zelio
Elio Addict
Hi and welcome from Oregon, nickskeys. Since your questions have been answered I will simply add, I hope you enjoy the forum. It is a great place to spend time while we travel to Elio production and ownership. :-) Z
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Prototype Questions
- Thread starter wayne kemp
- Start date
Hello Jim H.,
Not really wild about the headlamp placement at all. That clear plastic cover turns an awful dirty, opaque brown over time exposed to the elements. I much preferred the vertical headlamp placement on the earlier prototype (on the sides of the body). It would also widen the headlight scope, providing a wider spectrum of light onto the pavement ahead. Those headlamps on the orange car are too close together for my liking. I hope they also do away with the unpainted black matte body panels. If you get wax on them, it is there for life. And why did they change the fuel filler door from the left side to the right?? I have the filler door on the right side on my current car, and what a pain at the pump to deal with that.
Another observation I saw was that they changed the original dashboard, with the small center pod (with cowl) to a much more disdainful looking flat array ala cheap looking econobox style. I think the earlier design people had some great ideas, and somewhere along the line they were thrown to the curb and forgotten. This is troubling. They had a beautiful design, and threw it out the window for a less appealing concept. This is not sitting well with me. How about you?
The P4 interior is somewhat like this image. I don't know what changes will be made to the interior I am sure it is not set in stone. The final exterior seems to be closer to the current P4 as others have posted except of some design tweaks. I don't mind the current P4 interior I do hope they change the Hvac controls as they seem a bit out of place but if that's what we are getting i am fine with that too.
Ekh
Elio Addict
Whether the headlight covers discolor depends on the plastic from which they're made. And that design change was made for aerodynamic efficiency. It won't change; live with it.
The body-color panels on the inside are also firm design elements at this point. If you don't like 'em, get out your paintbrush.
Instrument panel design is a hot issue here, (the version shown above is OK with most, but is not planned for the actual car). Elio's proposed "elgin watch" design is being changed; members here (who are stakeholders; we've paid for the right to an opinion!) dislike it nearly 3 to 1. The revised design has not been made public.
If you don't like what you see, you have a limited number of choices. You can accept the reality of design in the final car, you can just not buy one, or you can customize.
The body-color panels on the inside are also firm design elements at this point. If you don't like 'em, get out your paintbrush.
Instrument panel design is a hot issue here, (the version shown above is OK with most, but is not planned for the actual car). Elio's proposed "elgin watch" design is being changed; members here (who are stakeholders; we've paid for the right to an opinion!) dislike it nearly 3 to 1. The revised design has not been made public.
If you don't like what you see, you have a limited number of choices. You can accept the reality of design in the final car, you can just not buy one, or you can customize.
wheaters
Elio Addict
Everyone is aware of the choices! I agree with Nickskeys, the P3 was a prettier car than the P4 and those headlights ARE too close together.
I'd be happy to buy a P3 without the new engine as a kit car and fit my own (Suzuki G10 as per Elio's example). I could get it on the road here in UK quicker than Elio could have their final spec'd car for sale. It will still do enough MPG to satisfy my requirements.
As I keep saying, the P4 as it stands is unlikely to satisfy the UK or European regulations because of those headlights.
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Lil4X
Elio Addict
I guess because I spent a good deal of my working life around new products, their development and sales, I've learned not to trust "artists concepts", "prototype drawings", and the like. We've all seen those drawings of "concept cars" that couldn't possibly be driven - at least not by full-sized people and not in the US. There are federal regulations concerning bumper height, headlight size and placement, taillight visibility, windshield wipers, rear-view mirrors, and hundreds of small details that are either required by the joints in the human body or by DOT regs. Here's how one "concept car" evolved over the years from a concept through several production iterations, to a 2-seat sporty economy car.
The sterling example of the gap between concept and reality is the Lancia Stratos. Developed as a styling exercise by Marcello Gandini of Bertone (who would later pen the Lamborghini Miura and Countach), it was seen at European auto shows in 1970. It was undeniably gorgeous in the '70's idiom of the wedge, but if you could find someone who would fit inside, he couldn't see to drive it. The original prototype didn't even have that upper side window, the thinking being that the driver needed only to see a few feet into the lane beside him. That was the styling buck. When they put someone behind the wheel, he probably scraped something expensive on the way out of the shop. Aha! Two more side windows, please!
[Broken External Image]
It was later called the Stratos Zero, which may have designated a pre-prototype, but actually stood for its chances of production. With a lift-up windshield for entry and a swing-away steering column, it was more like an Isetta inside than a high-style performance car. With the fender arches forming a good deal of the A-pillars, visibility other than straight-ahead was non-existent. The headlights were the front bumper, and rear visibility was cut up into a series of "V" slots so badly that exterior mirrors were used primarily to check those big air scoops for debris. Mechanically, the Stratos was a Lancia, based on a Ferrari chassis and its suspension and driveline were honed by years of rallye competition in Europe. It became a world-class rally car, winning international events from 1974-1981, but that body had to be heavily modified into the "Stradale" (road) version to make it roadable.
Removing all the gingerbread required for rallying, it was still a striking car . . . .
[Broken External Image]
Needless to say, it was expensive but Fiat/Lancia had a way to recoup its design expenses. There was the near-clone Fiat X1/9 that sold for a budget price, but retained much of the look of the original Zero. Finally there was a high-style Italian exotic that the average workingman could afford.
The sterling example of the gap between concept and reality is the Lancia Stratos. Developed as a styling exercise by Marcello Gandini of Bertone (who would later pen the Lamborghini Miura and Countach), it was seen at European auto shows in 1970. It was undeniably gorgeous in the '70's idiom of the wedge, but if you could find someone who would fit inside, he couldn't see to drive it. The original prototype didn't even have that upper side window, the thinking being that the driver needed only to see a few feet into the lane beside him. That was the styling buck. When they put someone behind the wheel, he probably scraped something expensive on the way out of the shop. Aha! Two more side windows, please!
[Broken External Image]
It was later called the Stratos Zero, which may have designated a pre-prototype, but actually stood for its chances of production. With a lift-up windshield for entry and a swing-away steering column, it was more like an Isetta inside than a high-style performance car. With the fender arches forming a good deal of the A-pillars, visibility other than straight-ahead was non-existent. The headlights were the front bumper, and rear visibility was cut up into a series of "V" slots so badly that exterior mirrors were used primarily to check those big air scoops for debris. Mechanically, the Stratos was a Lancia, based on a Ferrari chassis and its suspension and driveline were honed by years of rallye competition in Europe. It became a world-class rally car, winning international events from 1974-1981, but that body had to be heavily modified into the "Stradale" (road) version to make it roadable.
Removing all the gingerbread required for rallying, it was still a striking car . . . .
[Broken External Image]
Needless to say, it was expensive but Fiat/Lancia had a way to recoup its design expenses. There was the near-clone Fiat X1/9 that sold for a budget price, but retained much of the look of the original Zero. Finally there was a high-style Italian exotic that the average workingman could afford.
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What is the exact measurement of the UK center spacing requirement?Everyone is aware of the choices! I agree with Nickskeys, the P3 was a prettier car than the P4 and those headlights ARE too close together.
I'd be happy to buy a P3 without the new engine as a kit car and fit my own (Suzuki G10 as per Elio's example). I could get it on the road here in UK quicker than Elio could have their final spec'd car for sale. It will still do enough MPG to satisfy my requirements.
As I keep saying, the P4 as it stands is unlikely to satisfy the UK or European regulations because of those headlights.
wheaters
Elio Addict
The X/19 was based on a different design concept, the Autobianchi Runabout, which was slightly earlier, if I'm not mistaken (always likely, according to my wife).
ecdriver711
Elio Addict
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I like the P4. It will be interesting to see what EM come up will on the front intake change.
wheaters
Elio Addict
The MSVA (motorcycle single vehicle approval) requirement for a bodied tricycle (as the Elio will be classified) is for the headlights to be no further than 400 mm from the outer edge of the vehicle, by this I think they take the centre of the lamp, or bulb filament. I'm sure the P3 would comply, shame about the P4. The MSVA inspection is for low volume vehicles, home builds, personal imports etc. However, if Elio wanted to supply the European market in higher volumes (I hope they will), I'm sure a similar requirement would have to be met.
I emailed Elio about this some weeks ago and they replied that the info would be passed on to those who need to know.