[HoosierRon]

$30,000. Production this year. 300 mpg.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/car_tips&id=6039270

http://www.aptera.com/newsletter043008/

 

[mgescuro]

No. Doesn't look practical, nor does it seem practical looking.

 

[AndrewGS]

No. Doesn't look practical, nor does it seem practical looking.

Agreed. It's a niche car. I'd love to have one though, just as I'd love a Tesla Roadster.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Uhh...no.

 

[Sinner]

It's cool looking but it also looks like driving five blocks on Canadian roads would tear it to shreds.

I can see them in Cali, Nevada and Arizona, but nowhere else.

 

[psece]

At 26,995 for the all electric and 29,995 for the series hybrid, it might get beyond niche. We are now in the Wild West Phase of electric cars and we are seeing some cool cars come out. Look at Aptera being the Ford Model T to Tesla's Auburn. And there are still many companies that are very secret about what they are producing. All car manufacturers need to be worried.

 

[psece]

It's cool looking but it also looks like driving five blocks on Canadian roads would tear it to shreds.

I can see them in Cali, Nevada and Arizona, but nowhere else.

This is definitely a fair weather car. Although I could see one wheel drive being entertaining up in your neck of the woods....

 

[HoosierRon]

No. Doesn't look practical, nor does it seem practical looking.

Agreed. It's a niche car. I'd love to have one though, just as I'd love a Tesla Roadster.

It's cool looking but it also looks like driving five blocks on Canadian roads would tear it to shreds.

I can see them in Cali, Nevada and Arizona, but nowhere else.

Smart.
Original Mini.
Original Beetle.
Original Prius.

Why would the Aptera not be drivable in Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and Houston?

Practical, maybe not. But 300 mpg when gas costs $4.00 a gallon will make a lot of people think twice.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

I saw this car on an electric commercial of some sorts this morning while eating breakfast...

 

[chaseabryant]

I really wonder how stable this vehicle is....

I could definately see a problem with gusts of wind, driving over bridges, etc. It looks like it might be able to tip easily or become very unstable, especially if the wind is able to get up under the rear end...

-Chase

 

[Ronald McChevy]

not to mention unsafe. the reason they put it on three wheels was so they wouldn't have to pass collision testing (it is officially classified as a motorcycle). that's how they get it under $30k.

 

[HoosierRon]

not to mention unsafe. the reason they put it on three wheels was so they wouldn't have to pass collision testing (it is officially classified as a motorcycle). that's how they get it under $30k.

This is a blatant misstatement. Aptera has repeated stated that it will pass all auto safety mandates whether or not it has to.

You see, we made the decision to make the doors and the roof of the Typ-I much, much stronger than what's specified by law for a passenger vehicle. We want the Typ-I t be renowned not only for its remarkable performance and efficiency, but its safety too. One of the ways we've done that is to look at the federal safety regulations and ask not how we meet them, but how do we *beat* them, and beat them by a comfortable margin. To do that, we need to test and inspect a variety of different manufacturing conditions and materials. And thus, we've built a testing lab in house just for that purpose, and we're constantly expanding our safety and testing team.

 

[I-Love-Pontiac]

I cant tell if Hoosier is being sarcastic or if he really is a fan of this thing.

 

[LAChevy24]

there are alot of car accident out here in Cali. hell it seems like if u hit a curb one of the wheel braket things will break off. also looks like it cant hold anything.

 

[Ronald McChevy]

This is a blatant misstatement. Aptera has repeated stated that it will pass all auto safety mandates whether or not it has to.

Yeah I have read what they say. But what other reason is there to make this thing a three-wheeler?

 

[HoosierRon]

also looks like it cant hold anything.

And yet Pontiac continues to sell the Solstice.

 

[scout62]

Yeah I have read what they say. But what other reason is there to make this thing a three-wheeler?

Simplicity and weight savings? Who knows....it better have good a/c if they plan to sell it in Arizona, we are creeping up on triple digits already.

 

[Butz]

Smart.
Original Mini.
Original Beetle.
Original Prius.

Why would the Aptera not be drivable in Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and Houston?

Practical, maybe not. But 300 mpg when gas costs $4.00 a gallon will make a lot of people think twice.

Maybe when gas is $40 a gallon but not now!
$4.00 is not expensive enough for me to drive something like that.

 

[chaseabryant]

Yeah I have read what they say. But what other reason is there to make this thing a three-wheeler?

I think it may be a key in the drag coefficient as well. They shape of the vehicle allows for excellent air flow over the body. With a single wheel in the back, an aerodynamic sheath to cover it, and not much sheetmetal to contend with, the air flows over this form much better than it would with a traditional 4-wheeled design.

This shape (teardrop) makes almost any vehicle in production at this time look a lot like a brick....

I won't say that the teardrop shape is exactly my thing, I much prefer the bricks, but when it comes to the aerodynamics of the vehicle, this thing definately takes the cake.

-Chase

 

[E. Haskell]

Oh my - that thing looks horrible.

300 mpg is nice, but once you get to say ~80MPG+, to me, MPG becomes a non-issue and I start looking at other things like LOOKS, warranty, safety, serviceability (dealer locations), etc.