Elio Motors P5 prototype
Elio's narrow P5 put two people in a line and three wheels on the road, chasing car-like weather protection with motorcycle-like efficiency.
Elio P5 prototype CAD rendering · Balansboy · CC BY-SA 4.0
More than a set of wheels.
Elio Motors unveiled the P5 at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. It was the first Elio prototype to carry the company's IAV-developed 0.9-litre engine, but it was still part of a development program: the performance, fuel-economy and price numbers were targets that required later validation, not results from a finished production vehicle.
Look a little closer.
Its front track was almost as wide as a small car's, while its body narrowed sharply around a single rear wheel.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A prototype with production-intent parts
P5 mattered because it joined the planned Elio shape to the purpose-developed three-cylinder engine. Elio said later prototypes would handle powertrain, brakes, durability, handling and safety testing. That makes P5 an important engineering step, but not proof that the promised production performance had been achieved.
Source: Elio Motors · P5 unveiling release ↗Why tandem seats changed the package
Putting the passenger behind the driver reduced body width and frontal area. Elio combined that with a steel spaceframe, non-structural composite panels and a front-wheel-drive layout. The unusual three-wheel form was also treated as a motorcycle under U.S. federal rules, even though the cabin was meant to feel more car-like.
Source: SEC · Elio Motors 2015 Form 1-A offering circular ↗Where these facts come from
- Elio Motors · P5 unveiling release
- Elio Motors · P5 build announcement
- Elio Motors · engine prototype release
- SEC · Elio Motors 2015 Form 1-A offering circular
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.