If Paul Elio’s plans materialize, his company, Elio Motors, will introduce in early 2015 a three-wheel vehicle, the Elio. It will cost $6,800 and achieve 84 mpg.
The vehicle (it’s not a car) will feature an eight-gallon gas tank that will take the vehicle 672 miles and have a top speed of more than 100 mph.
The company plans to use 95 percent American parts and American labor. The Elio will be built in the abandoned Shreveport Louisiana assembly plant. It will be sold at specialized retail centers in the top 60 markets across the United States and will be available in eight colors.
Elio standard equipment will include: a reinforced roll cage and airbags for safety, radio, air conditioning and power windows for comfort.
The small front-mounted engine in the Elio is 1.0 liter, 70 horsepower and has three cylinders. It’s a two-seater, with an optional fold-down passenger seat for cargo space.
The Elio marketing campaign began at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and the Sundance Film Festival.
Elio believes the vehicle will obtain a five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
For more information, visit: www.eliomotors.com.
Article Last Updated: April 22, 2014.