Aptera takes wraps off 200 MPG prototype car

It looks like last week's TED conference was the choice event for those jonesing for a more Jetson-like means of transportation, with Idealab company Aptera taking the opportunity to show off a prototype version of its sci-fi-inspired concept car. While it sadly remains grounded, the Aptera typ-1 does boast at least one significant innovation, promising to deliver a full 200 miles per gallon from its diesel-electric hybrid engine, keeping up a reasonable 55 mph pace all along the way. And while it's a one-off for now, Aptera apparently hopes that won't be the case for too long, with the company planning to sell these attention-grabbers for around $20,000 apiece. Exactly when, of course, they ain't sayin', but we wouldn't hold off any current car purchase plans in anticipation of driving off in one of these instead.

[Via DailyTech]

[Dr. Brandon Triskelle @ Mar 31st 2008 5:47AM]

My wife calls it the "sperm" car, because of it's shape. I hope this doesn't catch on when they start coming out, because I plan on getting one. 200mpg! No one has even come close to that yet!

[Greg Tingle @ Jul 26th 2008 10:14PM]

Have Branson, Gore, Gates, Dick Smith, Google Guys and Colman Ridge been given an Aptera typ-1 yet? That would sure put the word further out via news media. Heck, I'm up for it also...would be a big hit at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

[Dan @ Mar 14th 2007 6:18PM]

Sold! Make mine cobalt blue, please.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 14th 2007 6:20PM]

That's nice and all, but when the rest of traffic is going 75mph, your going to be the least favorable person on the highway.

[comrade @ Mar 14th 2007 6:59PM]

Does it have an ipod dock?

[daddycool @ Mar 14th 2007 6:27PM]

If it can't fly it won't fly.

[kingofwale @ Mar 14th 2007 6:27PM]

man, 20,000 is so worth it, I want one RIGHT NOW. does it come in red?

Sure, I probably won't run it on highway, but it'd be sweet to do a city driving in that thing.

[Sean D. @ Mar 14th 2007 6:33PM]

Would be great for my in-city commute (can never get above 40mph anyway with all the traffic and stop signs)... except for the fact that it looks like it would wipe out, or get stuck in, any of San Francisco's huge and frequent potholes.

[macona @ Mar 14th 2007 6:32PM]

Its a sperm with wheels...

[&& @ Mar 14th 2007 9:12PM]

Sure hope it has back-up cameras, or else you'll end up impaling somebody.

[rj @ Mar 14th 2007 6:40PM]

That 55 isn't its maximum speed, it's just the speed at which it gets 230mpg. The website (http://apteramotors.com/index.html) says it goes zero to sixty in less than ten seconds.

[kingofwale @ Mar 14th 2007 6:42PM]

if they can build this to look like the car from Minority Report, I'm willing to buy RIGHT NOW. :D (even if it sacrifices some fuel efficiency due to air dynamics)

[Rat Bastard @ Mar 14th 2007 6:57PM]

That's all well and good, but does it fold up into a briefcase when you get to work? Pfft. Didn't think so. Back to the drawing board...

[John R @ Mar 14th 2007 7:34PM]

Well if it gets hit by a 3500 lb Mustang it will fold up into a brief case.

[pagercam @ Mar 14th 2007 7:05PM]

I'd rather pay for the extra gas than be seen in it. Even when gas hits $20/gal.

[Yelis @ Mar 14th 2007 7:08PM]

i will stick with my E46 M3 for now. i get 18 mpg and 0-60 in 4.8 sec. and i am happy !

[KC @ Mar 14th 2007 7:25PM]

But will it blend?

[Brian @ Mar 14th 2007 7:27PM]

I'm pretty sure that thing is never going to pass a crash test.

[brent @ Mar 14th 2007 7:31PM]

Am I the only one that sees this as a rolling coffin? I've never even SAT in a miata for fear of a kid on a big wheel bumping it and crumpling it to a little ball! You would die the first time ANYTHING hits you... let alone a massive F350 that are freaking everywhere where I live!

[Dave @ Mar 14th 2007 8:17PM]

It might not need to pass a crash test. Many of these three wheeled vehicles are classified as motorcycles. My guess is that this one will be too -- that will obviate the need for bumpers at least.

[harveyhanson @ Mar 14th 2007 8:40PM]

Go fast strips, speed holes, and supercharge this bad lad, sorted :)

[LongshotX @ Mar 14th 2007 8:59PM]

When someone comes out with a realistic design that the majority of people will like, maybe, and a huge maybe, will the public respond and start buying these highly efficient vehicles.

[n3rrd @ Mar 14th 2007 9:55PM]

I don't understand vehicles like this; "Let's make a car that has great fuel efficiency, but make it a single passenger car." So each car is more efficient, but you need more cars...?

[Toholio @ Mar 15th 2007 1:08AM]

@n3rrd:

Actually, I think you'd have just about the same number of cars. The sad truth of the matter is that most of the time cars only have a single person in them. Sometimes you need a car that can seat eight but for most people, most of the time, you do not.

For a more realistic take on fuel efficient sub-compact cars Google the Smart fortwo. The U.S.A. will be getting the new model in early 2008. Truly handy little cars for the daily commute though in the U.S.A. I can't see them selling as much more than a second vehicle.

[Xalem @ Mar 15th 2007 1:50PM]

Look at those wheels and wheel covers. How long will that last if it has to drive over pot-holed roads?

[Seeess @ Mar 15th 2007 6:35AM]

WOW~!! that looks soooo cool, i have to buy one!

seriously though aRE Enviromentalists the stupidist people on earth or what??

[rap_punk @ Mar 15th 2007 6:53AM]

fuck thats ugly

[Peter @ Mar 15th 2007 7:30AM]

I'd love one! Except, of course, the potholes on my commute to work would make short work of those cute little wheel pants. And I don't think the suspension is quite up to it, either.

They ought to test these things in Boston.

[ace @ Mar 15th 2007 6:36PM]

Look at what the US automakers have gotten us to.
Big old trucks with lots of options , low gas mileage and profit for them and the autoworkers.
www.aceemploymentservices.net

[aperkins @ Mar 15th 2007 1:50PM]

That's a fugly vehichle. I can see driving down the road, hitting a small pothole and doing a tumble like one of those cigarette boats going out of control, scattering white shards of body and plastic all over the road. Of course, if I was going OVER 35mph...

[cocoa-loco @ Mar 15th 2007 12:17PM]

It seems that only ugly cars can be electric...when was the last time (besides the Tesla) you saw an all electric car that didn't look like an 8 yr olds idea of the future?

[Sven Gusterson @ Mar 15th 2007 11:08AM]

It actually makes me sad to hear people say that they would never drive this car. Enjoy your M3 BMW buddy - even if you need to fuel it up with the burning skin of children and hopes of fresh air for future generations. I mean cmon, you need to componsate for your small penis now - not in some futuristic fantasy world where the earths resources have been scornfully abused and wasted into non-existance.
That being said - seriously could someone just please build a regular car with good mileage and alternative fuel options. Why does the car need to look like it can go from 0-60 passing through a narrow urethra anyway?

[Mike @ Mar 15th 2007 11:12AM]

Need a bit more clearance on the parts by the wheels. One speed bump and you'll crack that all off. Or having to go up a curb to get into your driveway won't work too well either.

But for that kind of gas mileage, I'll take one. Just have to drive in the right lane if going slower.

[ksmith @ Mar 15th 2007 11:25AM]

Is this an entrant in the automotive X-Prize?

[Jamais Cascio @ Mar 15th 2007 2:39PM]

Don't worry about crashes -- Aptera has designed the passenger cage to race car spec, so this thing will be safer than nearly anything else on the road (at least passenger-survival-wise).

[Max @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:49PM]

200 MPG is nice, but I'd hate to be sitting in one of these when an 18 wheeler zips by. For more practical alternatives, see my blog at www.energy-guru.blogspot.com

[Mike @ May 18th 2007 4:38PM]

This thing should come with a disguise, and a secret parking spot, for those men who want an Aptera, but who ever, for the rest of their lives, want to be with a woman. In fact, here's an idea. How about funding the company by selling t-shirts, with the Aptera on them, for attractive women to buy. Any guy who walks up to them and says "What a cool car" is automatically someone they'll never in a million years want to be with. And, I think the company should purchase special insurance to cover all the people who die from laughing when they see them on the road.

[scott @ Sep 6th 2007 2:05AM]

Please. take a look at what you are all saying.
If you have a CHOICE of buying something this efficient, or just bashing it, then why bother. You might just be surprised to see what aptera is up to.

Max, if the shape of the vehicle is that aerodynamic, then having a 18wheeler (who uses that name anymore?) zip by will be no problem at all. In fact, you won't even FEEL the big truck because the "air" it pushes out of the way will slide right over a Aptera.

Xalem, the covers are designed to move with the front wheels. pot holes=no problem. even the rear wheel will have enough "travel" to survive a bump.

aperkins, no sense replying to your non-thought out comments.

cocoa-loco. Tesla? the tesla is not a electric car "design". it is merely a face-lift on a Lotus.

So, check out aptera.com for the latest.

Scott

[George @ Sep 8th 2007 2:47PM]

"Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing?!"

[billy @ Sep 13th 2007 8:50PM]

woah! just found this:

http://cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portlet_action=true&action_wid=2738#88066

it looks like they have stepped it up and will be releasing new prototypes soon! can't wait

Billy

[lamontliquid @ Sep 14th 2007 1:31PM]

I love this car. I want to use it in a futuristic music video.
Somebody call and let me how can I get this car for the video.
917-916-6844

[Steve Stout @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:56PM]

The only reason anyone would think this is ugly is because they've been brainwashed by Detroit to love their big, ugly, bloated bricks. Aerodynamics will always lead to this type of shape and although some guys couldn't get laid in an Aptera, I'm sure I'd have no problem.

This is not an SUV replacement or even a Camry replacement, it's a new class of vehicle. Stop complaining that it is different and start trying to understand why it is different. All 3-wheelers are clasified as motorcycles and licensed and insured as such. Considering that my Harley weighs almost as much, only gets about 40mpg and also has no cupholders, I'd say they're on the right track. Anyone striving for much better milage than what we are used to will end up with a very similar vehicle, so get used to it.

[KRISHNA @ Sep 28th 2007 9:52PM]

guys...i dont know all that......wat ever it is, i got board with this regular cars design...From decades.... and decades...we are using the same damn old design, i want something new....and I pre ordered it.....

[Phoenix @ Sep 30th 2007 1:53AM]

I love it. Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!

(And, for the record, I am a woman and I DO find it attractive. Men are so busy trying to protect their macho images that half the time they miss out on the coolest stuff.)

[Ed @ Sep 30th 2007 8:47PM]

Who cares what it looks like? Sheesh, if it is economical, saves money, and doesn't cost itself out of the market then it's good.

Function is important, style is not.

Crashworthiness? Don't get into a crash and it won't matter, it's clear that lots of people have forgotten what cars were like before the 70's, no airbags, no shoulder belts, no crumple zones, no safety glass, and you know what? Life was fine. Sure there was tons of steel but you still got thrown around inside the car.

Drive safe, smart, defensive, and at a reasonable speed and we wouldn't need all the safety crap that bloats cars and stifles innovation today.

[Pete @ Oct 26th 2007 8:05PM]

All I can say is, if I was driving around in that thing everyone would stare! It would be SO fun! I might even wear alien ears ;)


But really, I'm an engineering PhD student, and it was previously stated above, aerodynamics govern this vehicles design, that's why it's so efficient, so if you think you're ever going to get a 65' mustang with more than 30 miles per gallon, forget about it! Fluid dynamics simply won't allow it...

[O&Glawyer @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:17PM]

I don't care what it looks like. I hate buying gas period. It was too expensive at $2 it sure isn't any better at $3. With this I'd buy gas once every 3-4 months. So long OPEC. I don't peg my self esteem to what I drive around in anyway, the clothes don't make the man and neither does the car. Anyone who thinks opposite should re-examine their priorities.