8/28/2014 - The Truth About Cars - Exclusive Capsule Review: Elio Motors P4 Prototype

[Jeff Porter]

8/28/2014 - The Truth About Cars - Exclusive Capsule Review: Elio Motors P4 Prototype

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/08/exclusive-capsule-review-elio-motors-p4-prototype/

This is one of the better articles I have seen recently and has some nice details.

Thanks much for this G.O. The eye-catching and mind-catching take-away for me:

1. They tossed the author the keys and said "bring it back when you're done". Like he said, that's confidence from EM. An extended and unsupervised test drive.
2. Loved the dual video as he was driving, got to experience what he saw and did.
3. Enjoyed the engine talk and observations by the author.
4. I suppose this could change, but even 5W-20 motor oil usage was mentioned.
5. More stories of large people "fitting in it just fine", both front and back.
6. EM "... may be subject to the same obstacles that Tesla’s factory outlets have faced due to state franchise laws and opposition by dealer groups. They’re hoping, however, to use the trike’s legal status as a motorcycle to piggyback on the exemptions given to factory owned Harley Davidson and Suzuki dealerships."
7. Need a clarification here: "The cockpit has a Goldilocks feel to it." Help?
8. A notice of the lack of need for a rearview mirror on the windshield, as you would "only see your face".
9. A very solid vote for stability of the two-wheels-in-front trike.
10. The steering "... takes much more effort at low speeds than most drivers are used to." I am confident we'll all get used to it.
11. "Mr. Elio told me that there were three basic design objectives: a 0-60 time of 10 seconds, 84 miles per gallon on the highway, and a top speed of at least 100 mph." I think in the context of their conversation, this is not alarming that he didn't mention $6800 and the 5-star safety rating.
12. Comau "... has left a spot on the [assembly] line empty for the time being so that a turbo installation station can be added later." Kewel.
13. What Paul told him about start of production does mildly get my attention, but many of us know that more delays may occur: "Paul Elio said that production will start in the second half of 2015" and "Elio said that he expects production will start in Q3 or Q5 [I assume author means Q4] of 2015"
14. Then on the positive side, we may have an estimate on when reservations will be closed: "Nearly half of the projected 60,000 first year units are already theoretically spoken for."
15. More interesting informative statements about the engine, the number of pre-production "validation" cars, and what they will be used for.

 

[goofyone]

10. The steering "... takes much more effort at low speeds than most drivers are used to." I am confident we'll all get used to it.

He writes this but then correctly writes that the prototype is using a different steering rack than what will be used in the final vehicle then again later in the article says the prototype is fairly close to the final car minus the engine and the steering. He also writes that even in current form he can almost palm it while parking which bodes very well for what we will find when a correctly sized rack & pinion system is installed.

 

[ncarter124]

I was surprised to hear about the future turbo application.

 

[AriLea]

I was surprised to hear about the future turbo application.

I assume that would be a power package upgrade. Maybe a sport-power package as a guess.

 

[JEBar]

I have seen first year estimates ranging up to about 68K however have never seen an officially announced final number. Considering the access this writer was granted, and the research he apparently put into this article, 60K could very well be the current first year production estimate however we have no way of verifying this until EM confirms a number.

thanks for the link to the article/video .... one major factor has to be when in 2015 the actual production begins .... they can product a great deal more units if they start in the 3rd quarter than they can if they don't get stated until the 4th

Jim

 

[cdurrett]

Thanks much for this G.O. The eye-catching and mind-catching take-away for me:
7. Need a clarification here: "The cockpit has a Goldilocks feel to it." Help?

Not too hot and not too cold (porridge).
Not to hard and not too soft (beds).

(Probably) not too large and not too small (Elio).

Ie, "just right".

The term "Goldilocks zone" is used, for example, to describe planets who are neither too close or too far from their sun..

 

[Craig]

Click Here for the full article.

Moderator Comment: Merged into existing thread

At the 7:40 time mark, check out the tree in the back ground looking out the car door. Notice that the car barely moves when he gets back in. The suspension must be on the stiff side.

 

[JEBar]

At the 7:40 time mark, check out the tree in the back ground looking out the car door. Notice that the car barely moves when he gets back in. The suspension must be on the stiff side.

while watching that video it was easy to see that the road wasn't terrible but it was patched and far from smooth .... in the video, he doesn't seem to be bouncing as much as I anticipated .... it appears the suspension has to be absorbing much of the bounce and not passing it on to the driver .... I sure hope that is the case

Jim

 

[Ty]

Thanks much for this G.O. The eye-catching and mind-catching take-away for me:

1. They tossed the author the keys and said "bring it back when you're done". Like he said, that's confidence from EM. An extended and unsupervised test drive.
2. Loved the dual video as he was driving, got to experience what he saw and did.
3. Enjoyed the engine talk and observations by the author.
4. I suppose this could change, but even 5W-20 motor oil usage was mentioned.
5. More stories of large people "fitting in it just fine", both front and back.
6. EM "... may be subject to the same obstacles that Tesla’s factory outlets have faced due to state franchise laws and opposition by dealer groups. They’re hoping, however, to use the trike’s legal status as a motorcycle to piggyback on the exemptions given to factory owned Harley Davidson and Suzuki dealerships."
7. Need a clarification here: "The cockpit has a Goldilocks feel to it." Help?
8. A notice of the lack of need for a rearview mirror on the windshield, as you would "only see your face".
9. A very solid vote for stability of the two-wheels-in-front trike.
10. The steering "... takes much more effort at low speeds than most drivers are used to." I am confident we'll all get used to it.
11. "Mr. Elio told me that there were three basic design objectives: a 0-60 time of 10 seconds, 84 miles per gallon on the highway, and a top speed of at least 100 mph." I think in the context of their conversation, this is not alarming that he didn't mention $6800 and the 5-star safety rating.
12. Comau "... has left a spot on the [assembly] line empty for the time being so that a turbo installation station can be added later." Kewel.
13. What Paul told him about start of production does mildly get my attention, but many of us know that more delays may occur: "Paul Elio said that production will start in the second half of 2015" and "Elio said that he expects production will start in Q3 or Q5 [I assume author means Q4] of 2015"
14. Then on the positive side, we may have an estimate on when reservations will be closed: "Nearly half of the projected 60,000 first year units are already theoretically spoken for."
15. More interesting informative statements about the engine, the number of pre-production "validation" cars, and what they will be used for.

7. Goldilocks feeling = Just right. He said it feels like it should be wider but any wider and you would have a big blind spot behind you. Perfect size... Goldilocks.

 

[Ty]

Thanks much for this G.O. The eye-catching and mind-catching take-away for me:

1. They tossed the author the keys and said "bring it back when you're done". Like he said, that's confidence from EM. An extended and unsupervised test drive.
2. Loved the dual video as he was driving, got to experience what he saw and did.
3. Enjoyed the engine talk and observations by the author.
4. I suppose this could change, but even 5W-20 motor oil usage was mentioned.
5. More stories of large people "fitting in it just fine", both front and back.
6. EM "... may be subject to the same obstacles that Tesla’s factory outlets have faced due to state franchise laws and opposition by dealer groups. They’re hoping, however, to use the trike’s legal status as a motorcycle to piggyback on the exemptions given to factory owned Harley Davidson and Suzuki dealerships."
7. Need a clarification here: "The cockpit has a Goldilocks feel to it." Help?
8. A notice of the lack of need for a rearview mirror on the windshield, as you would "only see your face".
9. A very solid vote for stability of the two-wheels-in-front trike.
10. The steering "... takes much more effort at low speeds than most drivers are used to." I am confident we'll all get used to it.
11. "Mr. Elio told me that there were three basic design objectives: a 0-60 time of 10 seconds, 84 miles per gallon on the highway, and a top speed of at least 100 mph." I think in the context of their conversation, this is not alarming that he didn't mention $6800 and the 5-star safety rating.
12. Comau "... has left a spot on the [assembly] line empty for the time being so that a turbo installation station can be added later." Kewel.
13. What Paul told him about start of production does mildly get my attention, but many of us know that more delays may occur: "Paul Elio said that production will start in the second half of 2015" and "Elio said that he expects production will start in Q3 or Q5 [I assume author means Q4] of 2015"
14. Then on the positive side, we may have an estimate on when reservations will be closed: "Nearly half of the projected 60,000 first year units are already theoretically spoken for."
15. More interesting informative statements about the engine, the number of pre-production "validation" cars, and what they will be used for.

One more thing he said that I found interesting. "The production mirrors will be SUBSTANTIALLY larger."