Elio Update

The Elio P4 is at Flatirons Crossing today and tomorrow in the upper food court. The line to sitin it was 50 yards long when I got there so I passed. I did get pictures and the P4 is lower and sleeker than the P3 I sat in last year. They have also added a windscreen wiper, R.H. roll-down window and climate controls since then. Vehicle weight is up to 1200 lb and the engine is still the Geo Metro 3-cyl they had in it last year. The new engine is still in development.

Here's a shot showing the vehicle fully occupied:

The passenger was not small but had little trouble getting in or out. No more than any other 2-door sedan.
The rear now features an opening trunk. The back seat folds forward.

Won't get a weeks groceries in there without folding the seat down.

The top speed is electronically limited to a bit over 100 mph. The reps there were discounting the modest top speed which suggested to me that some attention needs to be addressed to the overall vehicle aerodynamics before you install that Hyabusa engine and go for the land speed record. Maybe a small air dam up front and some '59 Chevy tail fins on the back. Of course this would probably cut into your 84MPG rating, but then quadrupling the available horsepower will do that anyway.

It seemed like about every 3rd person in line was ready to drive the prototype home right there so enthusiasm is quite high. It will reportedly be available about this time next year.