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Elio Motors set for live debut of $6,800 car at LA Auto Show

Michael James

Elio Motors has again delayed its debut - now until 2017.

The latest prototype of the $6,800, three-wheel vehicle Elio Motors has promoted for several years but has yet to deliver to the public despite a substantial public online reservation investment, will be unveiled in a live video broadcast Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Arizona-based experimental vehicle maker’s prototypes have generated polarizing interest. Its fifth generation vehicle will be introduced at the 10 a.m. press conference.

To view the unveiling, visit: ELIO MOTORS/L.A. AUTO SHOW

The vehicle’s CAD renderings detail a similar but update version of the car’s previous concepts. The company, building what it’s touting as the cheapest car in the United States in a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has collected different levels of reservation deposits online for several years.

But Elio Motors and its founder, Paul Elio, have suffered many setbacks and have changed public delivery dates several times. The Elio project has been as controversial as an in the auto industry, with the exception of the the current Volkswagen diesel scandal.

The latest edition of the vehicle, called the P5, has many of the same features as the previous concepts. The front wheels are completely enclosed in order to reduce drag and a narrow, highly-aerodynamic body. The cockpit seats two and there’s a comprehensive list of equipment that includes power locks and windows, cup holders, parking sensors, and a USB port. There’s A rear-view camera but no rear window.

The latest prototype of the Elio Motors three-wheel vehicle is scheduled to be introduced at the L.A Auto Show, Nov. 19.
The latest prototype of the Elio Motors three-wheel, $6,800 vehicle is scheduled to be introduced in a live stream from at the L.A Auto Show, Nov. 19.

Power for the P5 is provided by a 0.9-liter three-cylinder gasoline-burning engine developed specifically for Elio Motors by Germany-based IAV Automotive Engineering.

Full technical details haven’t been published yet, but the startup predicts its first car is capable of returning about 84 mpg on the highway thanks in part to an ultra-low weight. The P5 accelerates to 60 mph from a stop in 9.6 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 100 mph. It’s predicted to get 84 mph and is marketed as having a price of $6,800.

The current public relations material from Elio details the car will be available to the pubic in late 2016.

The Los Angeles Auto Show will be held Nov. 20-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Article Last Updated: November 18, 2015.

1 thought on “Elio Motors set for live debut of $6,800 car at LA Auto Show”

  1. – Elio Motors is not a ‘New Company’, they’ve been around since 2008, and have a ‘history’.
    – – Just remember, back on (Sep 6, 2013); “Founder Paul Elio told Red River Radio that 25 prototypes are – under construction — in Detroit as the company enters into the product testing phase.  “ (Never happened, and they still have not started “construction”or “testing” )
    – – (Jan 11, 2014) When asked directly; “You will actually be delivering Production vehicles of this car, WHEN?” Paul Elio answered, “ First Quarter of 2015!” (Never happened)
    – – BEWARE — Elio Motors has been taking ‘RESERVATIONS’ for 2 ½ years, but is still short $230 MILLION needed to reach ‘production’. – Since 2008 they have ‘raised’ and -SPENT- $70 million!
    – In fact, their $100 – $1,000 reservations DO NOT guarantee that you will ever get a vehicle; Elio Motors says: “ we are under no obligation to supply you with a vehicle.“
    – And when asked, they refuse to provide which ‘reputable financial institution’ is responsible for their “Refundable” escrow account.
    – Even with the “$19 million collected for “reservations”, they have NOT BUILT nor TESTED one complete Pre-Production Prototype with operable systems to ‘validate their claims’ of fuel economy, or safety!” …. since 2008.
    – In the past, If you asked any ‘difficult’ questions, or express ‘discontent’ on their FaceBook page, it was [DELETED], and you were “BLOCKED”’; or the post was [HIDDEN] from the general readership (seen only by the ‘poster’ and ‘Friends’)!
    – Interesting ‘concept’; but NO WAY they will be in production and on the road, by Mid-2016, as they ‘claim’. – Their ‘Production Date’ has already ‘slipped’ from Jun/Jul 2014 → 1st Qtr 2015 → 3rd Qtr 2015 → to First ½ 2016! → 4th Qtr 2016 → End of 2016.
    – They have NOT demonstrated their “84mpg” and do not guarantee their ‘selling price’ of $6,800. They have never ‘demonstrated “at least 75mpg” to QUALIFY for the ATVM LOAN. They are ‘fleecing’ our citizens.! Please do your ‘Homework’! Paul Elio said that they will be producing 179,000 vehicles the FIRST year (only 45,000 reserved in 2 ½ years); so no need to “Reserve” … if you are ‘interested’!
    Mr. Paul Elio, gets $250,000 per year…… and has PRODUCED and SOLD nothing!

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