ELIO Motor Car ~ 84mpg/3 wheels/2 seats/$6800

[Melensdad]

This strikes me as a brilliant idea. Something we need today.

Not necessarily great for cross country travel because I would personally prefer a bigger/heavier vehicle, but a great city/suburban vehicle. Great for college students, etc.

http://www.eliomotors.com

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Kind of puts me in mind of these beauties:

They probably had .9 liter engines as well !

 

[bczoom]

Looks like a Honda Insight that went through a vise.

 

[Melensdad]

I agree with you guys on the 'looks' of this vehicle. Odd, even silly.

But in all honestly I think this is one of those cars* that is right for the times. Most people drive alone, and then occasionally with 1 other occupant. Most people don't need much trunk space other than for some groceries.

And the PRICE IS RIGHT for most everyone too.

It strikes me that this is a great option for those people who need a 3rd car and probably a damn good choice for people who need a 2nd car.


* technically the BMV considers this a motorcycle.

 

[bczoom]

I'm going to guess it's rear-wheel (singular) drive. That would make it a "fair weather" vehicle. Could you see this thing on ice. Actually, that sounds like fun if I were on a lake.

 

[EastTexFrank]

3-wheel "cars" were fairly popular in the UK in the late '50s and early '60s but people who enthuse over them have never driven one. Basically they are motorcycles with a canopy. Reliant used to make one called the "Robin" which had a single wheel in front. That thing was downright dangerous. You could roll it, standing still in a parking lot. The good thing was that it only took 2 people to right it. If the wind was anything more than a strong breeze, it was all over the road.

The other one was made by Messerschmitt and had a 200cc engine and a hinged bubble canopy. It had 2-wheels in the front and was more stable but you could lose the back end of it in the blink of an eye.

They might possibly be useful in urban areas with no snow but otherwise they're just one of those good ideas that never quite work out. I'd be interested to see reviews of this latest one because the concept is an interesting one.

 

[waybomb]

Just had a buddy killed a few months ago - broadsided by a truck blasting through a red-lighted intersection. He didn't have a chance.

Neither would you in one of these deathtraps.

I'll take a well built car.

After loosing at least 4 friends on bikes when I was doing that, I gave up after the last one. Hit a parked car at something like 120mph. He was in pieces. This thing pictured would and up similarly.

To wit - had princess Di been wearing seat belts, she would have been around today to tell us all about hitting a bridge at 120 mph. The driver did.

 

[Melensdad]

I'm going to guess it's rear-wheel (singular) drive. That would make it a "fair weather" vehicle. Could you see this thing on ice. Actually, that sounds like fun if I were on a lake.

FRONT ENGINE

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

Just had a buddy killed a few months ago - broadsided by a truck blasting through a red-lighted intersection. He didn't have a chance.

Neither would you in one of these deathtraps.

I'll take a well built car....

Agreed, this is not going to survive a broadside by a truck. Neither will a broadside be survivable in most/all economy cars with 4 wheels.

This is a small/compact size economy car. Like a Smart Car. Like a Ford Fiesta. Like a Chevy Cruze. Like a VW Golf. Like a Mini Cooper. Like a Volvo C30.

 

[Melensdad]

They might possibly be useful in urban areas with no snow but otherwise they're just one of those good ideas that never quite work out. I'd be interested to see reviews of this latest one because the concept is an interesting one.

I too am interested in reviews.

But their website claims that they can get through snow (not big snow!!!).

And I do agree, this is "possibly useful in urban areas" and I suspect that is where they will be most popular, if the concept actually gets off the ground and into production.