Closer Look At The E1c

[Ekh]

The front wheel cover sit higher than previous covers
View attachment 11861

If you notice, you can see more of the tire and rim now; should make it a lot less prone to being "curbed" this way.

The front suspension has gone through some "beefing up" on the lower end; you can see that in this shot:

View attachment 11862

It appears to be more open on the body side than the P5.

And don't you love the high tech method of attaching the brake line and wire for the TPMS

I like to moulding around the suspension port. That should reduce vibration and improve aerodynamics (maybe). Looks more finished, that's for sure.

 

[AriLea]

So the reality is that as a quirky vehicle the elio has less direct competition. As the elio loses its quirkiness and becomes more mainstream it starts to have more head on competition. If in order to compete EM has to add additional standard features, or simply make features available as options, the elio will eventually cost what it's 4 wheel competitors cost. The elio still edges out the competition mileage wise but gas continues to be cheap and for not too little additional gas costs the owner can seat more people than they would in the elio.

You have two counter perceptions here to deal with. The differentiation from other products vs the familiarities. Don't worry about being bland, the very nature of three wheeling and tandem seating, places this car way-way outside the 'normal'. But also don't worry about losing bulges and complexities, the more smooth, simple and purpose dedicated the design the more it hits an aircraft-like persona, or even a motorcycle ethic to dedicated brute purpose. This will keep it's appeal very high on uniqueness, even sportiness and character.

Now on the other hand, people who are getting this car for it's basic functionality, they are often affronted by the 'differentiation' from normal. Attributes like standard looking dash and off the shelf parts, working wipers, comfort seating, even the Viper steering, these give them creature comforts helping them to accept the otherwise aircraft-like attributes. Even the aircraft like appeal is a bit of a familiarity, the Elio just does that better than anything else.

Of all the attributes that difference vs sameness can not be put in sync, it's the Tandem seating. It just has to be accepted and understood that's how the low price and MPG rating is obtained and why this is primarily a commuter vehicle. Although a huge number of us will drive it for other reasons and purposes.

In many ways I like the challenge and the opportunities that vacationing in the Elio provides. For the driver the view will be incredible. For the passenger I'm thinking that a 360 degree view camera might give me and the passenger visuals that can't be found otherwise in any vehicle.

 

[Ekh]

You have two counter perceptions here to deal with. The differentiation from other products vs the familiarities. Don't worry about being bland, the very nature of three wheeling and tandem seating, places this car way-way outside the 'normal'. But also don't worry about losing bulges and complexities, the more smooth, simple and purpose dedicated the design the more it hits an aircraft-like persona, or even a motorcycle ethic to dedicated brute purpose. This will keep it's appeal very high on uniqueness, even sportiness and character.

Now on the other hand, people who are getting this car for it's basic functionality, they are often affronted by the 'differentiation' from normal. Attributes like standard looking dash and off the shelf parts, working wipers, comfort seating, even the Viper steering, these give them creature comforts helping them to accept the otherwise aircraft-like attributes. Even the aircraft like appeal is a bit of a familiarity, the Elio just does that better than anything else.

Of all the attributes that difference vs sameness can not be put in sync, it's the Tandem seating. It just has to be accepted and understood that's how the low price and MPG rating is obtained and why this is primarily a commuter vehicle. Although a huge number of us will drive it for other reasons and purposes.

In many ways I like the challenge and the opportunities that vacationing in the Elio provides. For the driver the view will be incredible. For the passenger I'm thinking that a 360 degree view camera might give me and the passenger visuals that can't be found otherwise in any vehicle.

Well-said. I can vouch for the air-craft like feel of the cabin -- really the same feel, just a little roomier and less cluttered. That's something I enjoy about the car.

My use of the car will be 99% one-person bopping around and taking trips. Trips mean packing very carefully -- camera gear, duffel, and tripod.

I've actually put all that stuff in an Elio, and it did fit (rear seat down, of course). But I won't be able to put a camera on the passenger seat, one quick grab away --- I'll have to figure a work-around for that. Maybe beneath the seat, if there's enough room between butt and floor.

Ski trips? I know there's an available rack, but skis, boots, poles and bulky clothing? Probably not feasible. So there's a limitation I have to accept.

I think you're right about finding the balance between original and eccentric, between conventional and progressive. I think the EC1 does a much better job of striking that balance -- fit and finish, quality of the interior, conventional gauges, trim details, and more all make this look like a production car. It's really what we all thought the P5 would be and wasn't. Go, Elio!

 

[Karnaj]

Not an electrician myself, but have sold industrial electrical for over 15 years, I've been to many lighting classes, and would like to know what you think of LED driver failures? Working in the field, you should be seeing some of that now. Actually, lighting reps. are starting to push thier "one size fits all, for all fixture types and voltages" replacment drivers for all types of fixtures now. Personally, I would rather have incandescent or halogen lamps when a power bill is not a factor. On a vehichle that produces it's own power. why would you you want more electronic parts that would be more costly, and harder to change? Really, just more parts that can/will fail. For those that aren't in this industry, an LED driver in KISS terms does basically the same thing a flourescent ballast does, only for LEDs. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those LED lamps you're buying that are advertised to last for decades......won't. Sure, the LEDs will, but the electronic driver won't. look for about 5-7 years of service.

Well, since you asked, I think you've got the nail on the head. While I prefer LED the drivers are the limiting factor of the technology. The cost has been reliably dropping and I would hope may soon not be a factor. LEDs are the way to go for office buildings and storefronts as its much easier to change out drivers in a backroom than constantly replace lamps over a large square footage of building that may have sensitive hours of operation.
The benefits on a vehicle could be along the same lines. It depends on the system used. More than likely the lights would have a LED built into a driver so if one goes out you have to replace both. This is unfortunate. I do have a sense of hope though. The picture of the headlight does make me think of a separate LED chip that may go back to an individually replaceable driver. If driver costs aren't too high the longevity of this system should out pace coats on a traditional lighting system.

Besides.... they look cooler.

 

[Elio Amazed]

The elgin dash was definitely quirky and I think befitting of such a unique vehicle. The bulge was a unique artifact of having to meet engineering issues and to me reflects the true beauty that lies in balancing form and function. Luckily the elio still has the unique 3 wheels and tandem seating but as attractive as those are to me they are things that much of the buying public has not yet fully embraced.

Some very vocal people have voiced their displeasure with these quirky issues and that is fine; the reality is that engineering issues changed so that the bulge can disappear and likely costs have caused the elgin to go the way of the dodo. When we look at the E1C what we see is a "normal" instrument cluster and normalized outside; in essence, the elio is moving more mainstream.

What I fear is that as the elio moves more mainstream that people will continue to compare it to vehicles that cost 3x or more than the elio. As the elio normalizes, price, followed by milage remain the most significant differentiators. So what does that mean in the long run?

Well, we know that EM sucked it up and put cruise control in as a standard option but that is also likely part of why the price went up. Watch the comments of frackbook, and even here, and you will see many comments about how the elio MUST HAVE feature XYZ but dang it don't you dare increase the price or delay delivery.

So the reality is that as a quirky vehicle the elio has less direct competition. As the elio loses its quirkiness and becomes more mainstream it starts to have more head on competition. If in order to compete EM has to add additional standard features, or simply make features available as options, the elio will eventually cost what it's 4 wheel competitors cost. The elio still edges out the competition mileage wise but gas continues to be cheap and for not too little additional gas costs the owner can seat more people than they would in the elio.

Lets see here...
Weren't some of us very bluntly told to "deal with it" in response to voicing our displeasure...
When we thought that Paul was stubbornly going to stand his ground and the Elgin was here to stay?

Well...

 

[Johnny Acree]

The only thing that is set in stone, and will not change, is the fact, that change will happen.

 

[AriLea]

In this new-atlas/gizmag image gallery from the LA show, our Elio received as much attention as the big-boys of sports concepts.

 

[bowers baldwin]

In this new-atlas/gizmag image gallery from the LA show, our Elio received as much attention as the big-boys of sports concepts.

Pan down to picture 197 of 204.

 

[floydv]

This picture seems to suggest the Elio will have a manual hydraulic brake system, rather than a vacuum-boosted one.

That is one long airbag curtain.

Still trying to figure out how they're going to fit the side exhaust flush with the new unibody frame.

 

[Ekh]

Pan down to picture 197 of 204.

That's an improvement, even if we are at the back of the bus.