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
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
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
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
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…
