As cool as the DMC-12 is, it’s been 40 years since the DeLorean first burst onto the scene, and it’s about time we got a refresh. And this time instead of being just a prop in a movie, DeLorean is actually back and embracing the future with a new EV coupe called the Alpha5.
Much like the original DeLorean, the all-new Alpha5 is also penned by Italdesign, and takes on the shape of a stylish coupe. There’s still the massive gull-wing doors on each side, alongside the rear glass louvres and multi-spoke wheels to serve as nods to the original car. But aside from those touches, however, the rest of the design is thoroughly modern.
Instead of the boxy silhouette, the all-new DeLorean Alpha5 features a much more curvacious body, highlighted by a single wraparound character line that joins the slim headlights to the taillights at the back.
Gone is also the trademark brushed aluminium look of the original movie car; you now get proper glossy paint finishes, with a two-tone blacked-out roof to separate the glasshouse (with actual windows, by the way) from the rest of the bodywork.
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Unfortunately, you won’t find a flux capacitor at the rear compartment of the Alpha5. Instead, it’s fitted with two individual rear seats, making the reborn DeLorean a four-seater – and accessing the rear seats should also be a breeze, as the gull-wing doors open to a large cavity thanks to the absence of a B-pillar.
Up front, the DeLorean Alpha5 follows the trend of favouring on-screen controls instead of physical buttons, with most of the vehicle functions adjusted through a floating touchscreen on the centre console. The centre screen is paired to a large widescreen instrument cluster behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel, and that’s pretty much all you see on the dashboard aside from the wide full-width air vents.
Not much has been revealed in terms of powertrain yet, as the car is currently still in concept form, and will only be shown off in metal for the first time at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August this year.
However, DeLorean does say that the “Base Performance Model” of the Alpha5 can hit 96 km/h (60 mph) from a standstill in under three seconds, onward to a top speed of 249 km/h (155 mph). 0-88 mph (142 km/h) takes around 4.35 seconds, if you’re thinking of time travelling.
The car will also come with a battery pack larger than 100 kWh, which should be enough to provide a driving range of over 483 km (300 miles) based on the EPA test cycle. That is in part thanks to the DeLorean Alpha5’s relatively low drag coefficient of around 0.23 Cd.
The Alpha5 will be produced in Italy, with production slated to begin in 2024, while its powertrain sourced from a supplier from the UK. The DeLorean Alpha5 will be sold initially with a limited run of just 88 Launch Edition cars – we don’t need to explain the reference.
Following the Alpha5, the DeLorean Motor Company is also planning to extend its line-up to include a V8-powered coupe, electric sedan, as well as a hydrogen-powered SUV.
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