The DeLorean Motor Company has finally thrown the silks off its heavily-teased ‘ALPHA 5’ EV, the first official DeLorean to be produced in four decades.
First teased back in February, the ALPHA 5 has been unveiled ahead of its first public showcase at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. DeLorean though has released key specs and figures about its new electric vehicle, plus select images, as part of fan and prospective customer early access.
DeLorean ALPHA 5
Though DMC staples like the gullwing doors and the louvred rear window are prominent – there would surely have been riots without those! – the new ALPHA 5 is altogether more curvaceous than its boxier 1980s predecessor. Like the DMC-12, the new EV and its “compelling presence” was penned by Italdesign, hence DeLorean’s further claims that the two share the same “rebellious DNA.”
Notable elements include the EV-traditional slim headlamps, the ‘DeLorean’ badge in place of ‘DMC’ on the faux front grille, the Flux Capacitor-esque lightbar above the front valance, and the tapering roof line. The look, plus those enormous aerodynamic wheels, impressively help create a drag co-efficient of just 0.23 cd.
DeLorean ALPHA 5
Images of the ‘Launch Edition’ model also highlight the full-width, tri-layered rear lightbar revealed earlier this month.
The most significant difference, though, is the all-electric powertrain beneath the surface, which replaces the original’s 2,850cc V6. Though not yet confirmed, its expected the ALPHA 5 will feature twin electric motors powering both axles, which will be connected with a “100+ kWh” lithium-ion battery. The performance would certainly suggest so, with 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) do-able in 2.99 seconds en-route to a 155 mph / 250 km/h top speed. In an amusing nod to the Back to the Future trilogy, 0-88 mph is possible in 4.35 seconds.
DeLorean ALPHA 5
Bear in mind these figures, estimates on the pre-production model, “may differ slightly” when the EV goes on sale during the summer. Range is estimated to be upwards of 300 miles (around 483 km).
Interestingly, with the ALPHA 5 measuring 4,995 mm (around 16 ft) in length and 2,044 mm (just over 6.7 ft) wide, plus the rapid performance and the fact that it has rear seats(!), DeLorean’s electric coupe could prove an unlikely rival to the Porsche Taycan, though pricing for the former has not yet been revealed.
