The P5: What Would You Change?

[pistonboy]

Well, lots of the good names are already taken. WE're going to have to go "out there" to be original. Can't name it after American Indian tribes -- too much possible copyright infringement; besides, the military has that locked up with the naming convention on helicopters.

My first thought would be to use the names of items in physics. Lots of names there that express something small and fast:
Elio Quanta ("A quantum leap in auto design!")
Elio Neutrino
Elio Tachyon

Or we could go rocket based:
Elio Vanguard

How about:

Elio Photon

 

[TCBronson]

I like the Elio S1 as in series 1 for the first production design. In four or five years when they re do the body style they could go to S2. You can add the word Turbo to anything.

 

[floydv]

I'm gonna name mine the Elio-Matic. Got a retro vibe to it.

 

[Sethodine]

Stepping back for a moment and thinking about the American convention for naming car models, it seems to be either:
1) A place (Tahoe, Tacoma, Seville, Bel Air, Outback, etc)
2) A verb or adverb (Escalade*, Intrepid, Escape, Fit, Sable, etc)
3) A noun associated action (Crossfire, Explorer, Excursion, Zephyr, Fiesta, Mustang, Ram, etc.)

So in that vein, here are some ideas that Elio could go with:
- Economy
- Starter
- Commuter
- Trifecta
- Shreveport

I particularly like the alliteration of "Elio Economy", not to mention the beautiful triple-entendre it has. First, it sounds like a car name. Secondly, it refers to Elio's unique path to funding their car, and the unique way people will pay for it. Third, it refers to the fact that it is an economy car.

"Elio Starter" is good too. It is the first model from a start-up company, it is an ideal "starter" car for somebody, it marks the start of an amazing new automotive journey, and (hopefully) it will start every time you turn the key!

"Elio Commuter" describes what it is best at, plain and simple.

"Elio Trifecta" refers to the three-wheel design, but also to Paul Elio's Trifecta of design (Cheap, High MPG, Safe)

"Elio Shreveport" for the place of it's manufacturer. I know that it not how place-name cars are usually done, but the Elio is a car made in America for everyday Americans, and so a down-to-Earth place name fits it better than something loftier.

My $0.02

*Technically, "Escalade" refers specifically to a ladder used for climbing walls. The verb would be "Escalate", but the marketing geniuses decided that the soft "d" sound would be more attractive.

 

[Muzhik]

How about:

Elio Photon

"The Elio Photon: Shining a light on the future of transportation!"

 

[floydv]

I say EM should do something way out of the norm and use the USDA meat grading scheme:

Elio Standard
Elio Select
Elio Choice
Elio Prime

 

[Marshall]

When can I expect my Elio car? I have been waiting over a year. We going to be able to turn our orders in for them. Is there anything else I need to do to speed this up. I will do anything I need to do so that I may speed things up

Patience is a RARE virtue.

ps The Model A would be a nice throwback. Maybe the A+ in celebration of the funding mechanism?

 

[Marshall]

Well, according to the SEC schedule they are labeling the design freeze (aka "the absolute final version") with the designation "S1". But I'm not sure what the 'S' is supposed to stand for.
Other possible ideas:
PE-1
EM-1
E9L (0.9L engine, to differentiate it from future turbo/alt powertrain models)
E-321 (3 wheels, 2 seats, 1 door) or simply "321", pronounced "ThreeTwoOne".

S is probably for Standardized Production Model.

 

[HonestTex]

There was a "name" thread a while back. Lots of opinions there. I thought "Apollo" was a fitting moniker... kinda looks like a space ship.

 

[Marshall]

There was a "name" thread a while back. Lots of opinions there. I thought "Apollo" was a fitting moniker... kinda looks like a space ship.

Maybe APAULO?