The $6,800, 84-mpg Elio in Manhattan

A bright orange three-wheeled Elio gets mobbed in the East Village on Memorial Day Weekend, 2014. Jim Motavalli reports. It's a two-seat (in tandem) commuter car that beguiles people with its reported low price and stellar fuel economy targets.

[@NoorElahi1776]

The only decent walk-around of this car. Thank you very much, sir! Fan, earned.

[@TKDWolf]

Much better front suspension design than the old one... much less camber change!! Great job guys it's coming along amazingly.

[@R0bertCalvin]

Can't wait to get mine. #3289 off the assembly line!

[@rookyandb]

***** Actually from what I saw recently from an interview with Elio, it has a 5 star all around crash rating.

[@rogerabernethy7451]

rookyandb it has no crash rating. As a mater of fact, Kathryn Henry, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the entity that determines crash star ratings) will not test the Elio. It is federally classified as a motorcycle and motorcycles do not get crash tested.

[@CallsignVega]

You notice before he folds the seat forward to show the rear seat, there is literally like one inch of room between the seat back and the rear seat bottom. For a tall guy like me up front, means like zero room in the back for a passenger.

[@manenkoff]

Just so you know, they have already had two 6'+ men in the vehicle at the same time. Having sat in the back seat myself I can tell you that it has more room in the back to stretch my legs out than most of the 4 door compacts I've owned. I'd venture to say it rivals my current back seat in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am as far as leg room.

[@SoGladUCame]

6800 bucks and 84 mpg, that's crazy. I might buy one. I'd be scared to drive on the free way though next to big rigs.

[@theBike45]

There are plenty of options available- the fenders can be changed to an open wheel configuration with polished alloy wheels. Sun roof. Auto tranny. Leather seats. Premium sound. Down the road a turbo charged version - 0 to 60 under 6 seconds.

[@1965dv]

I've been waiting for this to be available.....ALL MY LIFE!!!! I'm IN!!!! I want it!!!!!

[@oisiaa]

Rip the back seat out and put a large battery pack in there! I want a single seat electric version with 300-400 mile range!!!

[@DerVampyrEngel]

Could do that without ripping out the back seat, just put the batteries below the axles and make it the floor, put something between the batteries and the cabin tub and hey presto and you should get about 300-400 plus, thats what I want to and I want to bui;d an electric car similar to this

[@DerVampyrEngel]

***** A metro geo eh I will have a look around then

[@skeligandrew]

***** "basically a metro geo" you mean the engine and transmission? that's like saying a morgan three wheeler is a harley davidson bike because of the engine

[@AnthonyRizzo2]

My goodness! I think I'm in love. At that price to have the most energy efficient vehicle on the road that is not exposed to the weather is absolutely fabulous. To think that a decent velomobile will cost as much if not more. Now I have to decide which I get first, The Elio or the Quest.

[@mattdidit84]

Let me see if I have this right. Elio claims it is a 5 star rated crash test vehicle....however they have never actually done a crash test. But they INTEND to. They claim it gets 84 mpg....but they don't actually have a motor built for it that gets the mpg. But they INTEND to. Yet they are taking your hard earned money on pre-orders. I smell fail.

[@Patchuchan]

As far as I know they're not building the engine themselves but instead will use one already in use in micro cars sold elsewhere in the world such as the Suzuki K10B or F8D three cylinder engine.

[@TrashPanda5150]

It's the 4th prototype. Hence the name "P4". The interior is not the finished version. The manual will be standard with the automated manual being an optional item. ;)

[@Skeptic_Tank]

People are interested and curious about the car not because they want it or don't want it. It's because they're not used to seeing cars like this at all.

[@lawrencegoldstein7455]

Looks like Fall 2015 when production will start. Would love to see this car make it.

[@thomascampr]

The seating is perfect for me!!! I'm a back seat driver.

[@windycityl]

Dang it cut off when you started to say when they will start to sell them.

[@necrokittie2291]

no one seems to be mentioning this.. but.. will it be insured like a motorcycle? if so.. I'm interested... because insurance is so much cheaper! o_o

[@MachineAgeVictim]

It's licensed as a motorcycle because the car isn't wide enough for a regular sized plate ;-)

[@Patrick2345454]

$6,800? So that's what, 3 month's rent in Manhattan? Nice.

[@WETSOC29]

It will have its place, certainly not a primary vehicle. Though I would love to drive it from mid spring until the beging of fall as a commuter in the North East. Owning this at its price and projected fuel economy along side an SUV for winter months or various passenger situations would work for me.

[@Munkenba]

How in the world is this doing so well? When I first saw it, I could have bet you a million dollars that it was going to fail without question. How is it possible that it's working?

[@thisnthat8106]

Alfred Munkenbeck it isn't

[@karlchwe9644]

I want an electric version, even if it costs $10K.

[@SalveMonesvol]

Makes more sense than SUV's used to carry a single person in the urban traffic. On the highway, I would expect it to get 90 mpg at 90km/h (56 mph). It would make travelling alone ase affordable as a bus ticket.

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

I’m going to withhold my order until they do a right-hand drive version.

[@rosesmith6208]

no leg room in the back at all. more like a storage area instead.

[@Worldgonemad]

If you get in a crash your're done.

[@jimmot]

There is no actual date when these cars will go on sale.

[@NoEcologyNoEconomy]

Are those braided brake lines in the front outriggers? I hope it's not too tempting for vandals, or susceptible to road debris.

[@omniexistus]

I wonder if it will come as a convertible or at least a sunroof now that'd be cooler than cool.

[@JK-vp2ux]

Yes, 2 person. As long as the second person has no legs.

[@Lisarata]

Rather have this than a smartcar.

[@Mandocammando]

A lot of people say it won't be built because the price will be higher than the 6,800 but if they can build it in mexico may be it will be cheaper then the original price. I would buy this even if it cost close to 8,000 I use to drive a sports motorcycle and a Hartley but after my son born I sold everything for my safety there's a lot of stupid drivers out there but with this elio thing I think I would be a lot safer than a motorcycle.

[@DimebagDarrenLowe]

I'm promoting this to everyone i know, I can't pony up the money, but when availability widens or a used one comes up I will try to be an owner, I"m one of those guys with the family who is just getting by, has the minivan and the second car I can't really afford. I have been following the e-vehicle revolution especially bicycles and light vehicles and when I saw this thing I wished it was electric ... for a couple of seconds ... and then I understood ... I would love to see an electric variant of this ... but this is a problem solver, and it hits the nail directly on the head.

[@popeyegordon]

No it misses the nail entirely, it still burns gas and goes way too fast. The future is seen in the Organic Transit solar/human powered hybrid. That future is here now for me, I got rid of my car 29 months ago and drive my solar powered vehicle every day while getting the exercise i need and making zero emissions. 800 have been sold, not one Elio has rolled off an assembly line..

[@cnbsdad]

Its not classified as a motorcycle. It's considered a car and has a 5 star crash test rating.

[@mastrorj68]

Only thing that worries me is only having one door the opens. For safety reasons in a flip i wouldn't want to be stuck in it if i were to end up on my drivers side. Im not saying its going to be a horrible car or its prone to flipping, I'm being paranoid thats all lol

[@Jususnolo]

I can't wait until I get mine. I travel no more than 20 miles a week back and forth to work, I'm just wondering what kinds of roadblocks Washington will trow at it. Like pressure from AAW, and Big Oil.

[@thisnthat8106]

Dorian Mode only one road block. 300 million dollars

[@dmonaco1924]

With it being classed as a motorcycle, some states will require that you wear a helmet while you drive this thing. Supposedly Ellio is trying to get the helmet requirements removed for these cars, but it's ultimately going to be up to state governments. They still have a lot of hurdles to overcome.

[@thomascampr]

Helmets and crash texting and finding out how to insure it. 2020

[@skeligandrew]

Dan Monaco the British company reliant was mass producing 3 wheelers for years and were a common sight on British roads, where helmets are mandatory on motorcycles, but the 3 wheeler cars didn't require helmets even though they could be driven on a motorcycle licence. So I guess they will figure something out in the states

[@drewadams448]

reminds me of a T-Rex with a small motor and price tag.

[@vernonlobb2812]

Great for loners. A tandem seating behind driver for passenger and or cargo would be nice, but the added weight would probably add too much cost for this market.

[@planetx5269]

I love it but it needs to be a two seater.

[@2COOLGHOULS]

these cars are unique great gas mpg too

[@richard_d_bird]

I wonder what the chances are of this thing ever getting to market as advertised. Because I do actually need one

[@TDTHWYL]

Hey Karl Chwe, check out the Lit Motors C-1 which is estimated to cost $24,000.

[@raybutt5732]

You can ride in the back seat if you don't have legs. lol

[@sakhtlonda295]

Tyre must be in ...If this thing they would hv done than this car will be so small and very useful..

[@sean8081a]

Can't stop short - Frank Costanza

[@bobanderson2895]

Talk,talk,talk. When is the vehicle going into production???????????????????????

[@jasonpace513]

How tall are you, Jim? It looks like your seating position has the front seat nearly touching the rear.

[@GamezGames19]

Good use for the Geo metro

[@alexkuhn5078]

"the third quarter of two-thousand f-"

[@KlunkerRider]

try 2014

[@alexkuhn5078]

hope so... though I'd settle for 2015

[@R0bertCalvin]

It is actually third quarter 2015.

Ok lets get this out of the way. This thing will possibly come out by mid 2016. By then price will be inflated. Either it will exist or not and so far they don't have workforce and no running ready car. What they drive is a prototype.

[@alexkuhn5078]

sadly this may be true. But, I'm still hoping.

[@planetx5269]

My mistake, it is a two seater. 😂

[@TheGoblinToe]

Well, I love the premise of it. A high MPG car that isn't, at least so far, going to cost a king's ransom. That was the downfall of the Chevy Volt: anyone who could afford it, doesn't need to worry about gas prices... BUT, I'll believe it when I see it. If he can bring this thing to market for under 10 grand, I will be legitimately impressed.

[@Philf222]

So if I wanted to ride in the passenger seat I would need to opt in for the leg amputation surgery first am I right?

[@chrissiewak3546]

Actually, no. I am 6' tall and weigh around 300 lbs. I had the good fortune to see the previous prototype in person and sat in both the front and back seats and fit quite well. While the back seat is certainly a little claustrophobic, It is actually roomier than most 2+2 cars I have been in. The video above showed the front seat pushed all the way back. In an average driving position, you will have leg room.

[@Ohenry436]

I want one, but if I were doing this I would put the door on the other side so when you park like they did in the video you would get out curbside instead of traffic side.

[@thisnthat8106]

Ohenry436 what side do you get out now

[@Georgeqaws]

I kinda want a more modern speedometer though...I like the non-electronic, but still, make it look like 2015, not 1990.

[@wi11y1960]

Wife has given the green light to get one in 2015. Now if only it had enough torque to pull the zero turn radius mower and trailer...... lol

[@joseanthony3405]

Mannnnn I live in nyc I wish I could of walk by so I can see it...

[@markmnorcal]

Ugh....the sound of the New York sirens reminds me of watching the devastating 9/11 footage here on youtube. I think they are unique to the city. By the way "New York Sirens" would be an awesome name for a band.

[@69roadr]

i would feel claustrophobic in the back seat. other than that, it looks fun

[@zeroman614]

Claims 84 mpg but no data to back the claim?

[@wafi0123]

Yes

[@burnzy3210]

so its like the carver one from like 7+ years ago :/

[@china1013]

Cool story

[@burnzy3210]

thanks

[@china1013]

burnzy3210 lol. I'm glad you got a sense of humor. I always dreamed that they came out with that Carver here in the States. If you ever saw it, it was going to be a company called Persu. Would've been cool.

[@Seadoo233]

when can i buy this full price to have it now?!!!!!

[@fordgtjr]

They should team up with Ford and get the 1.0 Ecoboost for it. I would buy it for $7000.

[@WilliamOwens1]

the geo metro w/that same engine got 50 mpg

[@mkhphp]

Metric system = 35,7 km/l

[@rdavian]

LMBO!!!! 1990 geo metro motor?

[@AMPATL]

Been here before, with the Aptera... O_o

[@sean8081a]

Is the body metal, fiberglass or plastic?

[@MsGypsymermaid]

what year is production??!! your clip cut it off!

[@KlunkerRider]

2014

[@thisnthat8106]

2026

[@kinkle_Z]

Why do you think, "Everyone wants it"? Are you possibly equating CURIOSITY with the DESIRE TO ACQUIRE? Those are two different things, you know?

[@salem42salem42]

Fantastic idea - I wonder why main stream auto company's never mad an in-between vehicle from a car to a bike ? I design RC models and I would love one

[@GANTZ100pts]

Looks really, nice too bad it wont sell aptera looked just as promising to but it never got passed the prototype phase.

[@Godscountry2732]

If they get creative,sales will be really good,A new modern 1 liter Honda all aluminum,turbo diesel[100 mpg] 2 liters per 100km would make it fly off the showroom,full wheel pants

[@invoice0001]

The second prototype looks better

[@mazack00]

"Licensed as a Motorcycle"? So you need a special license and wear a helmet in most states?

[@TheGamblingApocalyps]

They're working on getting the laws changed to work with this so you can drive it with a class c and no helmet and have already done so in numerous states. That is beside the point though. What I'm really interested in is how they're going to secure the 200 million they need to get this thing off the ground and, assuming they somehow manage to pull that off, how they plan to modify the plant, tool up, hire & train everybody, and start cranking these things out by the end of next year while remaining at that $6800 price point.

[@GamingGems1]

why would you choose this over a 120mpg moped?

[@VincentGnawl]

a 200cc motorcycle gets about 74mpg so this thing is probably around 150cc which would make it able to reach a high enough speed to get on the interstate. Riding a moped topping out around 35 miles an hour is nerve wracking because you never know if someone is going to side swipe you because your going too slow.

[@markmatich]

One word: RAIN!

[@madman1969]

Vincent Hall It has a 1.0L 3 cylinder engine and does 100MPH+ with a 10sec 0-60 time. Plus it gets ~80MPG.

[@GamingGems1]

Vincent Hall i dont think u know much about mopeds if you think they max out at 35 mph... Mark Matich Thats an actual good reason.

[@OneWheelMan]

Weather protection and cargo capacity. If the road is covered in snow, I can't safely use my motorcycle. I ride my motorcycle most of the time, but an elio would be nice to have as well instead of a car. It gives you some advantages of a car with the efficiency of a motorcycle.

[@umaxen01]

I assume that within a few months of the first ones being sold, you will have kids replacing the engine with Honda Civic engines and transmissions. 0-60 will take 5 seconds...

[@allthinzgaming8709]

My dad preordered one

[@THE1X21X]

Does it come in black?

[@hawaiisidecar]

Stop letting google stabilize your videos. It ruins them!

[@michaelstewart6528]

Does it have a spare tire?

[@simonhermansson7082]

Aaannd runs on.. wait what? GASOLINE.

[@clarkgalloway2543]

Great car just build it don't talk about it for decade. The gasoline version please use Geo- Metro motor 1 liter engine fine as opposed to .8-.9 litre engine we are waiting for. Just built it please.

[@EarlWallingford]

will it blend

[@KTPRODUCTIONS90]

What is the top speed of this? I want one now to drive to work. Jersey ppl who work in Manhattan will be on that fast lol I would too

[@hydrapr]

KT Productions The top speed is around 107 mph.

[@jeffreytabor4636]

i have reserved 2

[@therealcrazyo360]

I guess they want hide the more for parent reasons etc. I seen a 3 wheel car in pa but the two wheels where in the back. Tags on the road etc

[@jasonandrsen]

Reminds me of the Tata Nano

[@GANTZ100pts]

Jason Anderson Reminds me of the Aptara.

[@chrisskeates3674]

needs a rear window and rear veiw camera

[@chrisskeates3674]

+Chris Skeates dont know why they slipped up o that much

[@thisnthat8106]

Why would you need a rear window. How would you see out of it. With a rear view mirror pointed at your head?

[@racylaserjet]

You need a second door for post accident egress.

[@Bendc1970A1]

4th prototype. (P4)

[@Godscountry2732]

you could reduce the track,4 wheels under the body,anti roll bars,it would handle fine Engine in front ,transaxle in the rear[Corvette] I'm not buying a car like this to roadrace and nobody else should think it is designed for doing abrupt lane changes at 80 mph,but sadly everybody has to idiot proof what they manufacture,just because of those too few idiots,I'm sueing,I was only doing 30 mph[actual 78 mph]and the car starting rolling.Its takes a concerted effort to roll any car,trust me.

[@oxolotol]

Interesting business model, Keep your regular car, but the elio pays for itself in gas savings in a typical work commute. like getting a joyrider for free.

[@Godscountry2732]

people are fend up with being held hostage by utility companies,oil companies,dumb Detroit designers,engineers,new houses with 3 inches of insulation instead of 2 foot think walls,stupid,they assume were all smoking crack, trying to fool us into thinking high mileage is like looking for the holy grail,carbon fiber,expensive tooling and exotic hybrid engines,with electric motors are needed and its just too expensive to build efficient cars,nonsense.They're all ready complaining about CAFE's 54 mpg requirment ,big deal,we should have 200 mpg vehicles on the showroom right now.

[@camilonattor]

where is the spare tire?

[@thisnthat8106]

camilonattor the same place it is on a lot of new cars. Nowhere

[@MoniqueTDI898]

Love the car and am getting one, but who made the idiotic decision to exit into traffic? Why would you not exit curbside, it is 1000x safer and more convenient.

[@thisnthat8106]

rouleaunator how do you exit your car now?

[@godfatherNYC]

The East Village ends at 14th Street.

[@markmnorcal]

Where do all the Howard Stern freaky side shows of Union Square live? The Village?

[@godfatherNYC]

+markmnorcal Freaky people live all over the city. The East Village used to be pretty funky and freaky, so maybe. Saying just "The Village" usually means Greenwich Village (aka the West Village,) which is generally a largely gay area and also a bit upscale.

[@TDTHWYL]

This is not a car. It is a motorcycle. It is licensed as a motorcycle, is safety rated as a motorcycle, has the rear seat comfort of a motorcycle (if that), the gas mileage of a motorcycle. It has the stability of three wheels, which is not as good as a car-width stance. It does have an enclosed cockpit, car-like steering, a reverse gear, climate control, etc. So that is nice (no sarcasm, I sincerely think those things are great to have). It looks like there is room for crumple zones fore and aft. Air bags or no air bags, how protective is this going to be in a side (i.e. T-bone) collision? How stable is it turning at high speed (think Reliant Robin, google for hilarious videos)?

[@TDTHWYL]

You are exactly right; this should be compared to a motorcycle, not an automobile.

[@KlunkerRider]

This is FAR more stable than the Robin Reliant. The Robin had only one wheel in front and two in the rear which was incredibly unstable which causes the car to roll with a terrifying ease. The Elio is the reverse, two wheels up front and a trailing wheel which gives it a much stabler platform when turning, the only caviet with the Elio would be with only one wheel at back almost under the driver the ride could get very rough. Look for videos on the Morgan 3-wheelers, they seam to turn up at track days regularly and by all account they are very safe at high speeds on race courses and an absolute giggle machine to drive.

[@theBike45]

The Elio is NOT a motorcycle, as anyone with eyes can see. Only a few states still have laws on the books that stupidly consider anything with three wheels a motorcyle, and they are in the process of changing them. The Feds don't require a three-wheeled vehicle to pass crash tests,but that's irrelevant - the car will perform crash tests for the insurance industry AND take the crash tests for the Feds, although not required.

[@TDTHWYL]

beeroosterm True dat

[@jackpontiac52]

Reliant Robin had 1 wheel in the front. Thats why they tipped. The Elio has a front track that almost equals a Ford Exploder, and the Elio is only 54" high.

[@GLEERAMOSVALLE1974]

can be made 4 passengers and stronger axis?

[@popeyegordon]

No. That already exists.

[@thisnthat8106]

MARKETA INDIA that's a four wheeled car btw

[@DetectingtheBurgh]

I like it..affordable too.