On Feb. 6, 2015, Elio Motors will debut the new 0.9 liter, 3-cylinder engine prototype with an official first start at a private event for investors, suppliers and media. The event will be held at the Plymouth, Mich., offices of IAV.

In order to provide its customers with high fuel efficiency and still provide the performance consistent with passenger vehicles, the Elio Motors engine must operate efficiently at two different loads lower loads representative of highway cruising, and more demanding loads associated with the fast starts of city driving. The IAV team started with a three cylinder architecture and developed several Elio-specific components, including the cylinder block, cylinder heads, CAM cover, front cover, oil pan, crankshaft, camshaft, valvetrain, pistons, connecting rods, bearings and water pump. This allowed the engine development team the flexibility to keep the design simple, efficient and easy to manufacture while enabling all of the major fuel economy related attributes combustion system, friction and pumping energy to be enhanced.

In addition to providing ultra-high fuel efficiency, the vehicle will go from 0-60 in 9.6 seconds and will have a top speed of more than 100 miles per hour. Elio and its manufacturing partner Comau will build the vehicle at a manufacturing facility in Shreveport where General Motors previously built the Hummer H3 and Chevy Colorado.