By Ross Ballot
Electric concept cars might be a dime-a-dozen as of late, but some still shine. On the off-road side, RIVIAN has come into the spotlight as of late. Their capable-yet-refined pickup and SUV are striking a chord with the family and overlanding communities alike. There’s even a new Hummer on the horizon. But what of sporty electric cars? The kind enthusiasts care about? Sure, there’s a Tesla Roadster supposedly coming. Sometime. Eventually. And now there’s another for us to look forward to.
Alpha Motor Corporation is an electric vehicle startup based in Irvine, California. They made their name with the recent release of the Icon. The quirky EUV boasts a modular platform which allows it to transform from an SUV to a van or truck based on the owner’s needs. Alpha is adamant about bringing this forward-thinking technology to the streets. To broaden their profile, the company has released a new, sporty offering.
Ace is the name of the game, and it’s an electric vehicle geared towards personal mobility and transportation rather than group and work purposes. Built on the Icon’s platform, this little coupe has retro-futuristic looks reminiscent of a resto-mod. Alpha claims a range of 250+ miles, 0-60 MPH in ~6 seconds, and a curb weight of around 3,600 lbs. Crucially, though, this is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The power, proportions, and 2+2 configuration could make this a very interesting alternative (albeit more expensive) competitor to cars like the Subaru BRZ. And it even looks like it came straight out of a Pixar movie. Or like a VW Bug and a Datsun 510 combined. Either way, it’s good.
Of course, timing is very much TBD. Alpha claims that more information will be released in the near future. I personally truly hope to see their vehicles, especially the Ace, on the streets sooner rather than later. Just look at how meaty those tires are!
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Kamil Kaluski
Wow, I love the comic looks! Big, floaty tires, open greenhouse, slightly retro proportions and impression. This hits a lot of the classic checkpoints on the commentariat-enthusiast-list.
It’s got some mighty big shoes to fill if it wants to live up to its name.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b9818392bda9c977039dc335c399ece5505daddce77050094b079ce0efb55e23.jpg
Like the original, it’ll probably be way better once someone puts a V8 in it.
Hardcore EV community:
https://media2.giphy.com/media/L17xM7PvLcqJggsCYa/giphy.gif
I think this guy is probably higher on their naughty list.
https://i.redd.it/v1kilumwan761.jpg
I absolutely love and admire stupid conversions in this spirit. Imagine having this in your driveway, next to a, say, mid-70s Chrysler New Yorker EV conversion or something like that.
I think he’s mainly doing it to troll the Tesla fanboys who keep giving him flack for trying to DIY fix teslas and pointing out how Tesla really don’t respect your “right to repair”
That is even more honourable. I have only lately, for the first time in my life, really, had regular contact with OEM shops. It’s horrible. They take absolutely bizarre prices and have none of the expected competence to match that. I keep coming back with my half-fixed cars, or just say NO to repairs priced at a random multiple of what would be reasonable. And that is 3 different shops.
That is even more honourable. I have only lately, for the first time in my life, really, had regular contact with OEM shops. It’s horrible. They take absolutely bizarre prices and have none of the expected competence to match that. I keep coming back with my half-fixed cars, or just say NO to repairs priced at a random multiple of what would be reasonable. And that is 3 different shops.
Not necessarily.
https://www.american-automobiles.com/images/Ace-1921.jpg
Thought yours was going to be a picture of the more recent AC Ace, early 2000s?
Wow, I love the comic looks! Big, floaty tires, open greenhouse, slightly retro proportions and impression. This hits a lot of the classic checkpoints on the commentariat-enthusiast-list.
Same! I absolutely love the classic styling. Like you say, it’s a bit exaggerated, but regardless, it’s a nice departure from the typical “Buck Rogers” concepts. I only wish it were a solid color instead of silver…
I feel I’ve seen the basic design of this car on something before, I want to say something eastern European? The high curb weight and lack of a third pedal kinda ruins it for me, but I do like the simplistic interior and the tall tire ratio.
The discussion over at Jalopnik brought up the Ford (of Europe) Escort Mk-1 and the Alfa-Romeo 2000 GT (hah! I said Alfa.)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5175617723c03cf021d30d5d77dfb25ff5f556f806c1f1c8fec1d0ad19fedce7.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe9f391c460081aa1fff909a236004397b613b34976ca47e18b29d793e78b4eb.jpg
Would rather have either
I definitely see what you’re saying with vaguely Eastern European – I settled on Dacia 1300, but there’s plenty of minor influences.
As far as the third pedal goes, your mileage may vary, but a big part of the appeal with manual transmissions for me is the instant power delivery (or as instant as the engine will allow), and the extra control provided by engine braking. Both of those are inherently strengths of EV’s where not shifting anything doesn’t feel like a weakness to me.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Dacia_1300.JPG/1200px-Dacia_1300.JPG
I was thinking Nissan IDx, and it’s a good association. The Nissan would need more cleaning up though, while the above gem probably would need to go through a de-intensifying process for its wheels and wheel arches.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Nissan_IDx_Freeflow_front-left2_2013_Tokyo_Motor_Show.jpg
Otherwise, I’d say Skoda 110R…and I just found out they have a website displaying all their cars ever, which is just beyond fantastic.
https://skoda-heritage.s3.amazonaws.com/2017/08/110-R-Muzeum-2.JPG.jpg
Reminds me a bit of a Fiat 850 Sport Coupe.
https://artebellum-v2-mini.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/1971-fiat-850-sport-coupe-1k87i7fm7-1-780×520.jpg
I was thinking Nissan IDx, and it’s a good association. The Nissan would need more cleaning up though, while the above gem probably would need to go through a de-intensifying process for its wheels and wheel arches.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Nissan_IDx_Freeflow_front-left2_2013_Tokyo_Motor_Show.jpg
Otherwise, I’d say Skoda 110R…and I just found out they have a website displaying all their cars ever, which is just beyond fantastic.
https://skoda-heritage.s3.amazonaws.com/2017/08/110-R-Muzeum-2.JPG.jpg
If you’re looking to kill time, the Skoda Museum is one of several you can do virtual walk throughs on Google Maps.
Wow, thanks! Never knew this was a thing. Here’s the one…
https://i.ibb.co/CKDVg1k/Screenshot-20201225-231607-Opera.jpg
Also the Škoda I got my diapers changed in as a kid:
https://i.ibb.co/p0rmMgF/Screenshot-20201225-231529-Opera.jpg
Reminds me of those EuroBuick Mantas..
https://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/25160011/opel3-1200×800.jpg
That is not a Manta, that is an Opel Kadett C, Opel’s version of GM’s ‘T’ Car platform and sold as a Buick Opel. 🙂
https://www.autopaper.com/images/35798/photo/img6929_159160.jpg
This is the Manta.
https://hips.hearstapps.com/autoweek/assets/s3fs-public/140319827.jpg
My friend’s older brother used to drive us to school in one, but we all just called it the Opel. It wasn’t until years later that I learned there was an actual model name in use by the rest of the globe. II guess I remembered the wrong one.
A bit of Daf 66 crossed with Hillman Imp?
http://actualinfo.website/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/6ec212c9ba06786c79fa2e0ed9423611.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2D-XYzAmSBo/V39Qk0v4mFI/AAAAAAAAfnw/SBhUEAi2Lv0NtBltBGksaZ-xXpa5OTk8gCLcB/s1600/IMG_3738.JPG
Small, quirky, maybe practical, tires with sidewall, neat and minimalist…it’ll never make production. Now I am sad.
http://media2.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2009100422444426444AKP538K_front.jpg
Looks very rally-prepped Mk1 Ford Escort from the front end. Especially with the wide arches.
Can’t really say anything about the rest of it, though.
I want to like this, but I quite get there. There’s a cute, playful character that I like, but too many details are just not quite thought through.
The flares feel like an afterthought, not well integrated. They feel too aggressive for the generally playful aesthetic and the modest performance. And even with the big flares, the wheels still are proud. The gas door is cut into the body with no relationship to the rest of the lines of the car. The body shape and greenhouse feel like separate forms simply placed on top of each other, not intended to be together. It feels like a child’s toy rather than a full blown automobile.
Also, it has a blockiness that reminds me of the Saab Sonett III only in notchback form. Another car whose styling didn’t quite come together for me. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d66e812840b3999fd7badb54bca06a5664494fc937353ca5d5eef37e9a07105c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/51432716da42fabf8f10345ab0f3f79c3bcf5517757eac0f3155549f7d50d75d.jpg
Something I find surprisingly refreshing is the exposed bumpers.
Nice Audi Video ~~