It’s been a year now since the announcement that the DeLorean is officially coming back with some help from Italdesign. More news has emerged about this iconic revival. The company released a teaser video revealing that an electric vehicle (EV) will be the forthcoming DeLorean. It’s the latest in an electric revival trend, including GMC Hummer and Renault 5. What do we know so far? Let’s take a look!
What we know about the new DeLorean EV
DMC DeLorean logo | Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
The short video doesn’t offer a lot of information about the upcoming EV. The front silhouette, signature gullwing doors, and boxy panels were all revealed, according to CarBuzz. The was also a caption provided, reading “The future was never promised. Reimagine today,” along with a link where you can subscribe to a newsletter presumably for more details when they are available.
In preparation for the new DeLorean’s debut, the company has filed a set of trademark logos with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In addition to the main project, the patent filings include its use for merchandise like bags, caps, hoodies, and much more. Some of the merch items are already up for sale on the new DeLorean site, with T-shirts priced at $49 and fleece hoodies available for $125.
The logo designs were also filed for use on vehicles and at future dealerships in development. The fonts used in these filings might appear on the official badging for the forthcoming car. The v-shaped logo is minimalist and calls to mind the car’s famous gullwing doors. It might be unusual to see the logo used on official model badging, but it is perhaps a styling cue used on the finalized product.
The makers behind this new electric DeLorean are not the same DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) launched in 1975 by John DeLorean, as that original company went out of business in 1982. Today’s operations are run by a Texas-based firm that’s acquired the rights to all relevant trademarks for the iconic car model. The group acts as a service and support center for DMC-12 units that are still on the road today but is now looking to produce new DeLoreans, with plans to make 50 to 100 cars each year that would match the specifications of the 1981-1983 generation model.
The history of DMC
Some of us are old enough to remember the original DMC DeLorean called the DMC-12. The DeLorean was a coupe sports car produced and sold by DMC. Many in the 1980s knew it from the popular Back to Future film franchise, where it served as Dr. Brown’s time machine. It had a stainless steel body, gullwing doors, and a short, chaotic history.
While it was the automaker’s first and flagship vehicle, it would end up being the only model DMC produced. The prototype was first seen in 1976, and its projected price on release was $12,000 (where DMC-12 came from). When that first 1981 DMC DeLorean was finally released, it cost around $25,000, more than double that projection.
While the DeLorean generated a lot of hype, a recession at the time diminished its appeal. Its price went up each model year, and it didn’t get the best reviews on its performance, reliability, and safety. As a result, the company went bankrupt, and production halted in 1982, according to TIME.
DeLorean appearances in film and television
As a time machine in the Back to the Future trilogy of films, the DMC DeLorean is an icon of automotive history. The unconventional doors were made famous in the movies as Marty navigated time in Dr. Brown’s innovative machine. Thanks to the Flux Capacitor, the car could navigate time once it reached 88 mph.
Six DeLoreans were used for the film, and only three of those still exist. One was destroyed at the end of the third film, and two others were abandoned. One was a fiberglass replica used for the second film, and it was ultimately scrapped. Universal Studios owns two of the remaining cars for occasional display or use in other productions. The third car was used in the third film, and it was restored. It later sold at auction in December 2011 for an impressive $541,200, according to Hemmings.
Keyword: DeLorean Is Reportedly Making a Comeback With a New EV