Reinvented DeLorean Motor Company Teases All-Electric Alpha5

If the future is electric, then the Back To The Future car has arrived—at least as an electric concept.

The famous DeLorean DMC-12 gull-wing, stainless steel car is back from the reincarnated DeLorean Motor Company. On Tuesday it revealed its Alpha5 concept car as an all-electric DeLorean with strong Porsche vibes.

DMC, which is no longer the failed auto company started by John DeLorean in 1975, but a rebooted classic car parts brand, first teased a product revival in April. This week, the first images and basic details of the pre-production car were released about the Alpha5, including its name. 

The same firm which designed the original DMC-12 in the 1970s, Italdesign, is behind the new electrified version’s styling. Now owned by Volkswagen AG, the Alpha5 bears an unmistakable resemblance to Italdesign’s 2019 DaVinci concept car and the hallmarks of other redesign Italdesign ideas, as well as some trademark DeLorean ones.

Reworking The Past

Made famous after DMC’s demise in 1982, the DMC-12 was featured in the 1985 film Back To The Future as a time machine. Only 9,000 DeLoreans were ever made and have since become collectors’ items worth far more than its initial price of $12,000. (That’s about $38,000 in 2022.)

The newest vehicle with the DeLorean name maintains the low-lying frame, sloped back windshield with slats and the quintessential wing-opening doors, but the car is not self-consciously retro or a retread of the original. The classic steel exterior remains, but new “DeLorean” branding is plastered around the car in place of “DMC” badging. A glass panoramic roof is a modern touch.

Reinvisioned as an EV, the concept lists a 300-mile range on a 100 kWh battery. The pre-production car claims it can go from zero to 60 mph in 2.99 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. As a nod to the film that made the car iconic, the Alpha5 lists the time to reach 88 mph (4.35 seconds). The famous speed at which Doc Emmet Brown’s flux capacitor-equipped DeLorean induced Marty McFly’s journey through time.

Inside, the car now seats four instead of only two. The tech has caught up with the times with two digital screens behind the steering wheel and on a center console for infotainment.

Based on sketches released of the Alpha5, the EV is considerably longer and wider than the original DeLorean. 

Launch Edition And Pricing

A red launch edition was also teased with only exterior photos. It wasn’t immediately clear what features would be unique for the first edition. 

The official website kept silent on any future pricing details for the “base performance model” and launch version. 

The car’s official premiere is set for Aug. 18 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event in California. Before the car’s first appearance, the Texas-based company’s CEO Joost de Vries is scheduled to speak at the Electrify Expo in Long Beach, California next month.

Until then, it’s just a concept of an electric DeLorean future. An online waitlist promises to give more reservation information later this summer.

UPDATE: Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022

The reinvented DeLorean Motor Company showed a pre-production version of the Alpha5 concept for the first time at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey Thursday.

At an event along the Pacific Ocean, the gullwinged coupe inspired by the original DMC-12 made its global debut. Designers from Italdesign and CEO Joost de Vries were in attendance, but little was mentioned about pricing, battery capability and production plans.

A coral-red launch edition was on display for the electric redesign of the Back to the Future-famous vehicle. Advance reservations are technically available through an annual subscription program on the DeLorean website.

A Hot Wheels replica of the Alpha5 (and the original DMC-12) is also available for pre-orders as of Thursday for $40.