My two cents. Modern automatics, especially those dual clutch automatics are superior to all other transmissions when put together right. Which equates to expensive! The Smart Fortwo uses that transmission design a la cheep, boy does it shift awful. Ford i using them too, ask any 2012 Ford Focus owner what they think about it, just be careful you might get hit by expressive body parts (people become quite animated describing the jerkiness).
Given the price of an Elio I hope the Automatic is a traditional style transmission with a torque converted, bands and valves. No CVTs either. That would be the best shot at a quality transmission, while not the most efficient, definitely the highest quality per dollar ratio.
With that said, my personal preference when mated with a small displacement motor is a good old manually shifting transmission. I rather pick my gears to keep the engine in it's sweet spot than have an automatic up shifting and down shifting continuously, Because unlike your car, you can read the road ahead of you and hold a gear if for example an uphill road levels out for a few yards often on a long ascend. You can also better maintain speed on a long descend without constantly hitting your brakes and heating them, which could be dangerous.
Unless of coarse you are a city only driver, then that automatic may be better than continuously shifting. Me I don't mind the shifting, as a cyclist I have strong legs.
Darn, all that to say it just depends where you drive and your preference. Sorry!