DeLorean Alpha5 EV: Everything We Know So Far
The DeLorean Motor Company is officially about to take us on a real trip back to the future with a freshly revealed DeLorean Alpha5. Made famous by the "Back to the Future" movie trilogy, the DeLorean may not really be a time machine, but looking at the new model and comparing it to the classic 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 certainly feels like time travel. The two vehicles are alike in many ways, down to the gullwing doors, but the Alpha5 certainly starts a new chapter for the freshly-resurrected DMC.
Over four decades after the original DeLorean was revealed, DMC's new pride and joy took the design of the 1981 DeLorean and made it much more modern. Gone is the bulky, angular design we know from the movies, as the Alpha 5 looks elegant and smooth. With its doors closed, you'd have a hard time recognizing this car as a DeLorean at the first glance — that's how different it looks from its much older sibling.
However, as soon as the doors open up, the car can't be mistaken for anything else. Although the Alpha5 only has one pair of doors, each is wide enough to allow comfortable entry for both the front seat and the back seat. Being an electric vehicle, it's also completely revamped on the inside. The company has given the public a glimpse into the upcoming electric vehicle ahead of its official release. After a preview in May, the company showed off the car in August 2022, allowing some YouTubers to get up close and personal with the DeLorean Alpha5.
The Alpha5 has a ton of cool features
On the official website for the Alpha5, the DeLorean Motor Company remains fairly tight-lipped about its features. However, thanks to videos posted on YouTube by people who have seen the car in person, we have an idea of the features that will be available to all those who choose to buy it when it launches. One such lucky YouTuber is Supercar Blondie.
The video shows us that the Alpha5 has a special panel near each gullwing door. Swiping your hand across the panel makes the door open right up in the way we all know and love from the old "Back to the Future" movies. The exterior of the car also has some cool aesthetic perks, such as a pulsing light that goes seamlessly from the doors to the front and the back of the car, or the wing at the back. Inside, the vehicle also houses some interesting solutions.
Buying the car will also get you a special DeLorean wristband, and the wristband will detect the heartbeat and the body temperature of the person you've given it to. The idea is to gift the wristband to someone you love in order to always feel them close, because the heartbeat and the temperature are felt through the seat of the vehicle, and the wearer can give you a virtual hug that you can experience through the seat. There's also an air vent on the seat that lets them blow you a kiss. It's an odd idea, but surely someone out there will like it enough to use it.
The rebirth of DMC
The Alpha5 comes with a 100 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge. It can reach speeds as high as 155 mph, and it accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 2.99 seconds, while zero to 88 mph takes only 4.35 seconds. Initial details from DMC suggest it will offer one dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. The specifications listed by DMC refer to the so-called base performance model of the vehicle, which leads us to believe that better versions of it might also emerge in the future.
Speaking of the future — it's not yet time to buckle up and get ready for a ride in the new DeLorean. According to CNN, production will begin in 2024, and the number of these vehicles is going to be very limited — only 9,531 are going to be made. It's unclear when exactly the vehicle will go on sale, but estimating around 2024 or 2025 seems like a safe bet. For now, you can begin the process of owning the Alpha5 by joining the DeLorean Alphas Club for $88, then you'll be able to purchase a randomized production slot for $2,500.
While the DMC in charge of the Alpha5 shares the name with the company that released the original vehicle, this brand shares little in common with its predecessor. The original automaker went bankrupt in 1982, long before the vehicle ever made it into Back to the Future. The daughter of John DeLorean, Kat, has recently made her own company called DNG Motors and is working on a sportscar unrelated to the Alpha5.