Aptera's 300 MPG car available for pre-order

Aptera certainly managed to attract a fair bit of attention for itself earlier this year, when its concept car turned as many heads for its space age looks as it did for its promised 200 MPG range. Now the company looks to be taking the next step on the long road to availability, with it accepting pre-orders for the car, which apparently now boasts a range of 300 MPG in typical driving conditions. What's more, the company says its also readying an all-electric version of the vehicle in addition to the plug-in hybrid model, with promising to last for around 120 miles before needing a recharge. Both models will also apparently come packed with features, include driver and passenger side airbags, interior and exterior LED lighting, a "solar assisted" climate control system, and an "advanced drive computer" that includes GPS, a rear-view camera, and a complete vehicle diagnostic system. All that apparently comes at a bit of a premium over the initially-estimated $20,000 price, however, with the electric and plug-in hybrid models now set to run $26,900 and $29,900, respectively. If that's still in your ballpark, you can reserve yours now for a mere $500, with the first vehicles promised to be in drivers hands in 12 months or so.

[Via Digg]

[friendlyner @ Oct 10th 2007 3:43PM]

What if someone rear-ends that thing? It looks like they'll get impaled

[Panq @ Oct 10th 2007 4:14PM]

Deliberate security feature?

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Oct 10th 2007 10:57PM]

Attach some wings and it will look like a Beechcraft (Airplane).

[sethersauce @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:37PM]

check the video for safety features

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4237853.html

[simple @ Jun 4th 2008 11:20AM]

well, with the suv's going off the road impaled may be too strong a word - GM is closing how many plants?

[kevjohn @ Oct 10th 2007 3:45PM]

Does it come with clothes with the hovering rings, a la Los Jetsons?

[Miguel @ Oct 10th 2007 3:48PM]

How is MPG a "range?" Isn't it "fuel economy." "With estimated fuel economy up to 300 MPG." Yeah, that's right.

[toronado455 @ Oct 10th 2007 10:59PM]

That's the exact same thing I was thinking. MPG isn't a range. Jeez. Maybe Engadget should leave the automotive news reporting to the folks over at Autoblog eh? :-)

[Foxbat @ Oct 11th 2007 9:34AM]

...but it will do "the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.” :)

[Miguel @ Oct 11th 2007 1:27PM]

@foxbat

I don't think Engadget can ret-con a blackhole into the middle of an Interstate, whereas Star Wars could. They fail.

[riggs @ Oct 10th 2007 3:51PM]

ill wait for when its less ugly.

[Djunior80 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:52PM]

That thing is FUGLY! Why does a nice design have to be so expensive (TESLA 100K)?? For the nearly 30K that they are asking they can definitely have a better design instead of looking like an ugly toy!

[JTM @ Oct 10th 2007 3:56PM]

Saying it gets 300mpg is not accurate. It needs the help of batteries to go anywhere.

It's more like 1 gallon of gas plus fully charged batteries will let you go 300 miles. Still pretty impressive but not 300mpg.

[kevjohn @ Oct 10th 2007 4:00PM]

And oh yeah, this looks like a sperm.

[Johnny @ Oct 10th 2007 4:06PM]

LMFAO... it does. All you need is a garage that resembles a vagina (or an egg, actually).

[DarkAardvark @ Oct 10th 2007 7:50PM]

pshh my whole house looks like a vagina....
oh wait, whats a vagina?

[Twitchy @ Oct 10th 2007 4:05PM]

How is it that they can produce it for so cheap? Considering the Chevy Volt is supposed to retail around $30k when it comes out in 2-3 years time, I have my doubts about the validity of the price, or the quality of the kit you're getting for that money.

Does anyone know if they are making a right-hand drive model?

[Eric @ Oct 10th 2007 5:18PM]

THE Chevy VOlt is built by overpaid UAW employees working for a bloated company that has to pay overpaid CEOs and upper management. That's how.

Their website is absolutely awful. No quick way to get useful info, like, how will repairs be handled, where are they legal (US? UK?)

The whole flash-based thing sux. Maybe they saved money in website concept design.

[McGinley @ Oct 10th 2007 4:09PM]

Its actually just a prop for the new Jetsons film being filmed by Michael Bay as we speak.

[blade417 @ Oct 10th 2007 4:10PM]

I promise I will laugh at anyone I see driving one of these things. Who's in charge of the frickin design? Someone go smack them.

I love the idea though. Just don't make it look so pansy-ish. I'll wait for the manly model.

[ilh @ Oct 10th 2007 6:22PM]

You're so manly with your manly name you manly man you.

[Brian @ Oct 10th 2007 4:13PM]

So where would I take this thing in for repairs? My local Aptera dealer?

[dmdallas @ Oct 10th 2007 4:23PM]

yes.

[Anthony @ Oct 10th 2007 4:24PM]

Their website certainly shows a desire for dealerships. However, my concern is that it's not classified as a car so it doesn't have to meet many safety requirements.

[GameboyRMH @ Oct 14th 2007 11:27PM]

@Anthony

Not classified as a car? You mean like every SUV on the road today?

[andrew @ Oct 10th 2007 4:27PM]

it seems like theres no where that you mount your license plate at....?

[dhughes @ Mar 28th 2008 12:07PM]

It will be a projected hologram floating at the back of the vehicle.

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 10th 2007 4:30PM]

Hey look Steve Urkel got a new car.

[Magallanes @ Oct 10th 2007 4:33PM]

Sperm with tires?.

[William @ Oct 10th 2007 4:43PM]

Personally I think it looks awesome, much better than the ugly lode of propaganda that is the chevy volt. It probobly has great handling too due to the out rigger style front wheels.

[Paddy @ Oct 10th 2007 4:43PM]

So $500 deposit, if a 1000 people are stupid enough to pre-order one, that's half a million without even ever making anything.

[jeff @ Oct 10th 2007 5:21PM]

"Would you invest in this company?"

This is a risk free investment. Fully refundable, held in escrow. Pretty
standard for high-risk pre-orders.

[osu-no.1 @ Oct 10th 2007 4:43PM]

To those calling it ugly, if you knew something about aerodynamic design you would understand that it is a beautiful shape.

[FK @ Oct 10th 2007 4:43PM]

I was getting all excited until I realized that this car doesn't fly.

[Justin @ Oct 11th 2007 8:16AM]

Thank you for talking some sense.

[fenterbug @ Mar 28th 2008 12:28PM]

You'll never see a flying car. The most important feature that tires provide is traction. Traction allows you to stop quickly or turn quickly. Imagine you're in your flying car and someone swerves right in front of you. Whatcha gonna do? Slam on your... um... OH NO!

[Denver_80203 @ Oct 10th 2007 4:47PM]

Where the hell do you put the license plate?

[Derrick @ Oct 10th 2007 4:57PM]

Where can I buy a gallon of electricity?

[Charles S @ Oct 11th 2007 11:44AM]

Just in case that this is a serious question:

A gallon of gasoline could be translated into a certain amount of electricity by measuring the energy content in kilowatt/hour. I believe one source stated that one gallon of gas as being 33.7 kwh.

[Nex @ Oct 10th 2007 5:01PM]

i kept looking at the picture and wondering when the grinch or the who's are going to pop out

[Eric @ Oct 10th 2007 5:06PM]

HOW exactly does one measure RANGE in miles per gallon? "200 MPG range"? What?

[Anthony Huff @ Oct 10th 2007 5:11PM]

If this car were in transformers...it would so get whooped.

[Jlivengo @ Oct 10th 2007 5:11PM]

I was getting all excited until I realized they would actually release it. I prefer concept cars staying a concept. We'll only be dissapointed otherwise.

[RWD fan @ Oct 10th 2007 5:31PM]

All BS aside, I'd drive this thing. You have to admit it looks better than a Corbin Sparrow, or Merlin for that matter. It actually seats 2. If it'll actually do better than 200mpg, let alone the 300mpg they claim, then the thing might be able to pay for itself after a few years of ownership. OK, maybe not, but it'd have to be way cheaper to operate than the regular commuter vehicle, which is sadly too often a pickup or SUV these days, with only a single occupant.

I can't believe I'm on the "green" side with this... I'll take my motorcycle on good days, and this thing would be fine when I need to be out of the elements.

[S @ Oct 10th 2007 5:37PM]

"Where the hell do you put the license plate?"
you put it on the back of the vehicle in the license plate holder just like all the other m-cycles. ever see a motorcycle with a front license plate? no.

S

[Chirag Patnaik @ Mar 28th 2008 3:34PM]

Dunno about the US, in India atleast, Motorcycles have front license plates...

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 10th 2007 6:00PM]

"How is it that they can produce it for so cheap? Considering the Chevy Volt is supposed to retail around $30k when it comes out in 2-3 years time, I have my doubts about the validity of the price, or the quality of the kit you're getting for that money."

This is a 3-wheeler which is considered a motorcycle and does not need to conform to automotive crash or safety standards. The Volt is a full-fledged car. You're comparing apples and oranges.

I think it looks really funky, I'd rather drive a VentureOne: http://flytheroad.com/ The VentureOne is based on the leaning trike from Carver (which is already on sale in Europe with conventional powertrains). They're planning on both an PEV and PHEV option for the model sold here (like the Aptera,) but I think Aptera is closer to having a working production vehicle.

[b2 @ Oct 10th 2007 7:29PM]

TIMMAH! is right on the money. I'll only add: it's a pretty expensive bike and don't forget your helmet in mandatory helmet law states.

The VentureOne looks like serious fun at least until a teenager in her 6000lb hand-me-down Ford Expedition runs you over thinking "Was that another dog? That's the third one this month!" =)

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 10th 2007 8:49PM]

Yes it is a pretty expensive bike, but at $18K with my current gas burnrate, it would pay off for itself within 10 years (assuming gas prices stay at under $3.50 a gallon.)

[TRUTH @ Oct 10th 2007 6:02PM]

SWEEEEEEEEEET!!! I like it!!!