Elio Motors Engine Prototype-First Start-Up to Build All-New Internal-Combustion Engine in 60 Years

PR Newswire ^ | March 6, 2015

[spokeshave]

registered as a motorcycle but doesn’t need a crash helmet

[BobL]

Actually they seem to be exploiting a loophole in the certification of cars. Being 3 wheels, it’s considered a motorcycle to EPA, so the big car companies don’t get any EPA credit for selling those types of vehicles. The motorcycle manufacturers don’t care about that market either, as it’s too much like a car.

So we’ll see how they do. It could be very interesting.

[mosesdapoet]

PR News Wire is sometimes a pretty good source. Thanks for cruising it.

[PLMerite]

“Morgan has been building 3 wheeled cars for about 100 years now. Do their vehicles turn over in a 30mph wind?”

Probably not, seeing that there’s no passenger compartment structure for the wind to work against. Good luck with *that* anywhere north of Miami in February.

[PAR35]

Since I am not an engineer, can someone explain why this vehicle will be 3 wheels instead of 4?

Avoid 10s of thousands of dollars in safety and anti-pollution equipment since it is a motorcycle for regulatory purposes. See also the Polaris Slingshot already in the market. I understand that Morgan has also re-entered the US market on a limited basis.

[PAR35]

Morgans were designed for the UK where the weather is NEVER Miami - like.

Morgans are not, however, for wimps.

[cpdiii]

You can get laid in the back seat of a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville. Try that in an Elio!! DON’T WANT!!!

[ZOOKER]

Morgan has been building 3 wheeled cars for about 100 years now. Do their vehicles turn over in a 30mph wind?

I don't know, but I did notice every one of those cars were equipped with roll bars. What does that tell you?

[Cen-Tejas]

......a few Austin, SFO and Seattle buyers!

[Clay Moore]

Top Gear: Rolling a Robin Reliant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

[tennmountainman]

Thanks for the explanation. I learned something from your post.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

**All-New Internal-Combustion Engine in 60 Years***

Wasn’t the Wankel engine invented 60 years ago? What ever happened to it!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I thought three wheeled “dune buggys” had been banned as unsafe!

[Clay Moore]

I think the EPA mainly wiped out the Wankel due to emissions but they had a lot of trouble keeping the rotor seals tight enough to not use oil and lose compression.

[BobL]

They certainly don’t sound safe, given the terrain that they travel on. For street use, 3 wheels have been around virtually from day 1.

[Go_Raiders]

If you put the single wheel in front, it is very unsafe, as it will tip in a braking turn. Those were the type of trikes that were taken off the market.

[Georgia Girl 2]

We are very interested in buying one but will not put up any money on a product that is not in production. They keep moving the production date back which I find worrisome.

[Aqua225]

That is not an efficient design. Reciprocating engines lose enough power to friction with the piston perpendicular to the crankshaft, this will be much worse!

[publius911]

People are willing to drive a three wheeled ultralight car 100 miles an hour on the ground?
I wanna watch.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Elio Motors Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OPELEY0T6c

Elio vehicle review - Lobsterfest 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhug1cuA8hE