Production Aptera 2e rendering leaked online?
Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge
As Aptera continues to push forward with the development of its futuristic-looking and innovative 2e electric three-wheeler, it almost seems inevitable that details of the vehicle's official specifications will leak out... this is the internet age after all. True to form, today we get what appears to be a sneak peek at the wingless airplane's final production shape.
At first glance, not much appears all that different from previous iterations of the 2e, but a closer look offers a few important changes. For instance, the vehicle now has fully operational windows for both the driver and passenger that will roll all the way up and down. We also note larger rear side glass and new front wheel spats and rear wheel housings that offer more clearance and flow better with the rest of the body shape.
If this rendering has you interest piqued, you may also be interested in the rumor that Best Buy is planning to carry the three-wheeled electric vehicle once it's ready for sale, which is currently scheduled to take place before the end of 2009. Stay tuned.
[Source: Aptera Forum]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
meme 2:00PM (9/25/2009)
The narrower wheel pods should allow for it to have a somewhat narrower front track while retaining a tight turning radius. Also, you'll notice the skirt height plus the protective material on the base of the skirts should help protect them from rocks and potholes. The ground clearance appears to be excellent, a lot higher than some of the recent prototypes. The rear end now appears to better protect its tail lights in the event of an accident. And the camera fin is gone -- we don't know whether the cameras got moved to the back center, behind the glass, or what.
The unusually dark lines appear, to me, to be rendering artifacts.
All in all, very close to the concept -- something that rarely seems to happen in the automotive world these days when an innovative concept is released. I can't wait for mine! :)
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Nick From Montreal 2:25PM (9/25/2009)
Anybody knows if Aptera has any plan about testing this in cold climates? We know that the Tesla Roadster can run on frozen ice and snow. What about the Aptera? It kind of looks like those early Bombardier snowmobiles of the 50's, so maybe with a couple of skis...
(yeah, I'm serious...)
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meme 2:42PM (9/25/2009)
I don't know about testing, but with a low CG, wide track, low mass, short braking distance, and phosphate chemistry, it should do do excellent. Probably better than Tesla. The only real downside I see is that the rear tire will track down the center of the lane. Of course, that rear tire doesn't steer or provide propulsion -- it just props up the rear end.
Also, you may want tires more optimized for snowy conditions.
Snowdog 3:06PM (9/25/2009)
Meme. I know you unconditionally love all EVs, but none of that makes sense.
Low mass in the snow is a recipe for instability. A third wheel in the center of rutted roads will lead to even more instability.
I would expect this to be positively dangerous on snowy roads.
meme 3:24PM (9/25/2009)
"Meme. I know you unconditionally love all EVs"
Not true in the least. Random example: don't get me started on Zap!.
"Low mass in the snow is a recipe for instability."
Then why, every winter, do I see so many SUVs in the ditch? And jackknifed semis? Heavy vehicles tend to have longer braking distances (not linearly so, but longer nonetheless). And if you go into a ditch at speed, rollover is a distinct possibility, and small cars deal much better with rollover (and the Aptera should even more -- not simply resisting rolling over in the first place, but with a roof crush strength of over 4x the FMVSS standards, withstanding it as well).
I live in Iowa, and I would never prefer to be in a heavy vehicle in icy conditions to being in a light vehicle. And yes, I've driven both. I think you're confusing the preference for four-wheel drive in ice and snow (which is a good thing, although other factors matter more) with being a preference for extra weight.
You talk about snow compaction. First off, snow is generally only a problem just after it's snowed. Once the plows hit it or people drive over it, it's ice, and that's the long-term problem. Two, the more you compact snow, the more it turns into ice. Ice has a longer braking distance than snow. I *much* prefer to drive in thick snow than to drive on ice. The snow almost gives you a rudder effect, and automatically adds some braking. The worst, IMHO, is frozen slush. Then you get these ridges and holes of solid ice; it's a nightmare to drive on.
Your views may vary.
John Lee 5:10PM (9/25/2009)
skis, plural? The front wheels are the drive wheels. You would need to take the fairings off, replace the front wheels with track mechanisms. The ski would be on the rear wheel. And my skis would even fit nicely in the trunk. Wonder how steep it could climb....
Greg Perkins 5:31PM (9/25/2009)
Ha, that would be cool, skis and a half-track.
I'm still curious about whether the EV researchers are looking at insulating the batteries for Northern climates?
Snowdog 7:54PM (9/25/2009)
I have been driving in Canada for over 25 years in a wide array of vehicles.
I will take a heavy vehicle in the snow any day. Light vehicles start flotation at much lower speeds in snow, making them much more dangerous.
An ultralight like the Aptera that doesn't fit the grooves would be a death trap in snowy conditions.
In ice it is probably a wash, but in hard pack with grooves it is again a problem.
Anyone who thinks a light weight 3 wheeler will be a good winter vehicle in places that get real winter, is deluding themselves.
Michael Rose 6:42AM (9/26/2009)
No chance of skis on the production car as it is now front wheel drive.
Maybe they can retain the earlier prototype's rear wheel drive as well and make a 3x3 version. :)
jesse 12:10PM (9/26/2009)
When I emailed them a while back. They were in contact with Transport Canada, this was back in early 2009 I think.
I wouldn't mind getting this for driving around in the suburbs in the summer/autumn and spring months. As for winter I will stick to something a tad more chunkier.
RJN 10:06AM (9/29/2009)
Light versus heavy in the snow is a completely pointless debate.
A vehicle's driveability in snowy conditions is a combination of centre of gravity, track, wheel base and weight distribution and the balance of all these factors. There are fantastic and and terrible winter cars in both size 0 and lard ass categories and just mass alone won't tell you anything.
The only thing that mass improves is crossing the compacted middle snowbank when passing other cars, provided the mass is on the driven wheels for FWD or alternatively 4WD.
Mark Kiernan 2:38PM (9/25/2009)
Nice but I don't like the door mirrors or the door handle(less).
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meme 2:42PM (9/25/2009)
Mirrors are a legal requirement in most places. :P
Mark Kiernan 2:46PM (9/25/2009)
I know but the rear view camera was much cooler even if it cost a lot extra
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meme 2:54PM (9/25/2009)
They'll still have the camera option (unless they've changed their minds recently; I don't know why they would). It's just that you have to have mirrors.
mehulkamdar 3:25PM (9/25/2009)
This is a very beautiful car. I know some are upset by the delay between the planned delivery dates and when the car will actually be delivered, but if Aptera start delivering the 2e soon, all will be forgiven. This should sell well.
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wshgne 12:32AM (9/28/2009)
I love this! very different from others since these lines seem to move with the design.
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fnc 4:21PM (9/25/2009)
I wonder if this had had any effect on the drag numbers. I admit I don't like seeing it growing into a more car shaped car. I liked the uncompromising shape of the originals. But, if you're going to sell cars you've got to clear a certain bar I guess. It's still unique enough to be a radical statement, by any standard.
I hate that it has to have mirrors too, they're terribly out of place looking on there. The rear camera view spanning the entire dash was the one of coolest (and probably useful) tech features I've ever seen in a car, hopefully it will still be an option.
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Brandon - GravityDesignStudios.com 4:43PM (9/25/2009)
While it's incredibly cool and an excellent design, I sure wouldn't want to get in an accident in one of these things!
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meme 5:28PM (9/25/2009)
You have something against composite vehicles with 2x the door crush and 4.5x the roof crush standards required for cars by the federal government?
Ever seen a composite race car after an high speed accident, and how the driver walks away?
Would you trust hitting *your* car's safety cell as hard as you can with a sledgehammer?
Think your car has anywhere near as low of a CG?
I don't know why people automatically assume "different" = "dangerous". It's probably one of the safest things on the road.