1/14/2015 - Elio Motors Engine Debut (with Photos!)

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

This is interesting news. I feel better.

Interesting to note that contrary to what we've read before the engine internals will not be off-the-shelf. They will be unique to the Elio. Not a problem, just not what has been oft-repeated on this forum.

 

[Ocean9000]

hope they keep the intake runners and equal length stainless steel tube headers...

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

LOL anyone else recognize the AC Delco PF47 oil filter and AC Delco alternator there? I hope they stay with the design!

Me too. Delco makes the best alternators.

We had a freight company that sponsors a NASCAR team bring one of the cars to the office where I work for a "show-and-tell" a few years back (we ship a LOT of stuff). The car was supposedly a Ford, but of course "stock" cars are not stock. But I noticed this "Ford" used a stock GM alternator, power steering pump, and power steering box. I asked the crew chief why GM instead of Ford or something else. His response? "They just work. All the teams use them."

 

[LockMD]

I never thought I would be so excited to see a dipstick.

What did you call me?!

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

Two pictures show an oil-to-water oil cooler under the filter. One shows a generic external oil cooler adapter under the filter. I'm betting the oil-to-water cooler is what we'll see in production.

Similarly, Honda used a filter-mounted oil-to-water cooler the first few years on the Insight (also a sub-liter three-cylinder) but eliminated it for the last three years. The Elio generates similar power, I wonder if they also discover they don't need it. It's a significant cost that could be eliminated if we are still $500 over $6800.

 

[Jambe]

I haven't seen pictures which identify the filter as a PF-47. We have previously been told PF-53.

 

[Charlie G]

I guess they aren't doing the run-to-failure portion of testing until after the 6th then.

 

[Bert]

BOOM!!!!

One thing I noticed right away though, there's an AC compresser bolted onto it? o_O

Gotta hear it run, gotta hear it run, gotta hear it run!!

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

These pictures were taken before the engine was run. There is no heat-bluing on the exhaust manifold.

I guess they aren't doing the run-to-failure portion of testing until after the 6th then.

Since it's a "First Start" event, I think that's a good guess.

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

One thing I noticed right away though, there's an AC compresser bolted onto it? o_O

That's only a surprise if you believed the rumors about "electric" A/C. I didn't. Vindication!

(Unless it's an emissions air pump. In which case I'll just add that to the list of crow on my menu. )