New Aptera

[Frank Lee]

I wonder what the Cd in yaw is. I don't like those outriggers all that much.

[larryj54]

Of all the vehicles out there, aside from a Tesla Roadster, down in the closer to real world strata of $$, I LOVE the Aptera. Prius? Generic hybrid? Naaa.. no compelling argument forme. But Aptera is sooooo different.. so cool, I could easily "NOT save $" and buy one.

[NeilBlanchard]

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I wonder what the Cd in yaw is.

Humm... With a little clever engineering, you might be able to get the body to point into the relative wind, like an airplane...

[NachtRitter]

Road & Track video review, link posted in another thread by MetroMPG... thought I'd post here to since there are prolly folks subscribed to this thread that'd like to see this: Road&Track

[NeilBlanchard]

You beat me to it!

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=7651

Exclusive: Aptera 2e
An exclusive drive of an aerodynamically slick electric vehicle that looks to change the world, three wheels at a time

By Douglas Kott • Photos by Jay K. McNally and Jennifer Degtjarewsky
February 11, 2009

I'm accelerating and cornering — hard — on three wheels, little wisps of tire smoke curling out of the slender front wheel pants as steering is cranked in and "throttle" applied. And no, I'm not in an early Volkswagen GTI that hikes up its inside rear tire. Rather, I've been given a drive in the Aptera 2e, a soon-to-be-produced electric vehicle whose shape is slipperier than a Teflon-coated salmon on glare ice, and whose composite construction offers both light weight and impressive structural integrity. Better yet, the 2e is scheduled to begin rolling off the Vista, California, assembly line this October for an as-yet-to-be-determined price between $25,000 and $40,000. Charge it overnight from your 110-volt home outlet, and it's claimed to have a range of 100 miles...in the carpool lane, if you wish.

Pie in the sky? Nope. The business model looks sound; nearly 4000 deposits have been placed (Robin Williams among the clientele), enthusiastic investors are locked in, and co-founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony have assembled a team that balances Detroit low-volume niche-production experience with California "anything is possible" attitude. Chief engineer Tom Reichenbach was formerly vehicle engineering manager for both Ford GT and Shelby GT500 programs; and CEO Paul Wilbur has a storied history at Ford, Chrysler and ASC. And Fambro, a biotech engineer and private pilot intrigued by his aircraft's composite construction, and Anthony, a composites specialist with a background in boat design and fluid dynamics, seemed predestined for this partnership.

But back to the Aptera itself. I'm in the pre-production prototype called Punch, so named for upholstery whose color matches that oft-spiked party drink. But the fabric's long gone, as Punch gets lots of track-testing duty and is tuned now with suspension settings and an a/c motor/controller that are nearing final production specs. With the rotary "shifter" clicked to D3, the most aggressive setting, it's responsive, easily modulated and reasonably quick: Reichenbach says 0–60 mph in under 10 seconds with a 90-mph top speed with its pack of lithium-phosphate-ion-"pixie dust" cells — that last part suggesting that their exact composition is a secret.

But flinging it around the streets near Aptera's headquarters, it seems quicker still, partly due to a go-kart-like agility that's carried off with a surprisingly civil ride. Adding to the feel is a view of the road rushing up at you (the base of the aircraft-evocative windshield plunges toward the pavement) and those wheel pants articulating with the inboard rocker-type front suspension, visible out of the dramatically forward-raked side windows. Steering and brakes are unassisted, but efforts are reasonable as the curb weight is only 1700 lb., about half the weight of a base Honda Accord.

Earlier, I rode with Reichenbach in another near-production prototype whose interior and exterior detailing is nearing final spec. Entering gracefully through the quasi-gullwing doors takes a few tries, but the door openings are large and once seated, the cabin width seems to split the difference between a Lotus Elise and a Toyota Corolla. There's a large hooded digital speedometer and bar-graph battery state-of-charge indicator, along with a central infotainment screen that offers mind-boggling possibilities. Leg- and head room were surprisingly generous for even my 6-foot-3 frame. And safety is preeminent in the Aptera's design — the final version will have both frontal and side airbags. And if there was any doubt about the strength of the composite construction, it was quelled as eight Aptera employees stood on the roof of a development shell. And that was after the shell had gone through government roof-crush testing!

It seems as if the future is here today...or at least come this October.

Slideshow: Driving the Aptera 2e

Slideshow: Behind the Scenes at Aptera

Video: The Aptera 2e in Action

Video: The Aptera 2e

To correct the type of batteries that will probably be used: lithium iron phosphate from A123.

[RobertSmalls]

Oh, good, they provided some specs!

I wonder what the "Emergency tire inflation system" is. A can of fix-a-flat and a 12V air compressor?

Also, steel wheels? Really? I hope that's a weight-saving, rather than a cost-cutting measure.

Well, I'm not going to complain about the engineering details, as long as they deliver results: Moderate cost, enormous MPG. Fingers crossed.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

ABC News has a report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKMDU...layer_embedded

Edmunds has a well written and frank report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_JV6...layer_embedded

"2010 Aptera 2e: A First Look at California Company's Three-Wheeled EV" Green Car Advisor

And a video (from the inside) of the Aptera 2e being driven pretty hard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Hhn...layer_embedded

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Jay Leno likes it!

Jay Leno's Garage

[Big Dave]

Some comments on the Aptera:
1. For me there will have to be a single-seat version. Otherwise it is just another vehicle with airline economy-class misery.
2. For nation-wide use it needs a powerful heater and AC.
3. For my purposes, I’d go with the IC version. I knock down 300 miles a day – too much for an electric - quite often.
4. If they ever sell the Aptera nationwide, we’ll find out quick enough how they handle in snow.
5. Despite the efforts of motorcycle rights groups, numerous states have helmet laws for motorcycles, including trikes.
6. It is a gorgeous vehicle.
No real show-stoppers. When the right one is available, I’m interested.