Posted on 02/09/2024 12:43:26 PM PST by Red Badger
One of America’s most iconic classic cars is about to come back to the future.
DeLorean, the famous name associated with the DMC-12 model famously portrayed as a time machine in the Back to the Future film franchise, is gearing up for the release of its Alpha5 later this year, a modern take on its famous gull-wing door automobile design.
“We will continue to apply our rebellious DNA to shape our vehicles and constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible,” reads a page devoted to the new Alpha5 on DeLorean’s website.
“We are writing our legacy in real-time,” it reads, “Instinctively adapting to the future with a heightened curated experience.”
“Rooted in counterculture we confidently embrace the unexpected.”
The original DeLoreans that made their way to the U.S. automobile market began arriving in 1981, with production of the vehicles ending the following year after the original DeLorean Motor Company filed for bankruptcy. Total production at that time had reached fewer than 9,600 vehicles.
DeLorean The original DeLorean DMC-12, marketed in this early 1980s advertisement as “The Vanishing Breed” (public domain).
Although it had a futuristic appearance, the driving experience offered by the DMC-12 was less attractive. Initial reviews of the DMC-12 were largely favorable, but opinions shifted over time, with the car later being listed by Time among its 50 worst cars of all time.
Nonetheless, the DeLorean DMC-12 was elevated to being one of the most iconic automobiles of the 1980s thanks in part to its selection to be retrofitted with a flux capacitor and other fictional accouterments enabling time travel by the eccentric Emmett Lathrop Brown, Ph.D., more commonly referred to simply as “Doc Brown” by his young companion Marty McFly, the protagonist in Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis’s Back to the Future trilogy.
The forthcoming Alpha5 retains a few elements from its classic counterpart, most obviously its gull-wing doors. However, the new vehicle is a separate enterprise from the original company, designed under the San Antonio-based DeLorean Motors Reimagined. The Alpha5 will be an all-wheel drive electric vehicle sold in red, white, and gray.
Unlike the poor performance ratings of its 1980s ancestor, the DeLorean Alpha5 will be capable of top speeds reaching 155 mph, accelerating to 60 miles per hour in just under 3 seconds, and a 100-kWh battery with an estimated range of 300 miles.
Despite the hype building around the Alpha5, the newly revamped company has seen a few setbacks in recent months. It was reported in December that the company’s CEO had stepped down, which led to questions about the company’s future after bringing in millions from customers who secured a vehicle in advance of the Alpha 5’s launch.
Currently, those hoping to take this new take on a classic design for a test drive will likely have to wait until late 2024, with the Alpha5 currently expected to be ready for the 2025 model year.
“We reimagine ourselves daily, and have a clear vision of our future, knowing it does not represent today,” reads a statement from DeLorean’s page featuring the Alpha5.
“Embrace the unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable,” the statement adds.
Presently, those interested in DeLorean’s new efforts can learn more about the Alpha5 at the Delorean Motor Company website and also see some of the latest imagery they have released of the Alpha5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.
Nonetheless, the DeLorean DMC-12 was elevated to being one of the most iconic automobiles of the 1980s thanks in part...
... to John Delorean’s acquittal on drug charges thanks to the FBI’s attempted entrapment?
Only at the White House...
A dealer in Evansville had 2 or 3 all in pretty good condition not too long ago.
There was one in Pensacola that was PAINTED RED.........................
“We reimagine ourselves daily, and have a clear vision of our future, knowing it does not represent today,” reads a statement from DeLorean’s page featuring the Alpha5.“
The stupidities that people will voice when they need to believe something, well, stupid.
Might be a great second car! I remember the original one, a co-worker at the time in Silicone Valley had one. Well, if I win the lottery or find someone rich to marry maybe a new Delorean and a Cybertruck for my garage.
The old one was so fast it could sniff the white line right off the road.
Ditto what you said. On a cold day in Wyoming this thing will be stuck in the garage.
Like the new look. Rear Fog light tells me they are marketing for Europe also.
Holy smokes Alex...oops wrong show.
I can live without it... Otherwise, I would have to live in it.
It was supposed to have an underlying fiber composite structure so between the stainless-steel body and composite, there would be no rust problems. I think they ended up using steel and it ended up being overweight and underpowered.
What was interesting and which foreshadowed themes from the future, DeLorean first received some US government funding pitching it as a safety car and Ireland government money pitching it as a high-tech jobs program. Then the US government tried to entrap him. DeLorean beat the rap.
“sold in red, white, and gray”
Paint? Sacrilege.
EV= DOA
Great book.
What? Painted a stainless steel car red? Oh jeez....
.
“Ditto what you said. On a cold day in Wyoming this thing will be stuck in the garage.”
Sheese!
I live in Montana in a smallish town — we have ALOT of Teslas, Rivian’s, and other assorted EV’s (Lucid, VW, Kia, etc.). Every day I see at least four Teslas on the road plus several others...
A month ago it was 95 degrees cooler outside than it was inside the house (-35), there were electric vehicles driving around without issue (the problem comes when you try to charge them at such a low temperature — the folks who have these vehicles have garages and inside chargers).
Do I have an EV? NO!
Do I want an EV? NO!
I DO believe in the truth however.
haveaniceday
Yeah, well, stainless steel is more of an aspiration than a factual description.
LOL!
I would buy 10,
but I could not even afford 1 back then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.