Aptera – 330 mpg
Their website may be wacky, somewhat vague and slow-loading, but I’m still impressed by this cool little car. It’s what they’re calling a 2 plus 1, what – I imagine – would be called a 2 1/2 bedroom in real estate. A full driver and front passenger seat with enough room for an infant car seat in the back.
Two models are available: the electric model will go a distance of 120 miles per charge, the hybrid plug-in will get roughly 330 miles per gallon. The site claims you can cart around “15 bags of groceries, or 2 full size golf club bags” even a couple surf boards.
Based on plane and race car models, the Aptera has a very futuristic look to it, and is reportedly very lightweight. This is the part that bothers me. Remember now, my first car was a Geo Metro – 3 cylinder engine, body made of recycled cans. My friends used to pick it up and move it around during school so I was never quite sure where I parked. Windy, rainy days and passing semis were problems in that car. What’s going to happen in the Aptera? Will it be able to handle real-life driving conditions?
It’s safe to say that if there’s a problem, the occupants will be okay. They’ve packed the Aptera with outstanding safety features. At $26,000 (electric) and $29,000 (hybrid) who wants to risk the damage?
This is something I’m going to try to find out more about, because really, I think this looks like a good option for families with one child, or as a car for commuters.
And if you go to the website, head right to the reservation page to get all the details. (Although I have to say, the pics on that third page are pretty crazy .. and the fourth page is just too cute for words. If you can stand the loading time, I’d take the website tour.
My first car was the venerable little ‘84 Fiero, the engineers held their breaths as the first semi passed the prototype – fearing the plastic/fiberglass body panels would come flying off! Of course they did not.
Aptera won’t be blown off the road either, although it weighs only 850 pounds, it is also shaped like a smooth wingless airplane and high winds will just flow around it. How many VW Beetles were ‘too round’?
Is it safe? Perfectly safe? There is no such thing, but Aptera has a 40 inch crumple zone, a safety cell for occupant protection, air bags, etc., and I feel that when a lighter car hits a heavier car it tends to bounce off rather than plow into it. And the fact that it looks like a spaceship means it will be noticed by every car on the road.
Personally I love the unique features, like the 180 degree rear view camera to eliminate blind spots and the roof mounted solar panels that keep the ventilation system running constantly when you leave the car in the sun. Why hasen’t Detroit thought of that?
Aptera is the car of the future, lets hope they don’t sell out to big business and are forced to shelve the project. GM won’t be able to crush these cars like they did the Impact.
Thanks for stopping by, Chris. I appreciate your input, because honestly, I’m a geek but I’m just not that technical most days. (So what’s my excuse? Still working on it. :p )