What Is The Status Of The Atvm Loan?

Smitty901 said:

I at least hope ELIO taps a different market than the smart. Some I know that would not even look at the smart are wide eyed over the ELIO.
Of course if some for smart crowd would like to come over they are welcome.
Elio buyers may be about more than just low cost.

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I test drove a smart. It pitched over every bump -- wheel base just too short. I rejected on handling alone.

I equate those Smart Cars to a pregnant roller skate looking thing.

WilliamH said:

Why wouldn't conservatives like "forward looking" concepts like the Elio?
Conservatives have to get from point "A" to point "B" just like Liberals.

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I think it's the Whigs holding the whole thing up! (here goes another post deleted)

WilliamH said:

Just for reference I got these dimensions........
Smart 4 2
Wheelbase 1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Length 2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Width 1,510 mm (59.6 in)
Height 1,500 mm (61 in)
Curb weight 1,610 lb (730 kg)

Elio
Overall Length: 160.5″
Overall Height: 54.2″
Front Wheel Track: 66.8″
(center rim to center rim)
Wheelbase: 110″

The Elio looks (to me) like it would handle the gusty crosswinds and turbulence from trucks a lot better on the open road.
I could be wrong.........

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In reference to wind handling;
One of the more important measurments is one we don't actually have. Like the VW bug the smartcar has a rear engine and a center of gravity behind the center of pressure nearer to the rear, and that's not good. The Elio has a more forward CG possibly even a bit ahead of the CP. With the light weight, yes we don't know the full sensitivity yet, but you can bet it's better than both the VW Bug and the SmartCar.

Ekh said:

Here's the data for cars sold by category in 2014 and year to date 2015. It's a lot of detail, but it basically looks like you're right: For all light cars and trucks, sales were 6.7 million units, and total cars accounted for half of that. Small cars obviously made up only a small percentage of that total -- haven't yet found the breakout for that split, but I'd be surprised if it were 20% of the cars, or .6 million -- in other words, about 10% of all vehicle sales or less.

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follow up:

I saw this on TTAC today.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...st-selling-american-vehicles-first-half-2015/

It is for half years worth of "American" only car sales, so you can see Elio is hoping they sell the same amount of Ford Exploer's or Chevy Cruze's sold each year FWIW. In a perfect world I can see this happening, especially if the Elio is a hit with Zip Cars, rental fleets, and government fleet vehicles. Although I'm still concerned about reliance on this scenario. I just wish for the best and hope Paul plans for the worst.

Ekh said:

I test drove a smart. It pitched over every bump -- wheel base just too short. I rejected on handling alone.

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Very curious how the Elio will handle and can hardly wait for the ride and DRIVE opportunity. Seems like a long long wait on the P builds for that to happen.

Rickb said:

Very curious how the Elio will handle and can hardly wait for the ride and DRIVE opportunity. Seems like a long long wait on the P builds for that to happen.

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Me 2! Even though the collection of test-drive videos confirm it handles just like other front-wheel drives such as the Prius or Civic. But feels better ( more visceral ) on the road given the center seating and non-power steering. I still want to taste it for myself.

Rickb said:

Very curious how the Elio will handle and can hardly wait for the ride and DRIVE opportunity. Seems like a long long wait on the P builds for that to happen.

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last December I talked at length with Jerome about the handling/ride of the P4 when the tour was in Charlotte, NC .... at that time he had spent more time behind the wheel of the P4 than anyone else and said it handled well .... he did note the speed limitations imposed on the P4 .... he told me that, because of tires and other suspension upgrades/refinements, the production models should ride and handle better than the P4 .... he said the best analogy he could think of for the ride would be that of an English sports car .... he said he was pleased with the steering response and the stability of the P4 in turns; as well as, on snow

Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift did not have power steering either. Steering was effortless on the 12 and 13 inch tires.

Not to mention fun.

Car that light doesn't need power steering. Think of the mpg, cost, and weight savings from leaving it off, not to mention the fun of a nice tight rack and pinion! Now if EM would only set it at, say, 1.3 turns lock-to-lock -- aha!