Aptera Focuses On Final Enhancements

In the last newsletter we hinted at some vehicle refinements. Well, starting with this newsletter, and in all subsequent issues, we're going to do a little more than just hint. We'll bring you inside with continuous updates on how the vehicle is continuing to evolve in the name of efficiency, simplicity and safety. But first we want to give you a heads-up on the naming convention that we are going to take to production.

As you know, up to this point we have referred to our vehicle as the Aptera Typ-1 - a name that has become very near and dear to all of us. However, as we move ever closer to production, we are giving more and more thought to brand development and what it takes to make 'Aptera' a household name. We are committed to putting 100,000 Apteras on the road by 2015, and to get there we have to make sure that everyone knows who we are and what we are all about.

The challenge is that, with the name Aptera Typ-1, we have two names vying for attention: 'Aptera' and 'Typ-1.' With that in mind, we have decided to simplify the name and call the vehicle the Aptera-2e, where the 2 designates the number of passengers and the e denotes the electric powertrain. Our sentiment is that with this convention, the vehicle name will rarely be spoken apart from the brand.

The other hot topic for this issue is our rear vision system. As many of you noted, we have consolidated the three body-mounted cameras, into a single "fin" style camera on the roof. While the initial setup couldn't effectively show the body as a point of reference, the new position and better camera technology provide the driver with an unimpeded view of the surroundings.

"By moving to a single camera and screen - in conjunction with more traditional side-view mirrors - drivers are now placed in the safest, most practical and familiar setup," said Tom Reichenbach, chief engineer of Aptera. "We worked hard to make these changes without compromising our core mission of minimizing drag. "Through our comprehensive aerodynamic studies we've been able to design mirrors that slip right through the air. And because the body-mounted cameras created air pockets that disrupted airflow over the vehicle, the change to the overall drag has been minimal."

Reported by Aptera.