The Wingless Bird

[~krakatoa~ 27]

Aptera: The 'Wingless Bird'

A California startup says its airplane-inspired vehicle can deliver 300 mpg for under $30,000.

By Jacob Gordon of TreeHugger.com View pictures Slated for initial production in late 2008, the Aptera will come in all-electric and plug-in hybrid models. Its name means "wingless" in Greek, and the Aptera's body materials and aerodynamics are borrowed from light aircraft.

When Steve Fambro got bored building robots at a San Diego genetics company, he figured he could help keep his brain busy by building a kit airplane in his spare time. But his wife deemed the hobby too dangerous, so Fambro decided to build a car instead, one with low emissions and absurdly high mileage. Called the Aptera (Greek for "wingless"), the machine now exists as a working prototype. It has 2.5 seats, three wheels, weighs a feathery 1,500 pounds, and Fambro says his company will put the Aptera into production next October.

Specs may change between now and autumn 2008, but the current numbers look like this: 300 mpg, a price tag below $30,000, and 0-60 acceleration of 11 seconds (about a second slower than the Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid). The Aptera will come in two versions: the all-electric Typ-1e; and the series-hybrid Typ-1h, with a small onboard gasoline engine capable of recharging the battery. According to Fambro the all-electric Aptera is expected to go roughly 120 miles on a full charge, while the series hybrid will travel 600 miles on a full battery and a full tank of gas — the equivalent of 300 mpg.

Discuss: Do you think consumers will embrace the Aptera as they did the Toyota Prius when this new vehicle hits the streets next year? Why or why not? Voice your opinion!

High Mileage + High Design

Fambro isn't trying to keep his inspiration source a secret. His MySpace page shows him beside a single-seat plane with a striking resemblance to his automotive creation. This sleek minimalism is what Jason Hill and his design firm (known simply as "11") brought to the Aptera.

Hill was scooped up by Mercedes right after graduating from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. When he started his own firm 14 years later, Hill was doing special projects for Porsche. And when Fambro approached him with the first incarnation of the Aptera, Hill said "Let me at it."

Hill and his firm were entrusted with not only evolving the fiberglass bird into a consumer-friendly car, but also creating a complete user experience with its own brand identity. Ecological considerations were high on the list, and Hill readily incorporated flooring made from 100 percent recycled soda bottles, as well as seat, door, and overhead fabrics from post-industrial recycled sources.

The Aptera's roof houses a strip of solar cells that serve double duty. In hot weather they power the parked car's air conditioner, keeping the interior cool for when the driver returns. The same solar system also helps charge the central battery, adding supplemental power.

Since the majority of an automobile's energy is spent displacing air and hauling its own weight, a light and slippery design is vital. Hill helped smooth and lighten the Aptera by replacing the side mirrors and rear window with rear-facing cameras that display on three dashboard monitors. The already sleek package is rounded out with slick aesthetic touches, including a glowing exterior logo and accelerator/brake pedals embossed with plus and minus signs.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.asp...cumentid=444375

[Jenn! 918]

Wow is that thing fugly.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Wow! That's pretty cool....would make a great commuter car.

[Amby 490]

jenn I was thinking wow that is kinda weird looking but fugly is another good word for it

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

It sounded nice until it said "hybrid." I don't think I will be buying that money pit.

Also, I question the crash safety of the vehicle.

[Aymerlu 3]

This looks like something my son has in his matchbox car case.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

This looks like something my son has in his matchbox car case.

Hahaha. It does look like some of the "futuristic" cars that Hot Wheels put out in the late 80s.

[Nagishkaw 510]

It looks like an over sized bicycle helmet.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

It looks like an over sized bicycle helmet.

It also has a certain phalic quality to it.

"What do you drive?"

"A big, white #######."

[kaydee457 13]

Wow! That's pretty cool....would make a great commuter car.

Except in high winds.......

[Aymerlu 3]

It looks like an over sized bicycle helmet.

It also has a certain phalic quality to it.

"What do you drive?"

"A big, white #######."

if someones thing looks like that, they have some issues!