Door windows

[evolutionmovement]

I wonder why they don't just have them flip upwards. They could be kept flush that way and it's a simple, light solution.

[panamericans]

Yes I agree there is very little information released…

Aptera Motors is receiving millions of dollars (read: many millions) of free advertising, that spans this planet thanks to the (recent) marketing benefits of the computer age. It has already attracted thousands of potential purchasers willing to plunk down deposits for a car they will have to wait a year or more for… and yet these same customers don’t even know its dimensions…amazing.

Not faulting the company, but this is a vehicle heavy with (refreshing) technical concepts that are in the process of being implemented. One doesn’t have to look past battery developments to understand this… I also suspect the dimensions aren’t being finalized until an acceptable turning radius can be worked out.

One thing is for certain, this car has caught the undivided attention if not loyalty of its customers… even if… (I hate to write this) it is still a ‘vapourmobile’ until the tangible details are finally released and perused

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by jenkins_pete

Given the production schedule I don't understand how there can be no information on the windows at this time!? Doesn't this already need to be solved to make the production schedule?

...Does anyone know when the design is to be actually locked down?

There is frustratingly little information out of Aptera and their newsletters are a complete joke. I mean there is basically no new information each time for anyone that follows EVs in the news.

Gosh Pete, I thought Aptera has actually been better than the average automotive company at getting information out. I don't know what field you work in, but at the engineering firm where I work they are highly secretive of proprietary design. The current EV and "green" vehicle market is extremely competitive and it doesn't benefit Aptera to give away design secrets to their competition. Even about how it's windows will roll down...

Releasing early information (and promises) about your product only serves to spur the interest of the consumer. It may create excitement, but it also holds the potential to disappoint. Design ideas that are considered sound sometimes work, and sometimes they don't. Why release untested speculation about a feature when prototyping and testing prove that another direction must be taken? Even the deep pocket EV manufacturers like Tesla, ZENN and Phoenix have found that this is a very difficult business; it's very tough to meet the high expectations of customers... and press releases.

The manufacturing of automobiles is a highly complex engineering problem that holds the ultimate responsibility. Just like aircraft, you are dealing with not only people's safety, but ultimately their lives.

Give Aptera time, most of us here believe that they are making the right decisions to actually bring this crazy idea to market. The list of failed automotive ventures is a long one; this one actually has a chance...

[LQUAN]

As I mentioned in another thread. Sales and marketing can only speculate the production release date, the engineers are the ones know the actual production release date. This is the reality of any engineering company. If you are an engineer or a marketting personel, you will agree with me. I expect to get my Type1e (#1893) in about 1.5 years from now. I also expect price to change after the first 2500 vehicles are shipped. At the increasing rate of gas price, I see the demand for EVs to pickup. As more and more Apteras start to show up on public streets, I expect the public to accept its looks and like the vehicles more. Prius, too, had the same problem with its looks before when the first model came out (eg center instrument consol, trapezoid body style, small, etc). Look at the demand for Prius now. 2 years from now Aptera will have other EV manufacturers on the theater to compete with. But I still expect the demand for EVs will out pace the number of EVs that all EV manufacturers can crank out. $27K to $30K is cheap for a car that is mostly hand made. Don't expect the price to stay the same after the first 2500 is delivered. I hope Aptera will honor their price at reservation - even when the car will be delivered 1.5 years from now.

Aptera is reluctant to publish a lot of details and specifications about their vehicles because of people like us on this forum, especially people like KarenRei, me, and a few others who love to publicly disect every little details about their new product. We have been putting a lot of pressure on Aptera with our expectations. We have to realize that this is new product for a small company. It is impossible for a new small company to match up people's expectations with what the big old boys at GM, Toyota, etc. can deliver. Any unattainable premature specifications that they disclosed can be desasterous when all eyes are on them. I like to see Aptera become successful. That is why I am very careful and be as accurate as possible to answer any technical questions regarding automobile in general.

[KarenRei]

Given the production schedule I don't understand how there can be no information on the windows at this time!? Doesn't this already need to be solved to make the production schedule?

Jenkins, this is a low volume car (for the time being, at least). The time from prototype to production is much lower. There can't be any guarantees about when they'll ship, but don't expect the schedule to look like the Volt's. And it looks like the window is solved, judging from the picture; I can't picture any other reason for that tape to be on there. Just because Aptera doesn't give out every detail of the car doesn't mean that they're not working on them. Quite to the contrary, most (not all, certainly, but most) car development projects are rather quiet. If you announce you're going with one thing, and then the final version ends up being different for technical reasons, you can end up disappointing customers. Or even getting lawsuits, in the case that people put down money in advance.

I suspect that what they're planning to offer for test drives in a month or two will be a roughly final design. So just wait for that.

[evolutionmovement]

Good point. Look at the Jaguar XJ220 - it was originally slated to have a V12, but eventually went to market with a turbo V6 (but didn't suffer a performance loss for it). People abandoned the car in droves and Jaguar actually sued people to try to make them keep their orders. I believe you could still get a new, untitled one 7 years after production ended.

Besides, the tease makes it all the more exciting.

[aptera1213]

well i understand keeping some stuff secret...all companies keep stuff close to the vest on a new product...

the one aspect that "pisses" me off though is the freaking dimensions...keeping that close to the vest is just strange...

A) how is that protecting trade secrets from rivals?
B) many of us need to know if this vehicle will fit in our darn garage (i have a two car garage, but with two single doors...will the wheel wells fit through my garage door? easily, with great care, or no freakin' way am i squeezing that puppy in my garage with an inch on either side as the only margin of error)

so fine, don't tell us yet what tires are being used, what batteries, the final engine choice for the hybrid...

but width and length are very important items to know...

do i remodel my garage or cancel my order or is the size fine for my single door garage?

[SpyderMike]

Back to the windows/doors in case of accident. Light airplanes have fixed plastic side windows. If the door jams in an accident, the manufacturer of my plane states to use the small hammer they provide to break up the plastic and then to place the heels of your feet at one corner and kick the window out. It has very similar doors to the Aptera.

[panamericans]

Nice plane good taste…

Yes, I agree with you. I believe that having the option for fixed windows would be a benefit and not an obstacle from a manufacturing point of view. From the photo that Futura’s keen eyes picked up, shows a pronounced concave or bow in the side windows which has functional advantages for the occupant, as well as adding to the aerodynamics and design esthetics of the car. A roll down window will subtract from this…

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

Back to the windows/doors in case of accident. Light airplanes have fixed plastic side windows. If the door jams in an accident, the manufacturer of my plane states to use the small hammer they provide to break up the plastic and then to place the heels of your feet at one corner and kick the window out. It has very similar doors to the Aptera.

Mike- The windows must open in some convenient way (beyond breakage) to pay tolls.

And, more importantly, in Southern California we must be able to drive thru In-N-Out Burger to get our Double-Doubles