A cult icon it may now be, but by the time DeLorean's DMC-12 appeared in the first Back to the Future movie, production of the car had already stopped and the company had gone into liquidation. In 2017, though, it may start rolling off the production line again.
The current DeLorean Motor Company was formed in 1995 and, like the original (though unrelated) firm, is US-based. As such, it is subject to regulation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In an update on its website, Delorean explains that up until recently the NHTSA had not adequately distinguished between companies producing millions of cars and smaller companies producing only a few.
"NHTSA's one-size-fits-all approach meant that these small companies were subject to the same regulations and paperwork burdens as the large automakers that mass-produce vehicles," the company writes.
It says the new Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, however, passed in December last year, allows for a more liberal regulatory structure and one within which it can work. The act makes it easier for companies producing limited numbers of replicas of cars that were produced 25 years ago or more to operate.
DeLorean says that, in anticipation of the legislation, it has been working for some time to identify suppliers for engines and other parts with a view to restarting production in 2017. While the news is encouraging, it points out that it is still early days and any move to restart production will still face a "number of hurdles."
Source: DeLorean
I think the original version used a 2.8L motor that made 130 HP and had a ~9 second 0-60.
Mclaren developed a 200kW (268 HP) 26kg (57 lb) electric motor for the Mclaren P1 that is used as a stand alone motor in Formula E and it's amazing. It's a shame that it probably costs a fortune. There are lots of EV conversion kits around but most of them come with motors that are heavy and low HP and more geared for industrial use it seems. AM Racing makes a AC motor (250-90) that's 210 HP/280 Lb Ft torque and about 150 lbs but it costs about $10k.
People roll their eyes when companies like Mclaren roll out $1.3 million supercars like the P1 but some of the technologies they create like a small lightweight 200+ HP electric motor have the potential to make waves through the lower priced EV market.
The "new" one will have a NA V6 putting out around 360HP. Awesome.
And to those saying they should produce an EV version, it's understandable most people haven't looked at Delorean recently, because if they did, they'd know that DMC has been developing an EV version and even has a prototype or 2. They've been showing it off at auto shows for years. The DMC-EV is at least 5 years old by now.
They've also been undoing the "Oil Crisis era" EPA stranglehold on the stock motor, bringing it up to the intended 200HP it was supposed to have during production.
All the public knows about the Delorean is hype and myth, which is understandable. The car for most people only exists in lore.
If I had a dollar for every time a "car buff" at the gas station starts telling me about its "helicopter engine..." and "heavy silver body..."
It's a fiberglass body with a thin stainless steel skin and the car weighs less than a FRS/BRZ.