Antique & Classic Cars Blog

Finally, a car** for this millennium that appeals to sci-fi, comic-book, art-deco sensibilities. In other words, a vehicle designed for economy that looks cool (in a cute-as-a-bug sort of way). This little sprite could easily have come from the props room for The Incredibles—a 3-D mockup for a security vehicle on Buddy’s island.

Or it could be kin to vehicles a team of stunt daredevils drove in an episode of Speed Racer. Could easily be tootling around in any illustrated sci-fi story, too, or maybe zooming underwater in an anime show.

While mainly designed for extremely stingy aerodynamic drag, the Aptera has a playful look. If left in 1/24th scale on someone’s desk, most guys I know would pick it up and either study it (more dignified) or drive it over some reports, ink blotter, and a laptop keyboard like a Hot Wheels (what I’d do).

It’s all electric and with its encased aeroplane-style wheels, it probably won’t make the short-list for MinnDOT plow drivers shopping for a good commuter. But you know a few people will have them for around the lakes in the summer. (About 4,000 people have put deposits on them.) And it’d make a great pick-up vehicle for guys who like the Judy Jetson type.

Will it make large scale production? (AutoblogGreen says they’ve delayed release from last October to next October.) Will it get market traction? Could a used one drop into the sub-$10,000 used-car price range I shop in? No clue. It’s way cool though, a modern microcar. If you get one, and I see you with it, I am shamelessly going to ask for a ride.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 9:40 pm and is filed under Car stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.