New Aptera website dishes fresh pics, more info
Along with adding more staff, Aptera has been busying redesigning its website in preparation for what is sure to be a busy 2009. The makeover isn't quite finished but there's enough to give a more complete picture of the Aptera 2 series. Originally placed in the neighborhood of $27,000, the price is now stated to range from the mid-$20's to the mid-$40's depending on whether you choose a hybrid or electric (or gasoline?) and which options you want. Safety features such as dual airbags, side impact beams and front impact zone get some emphasis and cabin features are also more defined.
The new renderings released on the site also raise some questions. For instance, the rods going to the front wheels look suspiciously like axles and speculation is rife that the vehicle is now front-wheel, or maybe even all-wheel drive. We'll know for sure by the end of this year when they release the first one into the California wilds. Some things mentioned that we look forward to in 2009 include the ability to tour the factory and take a test drive. We also suspect they will be making an announcement concerning their upcoming 4-wheeled model, code-named Palomar, by spring. Thanks to everyone for the tip!
Gallery: Aptera 2e
[Source: Aptera]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 3:19PM (12/03/2008)
Most of the braking force is handled by the front end. Front wheeled vehicles are much more stable in snow and slippery conditions. The motorcycle rear drive was easier for them to throw in the early prototypes, but front wheel drive makes more sense for a lot of reasons.
Maybe they are making it into a through-the-road hybrid with the rear end powered by a 500-800cc motorcycle engine and the front end powered via electric.
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Sean 3:37PM (12/03/2008)
I agree, it looks like electric front wheel drive and gas rear wheel drive for hybrid operation.
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Alexander López 5:31PM (12/03/2008)
Another reason to opt for front-wheel drive on an electric vehicle is the regenerative braking capability. Since most braking force is exerted on the front wheels, putting the motor with regen braking in there makes more sense.
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Bill 3:50PM (12/03/2008)
Did they ever do the live crash tests?
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Yanquetino 4:02PM (12/03/2008)
These are interesting speculations, but we might (?) be jumping to conclusions about changes to the drivetrain. For example, in the fourth photo from the left on the new "Look" page...
http://www.aptera.com/look.php
...those center arms sure do look like front axles, with rubber boots on the outside ends that connect to the wheels.
However, in the third photo from the left, looking forward from the rear of the vehicle, those rubber "boots" do NOT appear to go all the way around the arm.
Hmmm. If such is the case, it is doubtful that the arms are spinning "axles." Perhaps the rubber is simply intended to protect the front and top of the arms from dirt and debris...?
We'll see when the first 2e is delivered.
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Natural Selection 4:20PM (12/03/2008)
I think "the rods" you all are talking about are there to steer the vehicle.
Yanquetino 5:59PM (12/03/2008)
Yeah, that's my guess too, Natural Selection. Since the "boot" doesn't surround the rod, its "accordian" shape must be to allow the rubber to compress and expand as the wheels turn one way or the other, while still protecting the coupling.
gulags 6:02PM (12/03/2008)
Sign me up for a g, if they see the light of day. I'll take the MPG hit if it means shaving a significant amount from the sticker price.
Also, they're only building Monday-Friday? I think it'd make more sense from them to hire a few extra people and, at the very least, make it a 7-day-a-week operation, if not also adding a second daily shift once production gets ironed out. People aren't going to sit around for a year or two waiting for their car to get built.
(Then again, at least they're building vehicles, which is something that can't be said for the competition. I'd buy a Venture One in a heartbeat if it ever became more than a 3D render and a few bars welded together.)
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H4MM3R 12:54AM (12/05/2008)
WTF?!? No longer available outside the Stat of California!!!
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Domenick Yoney 6:12AM (12/05/2008)
The Aptera has never been offered to those outside of California though they do have plans to offer vehicles nationally as soon as they think it feasible.
Wes 2:58PM (12/08/2008)
According to this post, the 2e IS front-wheel drive:
http://tech.spotcoolstuff.com/automobile/electric-car/aptera-2e
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Domenick Yoney 4:05PM (12/08/2008)
Since no one at Aptera has stated it has been changed from it's original rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive it's safe to assume that comments, no matter how confident sounding, are entirely speculative. Such a drastic change to the design would have so markedly slowed down the process, an acknowledgment of the change would have surely been made.
Hopefully all will be revealed in a few short weeks.