davidson version now ! Ford sold "a few".

Rgds, D.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Lotta belt drives out there.. A standard gear setup doesnt seem to work very well due to torsional vibrations. There are planetary setup though.

 

[3930dave]

Lotta belt drives out there.. A standard gear setup doesnt seem to work very well due to torsional vibrations. There are planetary setup though.

Belts are pretty amazing for what power levels they can handle, IMO. Killing vibes.... way back in Olden Tymes, learned that on turntables....

Keep It Simple..... often good advice.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Elio will be using Comau systems for manufacturing.

Green Car Congress: Elio Motors selects Comau for powertrain and automated assembly systems for 3-wheel vehicles

More a question for the Welding forum, but I'll ask anyway...... Is anybody familiar with the plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) process that Comau is using ?

Rgds, D.