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Thrifty three-wheel car struts its stuff at Las Vegas showcase

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Visitors to ShowStoppers in Las Vegas check out a prototype of Elio's three-wheeled car. Photo: AFP

The sleek three-wheeled car looks futuristic, but, as its creator acknowledges, it uses no new technology.

What makes the Elio Motors vehicle unique is its ultra-high fuel economy and an ultra-low price tag: US$6,800.

The vehicle, which was on display at the ShowStoppers start-up showcase on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, promises to deliver as much as about 140 kilometres per 4 litres of petrol for highway driving. It accelerates as quickly as many cars on the road - to 160 km/h in 9.6 seconds, according to the company. Urban fuel economy is estimated at 21 km/litre.

Company founder Paul Elio said he came up with the idea because "I got mad about seeing all this wealth leave the country" for imported petrol.

An engineer by training, Elio began the firm in 2008 and recently took over an abandoned General Motors plant in Louisiana, one which had been producing the gas-guzzling Hummer.

We didn’t design it to be cool. It was cool by accident
PAUL ELIO

In order to deliver the best fuel economy, the car has a cockpit wide enough only for the driver, with a passenger seat in the back. It has two wheels in front and tapers to a single wheel.

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