Zoomi Life

The Aptera, which has gone through several modifications and had many delays since its announcement in 2006, is now slated for 2009 production. The latest version of this three-wheeled car is the Aptera-2e. The name change isn’t the only thing this vehicle has seen in the past few years.

The new moniker is a marketing move to further build the Aptera name while designating the car a 2-seater electric (2e). The vehicle is also available in a hybrid form, which originally it was to be anyway. The hybrid version gets about 230mpg, so it’s no slouch when it comes to gas savings.

Here’s the specs to get you all worked up about the Aptera. Then I’ll tell you about its design, which might be the let-down part for most of us.

• Priced at about $30,000
• Available in either all-electric or hybrid-electric, both plug-ins
• 120 mile electric-only range, 600 mile hybrid range
• 3-seater (2 in front, one in rear)
• Third seat removable for cargo space
• Registered with Federal DOT as a motorcycle

Aptera just moved into a new facility in Vista, California, which is a full-sized production facility. That plant opened in October and is expected to go live as a production plant early in 2009 with the first models rolling off the floor in the spring.

Now for the Aptera itself. This car is a 3-wheeled, aerodynamic dream. It looks kind of like a small aircraft with wheels. Two side mirrors (recently added, replacing cameras) and a top-mounted rear-view camera (also newly added) make this a very sleek, but street-legal machine.

The tail end is goofy looking, I think, resembling an alien spacecraft mixed with a commercial jetliner. It’s functional, though, and is part of the overall aerodynamics of the car. The car itself is too small to really be useful for families, but for the commuter or a couple with a dog, it’s a viable choice.

The gull-wing styled doors are a big plus and open all the way out, so getting in and out of this tiny machine seems like it’d be much easier than, say, my wife’s Honda Civic. I will one day sue Honda for knee replacement surgery, I swear.

I think the addition of the side-views and removal of the cameras will make this a much more ergonomic car for drivers, who’re used to this setup. While the cameras were innovative and helped streamline the car, they would probably have been awkward to get used to.

The only thing missing from this car is crash-test results. I’d like to know how well it performs in a wreck. Especially when Mrs. Soccer Mom slams into it with her 15mpg SUV with fifty kids riding in the back. Am I dead? The car does have a composite body structure and roll cage, so I suspect it’s safer than you’d think. Especially with its being basically circular in design, which will spread the impact.

Other small features include the solar-assisted climate control system (cells on the roof), plug-in ability for your iPod or SmartPhone, cup holders, and the other amenities you expect in today’s car. Other bonuses include several uses of recycled materials in the car’s construction, the classification as a motorcycle allowing you to drive in the HOV lane in most areas, and the passenger’s front seat folds down so you can fit large objects in the car for solo rides.

No data in top speeds is officially available, but top speed is going to be freeway-high, according to a test drive report from Popular Mechanics. Other details are also not available, though the car is in pre-order right now and will be available to Californians first. No word on when it will move to the rest of the country.

So there’s good and bad news on this one. The car is unique and very cool, in my opinion, but I don’t think I’d pony up for one. The price is good, but I need more than 3 seats and more cold weather data. My wife could use it as a commuter, I guess. Wonder how it handles in the snow…

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Here’s a great Aptera guided tour video from the manufacturer: