The New DeLorean is Stunning, But is it Still a DeLorean?

We’ve been promised a new DeLorean for several years, and this week we finally got to see it. DeLorean Motor Company, the Humble, Texas-based company which acquired the DeLorean trademarks and vast stocks of parts left over from the original factory and dealers, has revealed the first pictures and details of its modern interpretation.

It’s called Alpha 5 and it impresses on many levels, no doubt about that. But does this car actually deserve to be associated with the classic DeLorean? It depends on what your expectations were.

Despite its poor reliability and lackluster performance, the original from the early 1980s became an icon with a cult-like following thanks in large part to the Back to the Future movies. Since it stopped to exist for nearly four decades, we have no way of knowing how the DeLorean would have evolved over time.

There’s a possibility it would have turned into something similar to the concept you see on the pictures, but it just feels like an entire universe separates the two.

Penned by renowned Italian studio Italdesign, the exterior emphasizes smooth lines and aerodynamic surfaces, as evidenced by a drag coefficient of 0.23. The proportions are those of a grand touring coupe.

Some of the most notable details include the ultra-slim headlights sitting above a fake, low-mounted grille, the oversized wheels in an eye-catching design, the horizontally stretched taillight bars, as well as the black finish for the rear fascia and roof. The rear window louvres, of course, are a nod to the original DeLorean.

The biggest similarity, though, is the pair of gullwing doors. Their large opening seems to provide fairly easy access to the front and rear seats. Oh yeah, by the way, this new DeLorean can accommodate you and three of your friends, not just one.

The futuristic cockpit features a wide digital instrument panel on the other side of the steering wheel, while a second display serves as an extension of the centre console and is used for vehicle settings and entertainment. There doesn’t seem to be any physical buttons anywhere.

Last but certainly not the least, a fully electric powertrain motivates the DeLorean Alpha 5 and promises much better acceleration than the old Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6 engine. Sprints from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) are estimated in 2.99 seconds—and for the record, you can get to 88 mph in 4.35 seconds. Range is targeted at over 480 kilometres thanks to a large high-voltage battery with a capacity of 100+ kWh. The official specs will be determined and announced at a later date.

We can only imagine what Marty McFly and Doc Brown would say if they saw this new DeLorean. “Great Scott!” A formal debut in front of a crowd is scheduled on August 18 at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.