Last month, Elio Motors joined the Los Angeles Auto Show and instead of showing the latest iteration of its prototype for its ground-breaking three-wheeled vehicle, the independent American car manufacturer presented a concept car which was several notches better than its most recent iteration.
Elio Motors unveiled a sleek-looking and very stylish black three-wheeled vehicle which it called as the E1c. Unlike its previous prototypes, the E1c looks very much like a luxury car as the rough edges of the prototypes were somewhat smoothened out.
Even the interiors look very elegant and not crude compared to the prototypes.
Although it was merely a concept car and Elio Motors have yet to roll out an actual three-wheeled vehicle from its Shreveport, Louisiana manufacturing plant acquired from GM, company founder and CEO Elio Motors has certainly made an impressive statement during the LA Auto show, reports Gas2.
While some critics note that the E1c is already a few years behind schedule since Elio Motors had to resort to crowd-funding and other initiatives to generate resources to mass-produce the vehicle, its latest concept of the groundbreaking vehicle showed how good-looking the car can be.
Unlike before when some critics felt that users would find it difficult to slip into the three-wheeled vehicle because it looks crude and cheap, the concept car has turned the notion around. The E1c is a very sporty and luxurious-looking car, that it appears like a compact Formula 1 vehicle.
It was such a major statement from Elio Motors founder and CEO that he literally debunked his doubters without saying anything at all.
A hugely improved interior
The E1c also has a hugely improved interior. Its upgraded interior will certainly go a long way towards convincing non-believers that Elio has finally tapped someone who knows how to build a real car.
More importantly, the E1c shall be running on Elio’s very own engine instead of a junkyard Geo Metro mill.
Critics believe that delivering a running vehicle powered by the company’s own, original engine design is an accomplishment that even the biggest luxury carmakers like Lotus and AMG were not able to do.
As to its goal of selling 250,000 of its three-wheeled vehicle within the first year of its release, that has yet to be seen. Although if compared to the 500,000 target of Tesla Motors in the second year of its upcoming mass-produced sedan, the Tesla Model 3, Elio Motors is even more conservative with its goal.
An engineering vehicle
In a press statement during the LA Auto Show, Paul Elio said that the E1c is an engineering vehicle which he described as a significant step forward as the company progresses from the prototype to the production phase for its groundbreaking three-wheeled vehicle.
Paul Elio said that the E1c represents the company’s continued progress along its long-term plan to bring low-cost, highly fuel efficient transportation to the American market.
He added that they have assembled an amazing team of engineers and supplier partners who have jumped into every aspect of the vehicle to make sure it meets or exceeds all their targets and expectations.
Elio also lauded their partners’ passion for creating a game-changing vehicle, which happens to be one of their company’s greatest strengths.
In October, Elio Motors also put on display its Hemi orange prototype during the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Las Vegas in order to show off to enthusiasts who love unique cars, It was also meant to pick up a few more deposits for the three-wheeled vehicle, notes Gas2 in another report.
The event was actually meant for unique cars and it is obvious that Elio Motor’s trike can easily be considered as unique. That’s in addition to the fact that the event also offers the company another opportunity to showcase in public its vehicle and pick up a couple more reservations and deposits in the process.