Elio P5 At Detroit Auto Show

[floydv]

Once you go green, you never go back..

Kirk's lucky he has 23rd century medicine available. Otherwise, the Galactic Centers for Disease Control would transport his bum into the nearest black hole as an appropriate vector control.

 

[Elio Amazed]

It appears to me that the team made off-the-shelf parts work and hand fabricated a lot of the P5 "on the fly".
I don't think that a good amount of the parts had been "engineered" at all.

Behold the exhaust(s), some of the engine compartment, the internal panels and the climate controls.

Now comes the hard part.
While re-positioning one particular bolt an inch on paper may save in the long game...
Finding out that you've got to re-engineer 15 other things because of that move is never a good thing.
Any mistakes in the considerable amount of real engineering yet to be done can prove to be costly.

The devil is in the details.
Getting the details right may turn out to be the most time consuming part of all.

 

[pistonboy]

I understand not changing something that works. There is no guarantee it will be as problem free as originally thought.

Look how much software was suppose to be completely problem free and when installed created great problems.

 

[Rickb]

It appears to me that the team made off-the-shelf parts work and hand fabricated a lot of the P5 "on the fly".
I don't think that a good amount of the parts had been "engineered" at all.

Behold the exhaust(s), some of the engine compartment, the internal panels and the climate controls.

Now comes the hard part.
While re-positioning one particular bolt an inch on paper may save in the long game...
Finding out that you've got to re-engineer 15 other things because of that move is never a good thing.
Any mistakes in the considerable amount of real engineering yet to be done can prove to be costly.

The devil is in the details.
Getting the details right may turn out to be the most time consuming part of all.

My understanding is that the P5 was supposed to be the engineered parts specified hand built prototype from which parts would be duplicated for the E's and production vehicles. That was certainly not the case.

My thought is that during the long wait for funding while spending $70 + Million on marketing the P3-4's there has been an adequate amount of time to finalize the engineering, design, and parts specs based on the previous P Builds. Most all automotive industry engineering, design, parts detailing/fabrication to guarantee precision fit and finish for the concept prototypes and final production vehicles is CAD driven engineering/design software. What have the EM Detroit based engineering team been up to? The details should be complete with only minor changes determined by E testing. I guess that will happen later in the E Build process.

I'm puzzled as to why a good number of the P5 parts didn't seem, as you say, engineered at all, as indicated by the on the fly appearance and lack of fit and finish. Frankly, the prototype builders shop and facilities didn't look that technology based in the few photo shots posted during the P5 build. Many of you having mechanical skills and experience commented on the fact that the facilities looked to be in some disarray.

 

[WilliamH]

My understanding is that the P5 was supposed to be the engineered parts specified hand built prototype from which parts would be duplicated for the E's and production vehicles. That was certainly not the case.

My thought is that during the long wait for funding while spending $70 + Million on marketing the P3-4's there has been an adequate amount of time to finalize the engineering, design, and parts specs based on the previous P Builds. Most all automotive industry engineering, design, parts detailing/fabrication to guarantee precision fit and finish for the concept prototypes and final production vehicles is CAD driven engineering/design software. What have the EM Detroit based engineering team been up to? The details should be complete with only minor changes determined by E testing. I guess that will happen later in the E Build process.

I'm puzzled as to why a good number of the P5 parts didn't seem, as you say, engineered at all, as indicated by the on the fly appearance and lack of fit and finish. Frankly, the prototype builders shop and facilities didn't look that technology based in the few photo shots posted during the P5 build. Many of you having mechanical skills and experience commented on the fact that the facilities looked to be in some disarray.

...."as indicated by the on the fly appearance and lack of fit and finish"........
Please clarify the quoted remark by providing examples.
I've purchased parts that I had to tweak a little to get correct fit and see nothing unusual about it.

 

[LillyMayPatterson #1685 & #5648]

I so sorry I was late for the NOON meeting yesterday. After chasing my little dog around the neighbor the night before, I didn't get out of bed till 8:00 in the morning. I was an hour and a half later. I am so sorry. OMGS, I meet Mr. Sunday !!! My friend Tiny Tim DID NOT FIT IN THE ELIO. I REPEAT ... TIM, WHO IS 6 FOOT 10 INCHES, at least 300 lbs. DID NOT FIT IN THE ELIO. This is the first report of anybody NOT being able to fit. He was able to fold himself in, but no way would he be able to drive it or stay there very long. It was terrible to watch him get out. If the front seat was removed and placed all the way back to the back seat he might be able. But, it would have to be a permanent bolt down and not for resale. My friend said he will check into stock, but he is happy with his KIA Soul. We had a wonderful time, met some wonder people and got home about mid-night.

 

[Jeff Miller]

I so sorry I was late for the NOON meeting yesterday. After chasing my little dog around the neighbor the night before, I didn't get out of bed till 8:00 in the morning. I was an hour and a half later. I am so sorry. OMGS, I meet Mr. Sunday !!! My friend Tiny Tim DID NOT FIT IN THE ELIO. I REPEAT ... TIM, WHO IS 6 FOOT 10 INCHES, at least 300 lbs. DID NOT FIT IN THE ELIO. This is the first report of anybody NOT being able to fit. He was able to fold himself in, but no way would he be able to drive it or stay there very long. It was terrible to watch him get out. If the front seat was removed and placed all the way back to the back seat he might be able. But, it would have to be a permanent bolt down and not for resale. My friend said he will check into stock, but he is happy with his KIA Soul. We had a wonderful time, met some wonder people and got home about mid-night.

How unfortunate for Tiny Tim that he was unable to fit in the Elio. I suspect he has that issue with a great many other cars as well.

 

[LillyMayPatterson #1685 & #5648]

Oh Yes Jeff. My friend has a great deal of trouble with quit many things. His heart is also big (in a good way, not like mine) and we love him. He really likes his KIA Soul. He is going to check on the Elio stock and he is aware of the dead line of February first ... for this round of Elio Financing.
I didn't pick up any new news there but the place was packed. The Elio Team was busy busy busy. Mr. Sunday and I decided that since we are most likely stuck with the side exhaust that it is possible we could remove the bubble cover and install a chrome muffler to run down the right side. Maybe glass pack. Loud noise saves lives, right? Well, I really don't know what I am talking about but I think it would look much better than the bubble plate. Maybe even great.
I asked Jerome straight out about the stock sales. He couldn't give me an answer but he said that he is very happy. Well, that cemented my mood and we all had a wonderful time.

 

[Coss]

Elio has said that it will fit the majority of people so there are always exceptions; your friend is one of the exceptions.
I have modified a number of vehicles for sports figures but I don't think the Elio would be able to be one of those (widthwise) so it would be comfortable.
It is great that he accepts these limitations and even better that he still wants to support them.

 

[Rickb]

...."as indicated by the on the fly appearance and lack of fit and finish"........
Please clarify the quoted remark by providing examples.
I've purchased parts that I had to tweak a little to get correct fit and see nothing unusual about it.

I was simply agreeing with and responding to Elio Amazed post mentioning "exhaust, some engine components, Interior panels, and climate controls."

I also noticed the accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals were at a low and awkward position. No windshield wiper which should be installed for a finished P5 appearance (pull the fuse so it doesn't operate and scratch the plastic windshield). I saw an undercarriage photo where the exhaust appeared to be almost touching the rear wheell/tire. Other members pointed out many other little details that should have been tweaked prior to or during the P5 build. The engineer should have had all those details tweaked and specifications locked after 8 years of dreaming. He apparently needs more time and I canwait.

You and I both may have had to tweak parts a little to get the correct fit, but i ass.u.me that is when replacing a slightly worn part on a vehicle. The 'engineered' P5 parts should at least look like they fit correctly coming out of a custom prototype builders shop. It is what it is. Although our individual perceptions of what it is may vary slightly.