The P5: What Would You Change?

[pistonboy]

There are certain automotive writers that are currently negative towards the Elio, in a very intense way.

After the Elio goes into production and they need something else to thrash, think how negative they will be towards the elgin dash and Paul Elio for forcing it.

 

[Coss]

There are certain automotive writers that are currently negative towards the Elio, in a very intense way.

After the Elio goes into production and they need something else to thrash, think how negative they will be towards the elgin dash and Paul Elio for forcing it.

After it's in production; and in the hands of the owners is when there is a chance of it being changed, and not before; unless some kind of overwhelming epiphany happens with PE to get him to change his mind.
I know, go gift him $200mil with no strings attached except for one; he has to change the dash; that's about the only way I could see it happening.

 

[pistonboy]

Who designs the Elio?

The car companies have large numbers of engineers in many departments for all aspects of the vehicle. They have engineers specializing in brakes, engines, transmissions, suspensions, frames, etc. Today these engineers may not design things like they once did, but they are still specialists who understand and evaluate everything the suppliers provide.

I have heard the number employees of Elio Motors varying from 17 to 25. This is a very small number and I suspect most of them are PR, finance, and management.

I noticed the clutch pedal in the P5 was so close to the floor, my heel hit the floor long before I could press the pedal all the way. I know it will be corrected, but I am surprised it happened. Given the intense engineering capability of the major car companies, I don’t think that would happen in their prototypes. They would have engineers climbing all over their prototypes.

Who designs the Elio? Is it Altair? They specialize in complex computer simulations.

Altair's website says: “Our integrated consulting practices, Altair ProductDesign™ and Altair ThinkLabs® are retained by clients to support the entire product development lifecycle and any stage in between including industrial design, concept design, engineering, prototype build, test and development, and release.” ( http://www.altair.com/landing/services )

Note it says “support the entire product development lifecycle”.

Altair specializes in complex computer simulations. I am sure they created the crash simulations. I believe they also do simulations of vehicle dynamics and mpg estimates. These are complex and expensive. But I doubt Elio Motors would want to pay Altair’s high price to determine the correct positioning of the clutch and brake pedals. I wonder if Technosport is determining these simpler items. The supplier summits is where the suppliers come together and help design. Is this where the smaller designs are made?

Elio Motors is very clever in harnessing the suppliers and prototype builders to design the vehicle.

 

[AriLea]

Yes, I know who, at least early on. It was of course a collaboration. In fact I talked directly to one of the engineers, who was authoring the 3d model, even got some input into the final styling. But I'm not going to claim more than input, since it was mostly happen-stance. Just happened to be in the office when he was deciding a few things. (yes, I tracked them down and stuck my nose into the office, tried very hard NOT to overplay my card and lose access)
The company with most of the team, at least early on, was Genesis Concept and Design here in Mesa AZ. I used to keep the gentleman's business card, but have since lost it.

This was contract work, so sometime EM will say our team is X size, and sometimes Y size. The question being, is this direct hire members or including contractors?

 

[AriLea]

Oh! I found some proof, at least for the P4 and P3, look at this, we've seen Paul with this 3d model in hand.. And I know that office hallway well. The designer's office was opposite the framed images in the hallway. Weird to see this online.

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/genesis-concept-and-design-mesa?select=hulB0TyrDxgtLGe91_MSew

 

[pistonboy]

Can jumper cables be easily connected to the P5?

 

[Kuda]

After it's in production; and in the hands of the owners is when there is a chance of it being changed, and not before; unless some kind of overwhelming epiphany happens with PE to get him to change his mind.
I know, go gift him $200mil with no strings attached except for one; he has to change the dash; that's about the only way I could see it happening.

where do I send the check?

 

[Elio Amazed]

To me of course.

 

[Sethodine]

Can jumper cables be easily connected to the P5?

Good question. I'm not sure we even know the location of the battery.

 

[AriLea]

Good question. I'm not sure we even know the location of the battery.

Usually, when the battery is inaccessible, a place to connect jumpers is provided near the engine.
It's a viable question to ask next chance someone has.