The Elio: An Eco-Friendly, Revolutionary 3-Wheeled Vehicle Hits The Road.

It's green, It's lean. It's got three wheels and can be ordered now. Introducing the Elio.




Founded in 2008 by Mr. Paul Elio, Elio Motors set out to provide affordable transportation to those commuters seeking an alternative while providing vital American jobs.

The result is a street legal three wheeled environmentally friendly vehicle that goes from 0-60 in under 9.6 seconds and gets 84 miles to the gallon. For students, the vehicle provides a safe and reliable means to commute around campus. For those families with mini-vans or SUV’s, Elio provides an efficient and economical way to get to and from work. The price-point of the vehicle ($6800 USD) allows Elio to be an addition to a family's fleet without adding any additional cost to an already stretched budget.



Features:
• 84 Miles per Gallon
It gets 84 miles to the gallon on the highway. That means you can go from Detroit to New York City on a tank of gas – or drive from Shreveport LA to Dallas and back – then back to Dallas again – and still have about 110 miles left before a refill.



• 8-Gallon Tank:
It can go 672 miles, or thereabouts, because it has an 8-gallon tank and 8X84=672. Of course, other factors will affect your mileage.



• Eco-Friendly:
It gets 84 MPG on the highway, but you’ll be doing your share of city driving, too. With its city rate of 49 MPG, you’ll be consuming only 1/3 of what the average American vehicle consumes.

• Transmission:
5-speed manual or automatic. And yes, it has a reverse gear.

• Power:
An inline, 3 cylinder, .9 liter, 55 HP, fuel-injected, SOHC gas-powered, liquid-cooled, automotive engine. Top speed is in excess of 100 MPH, and the 0-60 speed is under 9.6 seconds.



• Traction:
The engine is in the front and it is a front-wheel-drive vehicle. With a low center of gravity and weight towards the front, you’ll get great traction action – even in the snow.

• Suspension:
The Elio is built on an independent suspension with unequal length control arms, coil-over-spring and shock in the front and mono-shock with coil-over-spring and shock in the rear. The ground clearance is 5.75″ — similar to most of the passenger vehicles you see on the road today.

• Brakes:
3-wheel disc brakes with the Anti-Lock Braking System on 15″ wheels.



• Safety:
Each Elio comes equipped with a Safety Management System that includes three airbags – a reinforced roll-cage frame, Anti-Lock Braking System, and 50% larger crush zones than similar vehicles. Preliminary safety tests on computer models anticipate a 5-Star safety rating.

• Quiet:
The body panels are made of a composite (which is more sound deadening than steel) and attached to a tight, solid body that doesn’t have a lot of moving (read squeaky) parts. These two design features help keep outside noise from getting into the cockpit and getting in the way of your favorite tunes playing on our AM/FM radio (that’s standard).

• Space:
The trunk space will be at least 27″ x 14″ x 10″, enough for an airline carry-on bag or a golf bag with the rear seat down (47″+).



Exterior Specs:
Overall Length: 160.5″
Overall Height: 54.2″
Front Wheel Track: 66.8″ (center rim to center rim)
Wheelbase: 110″ (center of front wheels to center of rear wheel)



Interior Specs:
Headroom: Driver 39.8 Passenger 36.4 in
Seat width: Driver 20.6 Passenger 25.3 in
Interior Shoulder Width: 26.8 in
Front seat Legroom: 42.7 in
Rear seat Legroom: 33.1 in

Comfort:
Elio has been designed to fit 95% of all people, whether it be a 6’8″ former college basketball player, a 6’3″ 365 lb man or a 5’0″ petite woman.



American Made = American Jobs
It should come as no surprise that Elio will create a number of much-needed jobs for American workers. The company is estimating 1,500 jobs at their Shreveport, LA plant beginning in 2014.

Price:
It only costs $6,800. That’s about what you would pay for an outboard motor to power a rowboat.

Warranty:
The Elio comes standard with a 3 year/36000 mile warranty.



When you own an Elio, you’re not just a customer, you’re part of a family. So we’re not going to lure you in with that $6,800 low price, only to mention things like A/C and an AM/FM radio are extra. They’re not. You get those items plus heater, defrost, the three airbags, power windows and door lock, seat belts, tempered glass, and windshield wiper at no extra cost.


Learn more and/or pre-order the Elio here

Philippe Starck's PIBAL, an Urban Hybrid Bike/Scooter, Gets Produced In 3000 Units by Peugeot.

PHILIPPE STARCK UNVEILS 'THE BICYCLE OF THE FUTURE' DESIGN IN BORDEAUX



When Bordeaux wanted to expand its bike sharing program, it turned to its citizens for input, garnering 300 responses, and the resulting ideas were integrated into a concept bike by designer Philippe Starck. The result is a crowd-sourced bicycle that is claimed to be the “ideal city bike”.

The Saietta, A Zero Emissions Electric Urban Motorcycle Perfect For Commuting.

Saietta represents the first meaningful redesign in motorcycling in a generation. Its unparalleled handling and revolutionary styling have set the benchmark for performance and design across the industry. Available in three core colors (red, black and white) or 8 optional colors (including the chrome), the electric motorbike has had glowing reviews and awards. The all-day-long range, unmatched handling and impressive power are all that you could ask of an electric vehicle.



The Saietta, built by Agility Global, Ltd. in London, is the world's first production composite monocoque chassis (like a Formula 1 car) in a motorcycle. The Agility battery envelope is the structure of the motorcycle - minimizing weight, increasing strength and combining to give you, the rider, the most direct and tactile control possible.

The Saietta S



Distinctive and desirable, Saietta S is the next generation of electric urban motorcycle. The light weight provides lithe maneuverability. Fun, fast and sporty, Saietta S is a high profile way to get around town.



The Saietta S acceleration is lightning fast, from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Its total weight of 135 kg means you can whip the bike around town, faster than any other mode of urban transport. 50 miles range with 46 peak horsepower makes for easy riding, and at 20 pence for 50 miles, you will never notice the cost of riding.



Optimised through intelligent design and ground-breaking engineering to invoke a near-perfect user relationship, Saietta's exceptional maneuverability and instinctive ergonomics expand your riding abilities and heightens the senses.



New Recyclable flax body panels


The Saietta's sustainable design features including body panels made using flax fibres. With additional deflector panels made using a range of bio-composite materials including hemp, kenaf, jute and cellulose.



Given the new type of body panels, Saietta is even more sustainable than ever. With a powerful electric drive train and upwards of 85% recyclable parts, when and if Saietta ever comes to an end of its useful life, the parts can definitely be reused and recycled:


Saietta R
Muscular and aggressive, Saietta R is our flagship, next generation electric urban sport motorcycle. With huge, low-down power and understated cool, getting on is like riding a relentless wave of torque through the city.



The Saietta R acceleration is beyond fast, from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. With exceptional emphasis on concentrating its masses in the most compact overall package and shortest possible wheelbase, the Saietta R has a cocktail of power and razor sharp handling which intoxicates. 112 miles range including a 12 mile reserve, and 120 Nm of torque, the R model is a fast, aggressive ride, and at 45 pence for 100 miles, you will never notice the cost of riding.



Optimised through intelligent design and ground-breaking engineering to invoke a near-perfect user relationship, Saietta's exceptional manoeuvrability and instinctive ergonomics expand your riding abilities and heightens the senses.

Features:
The Agility battery envelope IS the structure of the motorcycle - minimising weight, increasing strength and combining to give you, the rider, the most direct and tactile control possible.

Next Generation Drive-train: harnessing the efficiency of Agility's "Drive-Torque Geometry Control" integrated transmission and Ultra-High Torque Axial Flux Electric Motor. Seamlessly smooth, extremely powerful, and instantly responsive. Regen capable: able to recover energy during deceleration.


Advanced "Wide-Base Variable-Geometry"™ Unequal Length Front Double-Wishbone suspension for extreme steering and suspension control throughout the performance envelope.


Unique Agility "Instinct Steering Geometry"™ for intuitive feel and superlative handling from walking pace up through to blisteringly fast.


Ground-breaking "Drive-Torque Geometry Control" integrated transmission and suspension system for optimised suspension control during aggressive acceleration, giving maximum corner-exit traction, and greater stability when accelerating and breaking.


For complete technical specs, to book a test drive or purchase a Saietta, visit their site here.

Sleek, Solar, Sexy and Super High Tech. The Latest Images of The Code-X Yacht.

The "CODE-X Yacht" was featured in its early stages on just about every design blog years ago. Since then, it's actually come to reality and I wanted to share the latest images of the "Next Generation CODE-X Yacht" with you. (Info, specs and earlier images of the yacht are after the newest photos).
















CODE-X AG and SILICON-FIRE AG bring drive technology to a new level with the Next Generation CODE-X Yacht.

From the Code-X site:
CODE-X AG, the swiss company based in Meggen on Lake Lucerne, started with the goal of developing products with maximum exclusivity that use renewable energy sources to serve a common good in the mid to long term and serial production maturity subsequent to further development.




These high-end products with added value go far beyond the common perception of luxury goods. The brand represents well developed and technologically exceptional concepts and products which have an obligation to the environment. They also give their buyers a role as pioneer and frontrunner on the path to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly future.

The CODE-X-YACHT is the first product to celebrate its world premiere this year with a synthesis of solar technology and Formula 1 engines meeting the highest standards.









Early photos:






THE YACHT

The uncompromisingly designed yacht, built by international leading experts, symbolises a dream come true.

CODE-X unites radical purism, the optimal benefit of renewable energy and the sheer power of a racing machine in one boat.

A flexible solar hybrid propulsion system enables both quiet, environmentally friendly cruising in ports and coastal areas as well as the pleasure of high speeds on open waters!

deck layout:


Interior layout:


CURRENT SPECIFICATIONS

Engines:
2 x Ilmor marine combustion engines MV10-710
Configuration : 90 degree V 10
Horsepower : 2 x 710 HP
Torque : 882 Nm @ 4800 rpm
Full throttle rpm range: 5400 - 6300
Capacity: 2 x 8.3 liters
Performance: 90 kn
2 x electric engines

Source of Energy:
Fossil fuel (2 tanks)
Solar-power

Length: 47ft 7in (14.50m)
Engine: Twin 710hp Ilmor engines and twin electric/solar drives
Top speed: 90 knots
Price: On application


Motor Boat & Yachting had this to say about it:
The Code-X presents the helmsman with a terrible ethical dilemma. You can either use the environmentally impeccable solar/hybrid drive, which gives a cruising speed of just a few knots, or you can turn the key on twin 710hp Ilmor engines, combined with ZF Trimax propeller drives, for a considerably sexier but not-quite-so-green 90 knots. Despite MBY's heartfelt commitment to combating global warming, we know which we'd chose.

Either way, this ultra-modern machine is a far cry from the electric plodders occasionally seen on the UK's rivers and canals. Controlled throughout by touch screen, the Swiss design boasts a Kevlar/carbon shell with phototropic-shaded screens and windows, one of which raises to let the cocooned passengers, or should that be astronauts, out into the fresh air.

Inside an LED illumination system "ensures optimal night viewing" and there is solar-powered air-con and a whirlpool bath. Don't worry if you think all that black carbon is going to heat up in the Med sunshine: the deck is UV-resistant with a heat-repellent shell and you can opt for a lighter shade hull.

Code-X are also lining up a new racing series called Formula Clean. They will manufacture, at their own expense and parallel to the production of the limited Code-X leisure series, another fleet of seven boats carrying only renewable energy. Sounds like quite a fun way to save the planet.


CODE-X AG
Naumatthalde 9 & 11
CH-6045 Meggen
Switzerland

Phone +41 41 378 09 88
Fax +41 41 378 09 89
hs@code-x.ch

Like angular sexy super yachts? Then check out the lustworthy Wally Power 118 Superyacht.