DeLorean Alpha5 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance


DeLorean’s EV-follow-up to the vaunted DMC-12 – the Alpha5 – made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during a weekend in which the American car brand also unveiled two new design concepts.

A “first complete look” of the new Alpha5 was presented in May ahead of the EV sedan’s official debut during this month’s Monterey Car Week, giving interested customers a fresh look at the Launch Edition model. Admittedly, save a new paint finish, few fresh details have arisen, the Launch Edition boasting an unchanged 100-plus kWh battery, 0.23 cd drag co-efficient, 2.99-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint time, and 155 mph (around 250 km/h) top speed.

DeLorean Alpha5 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

DeLorean Alpha5 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

The famous gullwing doors unsurprisingly remains the focal point of the exterior look – penned by Italdesign and part of what’s termed the company’s “rebellious DNA” – each of which has been extended to allow egress and exit for both rows of the 2+2 sedan.

Rolling on a 2,900 mm (9.5 ft) wheelbase, the near-production-ready-but-still-technically-a-concept Alpha5 also features a new chassis structure utilizing a carbon fibre tub, though few details have been released. It seems unlikely the EV-dedicated platform will be developed in-house, raising questions as to potential outsourcing.

DeLorean Alpha5 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

DeLorean Alpha5 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Interestingly, DeLorean did confirm that the Alpha5 was inspired by both the DMC-12 and the DMC-24. Featuring the same extended gullwings as the Alpha5 (plus the three-tailored taillights), the DMC-24, another Italdesign creation, was a four-five seater vehicle created in 1981 as a means of taking DeLorean in a new, consumer-orientated direction (even the stainless steel was ditched in favour of “the exploration of new materials). Though wind tunnel testing of a rolling concept continued to run through 1982, the plug was pulled completely in 1985 following the company’s bankruptcy.

DeLorean Plasmatail Concept

DeLorean Plasmatail Concept

In three further reveals, a 1:64-scale ‘Hot Wheels Alpha5’ model – developed across four months using concept art sketches, digital rendering and 3D printing – was also on the stand a Pebble Beach, while the silks were pulled from the ‘Alpha5 Plasmatail’ and ‘Omega’ concepts on Saturday. Again, few details were provided, though the Plasmatail – Concept 2024 – was designed as an extension of the original coupe, with additional storage space created alongside the same 2+2 seating.

DeLorean Omega Concept

DeLorean Omega Concept

The Omega, meanwhile – Concept 2040 – is Baja-esque buggy that offering a more tongue-in-cheek look at how DeLorean could look in the coming decades. A “complete departure from traditional automotive design,” the Omega features an EV drivetrain, high ground clearance, and enormous off-road tyres. As for the hour-glass bodywork, try to picture how a Gillette razor mated with an apple magic mouse would look…

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