I Finally Saw It! My Takeaway And Concerns

[Silverbullet]

If Dyno testing the engine is gonna take 6 months, then they would build prototypes.......It sure is going to be a crunch to get this into production by the 3rd quarter of next year don't ya think??

 

[EZ]

NO WORRIES MANN ..

all smoke and mirrors ...

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Thanks for the photos! I didn't realize they had installed an Elgin dash in the prototype. Do you have any photos of the dash?

Here's a video that I took of it a few weeks ago

 

[outsydthebox]

If Dyno testing the engine is gonna take 6 months, then they would build prototypes.......It sure is going to be a crunch to get this into production by the 3rd quarter of next year don't ya think??

I think it is reasonable to assume EM won't be just sitting back and waiting on the engine results. I'm confident that they are making progress in many areas.

 

[imageon]

Thanks for the first hand report.
MK

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Here's a video that I took of it a few weeks ago

Thank you for the video!

I'd still prefer the conventional dash.

Note: I also NEVER want to see 200mph on ANY dashboard.

 

[Bert]

Thank you for the video!

I'd still prefer the conventional dash.

Note: I also NEVER want to see 200mph on ANY dashboard.

Actually, it's quite a thrill!
The hard part is, when you realize the brakes won't do much of anything when you're over a hundred and fourty!!

 

[Ekh]

Hmm. I asked him how they would get the 2 inches. Would they raise the roof or lower the chair? He said raise the roof. I thought they would lower the chair

Last summer Jerry V told me they were raising the roof; subsequently, I've heard they were lowering the seat, but that creates its own set of design problems -- like redesigning the gas tanks and re-routing the exhaust -- there is simply no ground clearance to spare. (The prototype is lower than the production car will be, so the specified ground clearance of 5.75 inches should hold). This fall I heard that they were getting the extra headroom by lowering the seat, but either way, there are design challenges.

It's one of those things we all wish the company would resolve with a definitive announcement, but they don't appear able / willing to do that at this point. Personally, I don't care, as it will be a solo operation almost all the time; if not, we take the camry hybrid.

 

[Ekh]

Regarding the little video -- the dash is readable, but it does not communicate accurate information. The marks are BETWEEN the digits, and the digits themselves are spread out. I defy you to tell, by looking at the dash, whether you are doing 55, 60, 62, or 65. These are all values it might pay to know with some accuracy. (various speed limits, and 62mph = 100 kph). I say again, it's an ill-considered display for both practical and aesthetic reasons, and is only being kept because Paul E wants to make a personal statement. He should get over it.

 

[Ekh]

If Dyno testing the engine is gonna take 6 months, then they would build prototypes.......It sure is going to be a crunch to get this into production by the 3rd quarter of next year don't ya think??

They do not need to wait until prototype engine testing is done to begin construction of the test vehicles. They know the exterior dimensions and mounting points of the engine, so they can perfectly well start building frames, acquiring body panels, etc. If they have not actually started building these cars, it's because they are short of money, not because they have a design reason to delay. They MUST overlap the dyno testing and the prototype construction or they will be a full 6 months into 2015 before a car can roll off the line -- and perhaps longer.

Consider that since it took a good 6 months to get one engine built and machined, how long will it take to produce 25 or so? Elio Motors needs to start hauling ass.