BETTER THAN 4?
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Your next commuter car could have two seats, three wheels and get 84 miles to the gallon.
Elio Motors wants to revolutionize U.S. roads with its tiny car, which is the same length as a Honda Fit but half the weight. With a starting price of $6,800, it's also less than half the cost.
Phoenix-based Elio plans to start making the cars next fall at a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, La. Already, more than 27,000 people have reserved one. Elio hopes to make 250,000 cars a year by 2016. That's close to the number Mazda sells in the U.S.
Because it has three wheels — two in front and one in the rear — the Elio is actually classified as a motorcycle by the U.S. government. But Elio Motors founder Paul Elio says the vehicle has all the safety features of a car, like anti-lock brakes, front and side air bags and a steel cage that surrounds the occupants. Drivers won't be required to wear helmets or have motorcycle licenses.
The Elio's two seats sit front and back instead of side by side, so the driver is positioned in the center with the passenger directly behind. That arrangement, plus the low seating position — the Elio is just 54 inches tall — and the lack of power steering take a little getting used to.
But after a couple of spins around the block in this Detroit suburb, it felt like any other small car. That's partly because its two front wheels stick out by a foot on both sides, aiding balance and preventing the vehicle from tipping. The Elio has a three-cylinder, 0.9-liter engine and a top speed of more than 100 mph. It gets an estimated 84 mpg on the highway and 49 mpg in city driving.
Elio keeps the costs down in several ways. The car only has one door, on the left side, which shaves a few hundred dollars off the manufacturing costs. Having three wheels also makes it cheaper. It will be offered in just two configurations — with a manual or automatic transmission — and it has standard air conditioning, power windows and door locks and an AM/FM radio. More features, such as navigation or blind-spot detection, can be ordered.
Germany's Daimler also promised to revolutionize American commutes with the Smart car, but that hasn't panned out, says Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Smart sold just 9,264 cars in the U.S. last year.
The Smart has a starting price of $13,270 for a gas-powered car and gets 38 mpg on the highway — not enough savings or fuel economy to justify sacrificing comfort. But, Brauer said, the equation might work in the Elio.
“If it really gets 84 mpg and doesn't drive terribly, it would justify the compromises you're making in size and comfort,” he said.
Elio will also save money by selling the cars directly through its own stores and not through franchised dealers, similar to electric carmaker Tesla Motors. Elio plans stores in 60 major metropolitan areas.
Elio Motors, a Phoenix-based startup, is developing a three-wheeled commuter vehicle that could go on sale as early as next fall. Here are some facts.WHAT IS IT? Because it has three wheels, the Elio is classified as a motorcycle. But it looks like a car and has many of the regular features of a car, including anti-lock brakes, air bags and power windows and doors. Elio says it’s being engineered to pass U.S. crash test standards.HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT FIT? Two. It has a driver’s seat and a passenger seat directly behind that. There is only one door, on the left-hand side.HOW MUCH POWER DOES IT HAVE? Elio says the vehicle can go 100 mph or more with its 55-horsepower engine. It goes from 0-60 mph in 9.6 seconds.WHAT’S THE FUEL ECONOMY? Elio estimates it will get 84 miles per gallon highway and 49 mpg city.HOW MUCH IS IT? The Elio starts at $6,800.WHERE WILL IT BE SOLD AND SERVICED? Elio plans to set up stores in 60 U.S. markets. It has an agreement with Pep Boys, the auto repair chain, to service the cars.
