My pre-production list (Typ1-e)

[futura]

So with Aptera about to begin nailing stuff together I've put together my short list of druthers. I've borrowed a lot from folks who've posted their ideas here and apologies if I don't provide attribution. Some of this is stuff to change/add/maintain.

1) Roll-down windows of the type I described in this post: http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?p=2212#post2212

2) HID lights

3) Slightly narrower than 7ft wheel track-- 6ft 8 would be fine. Or adjustable suspension that provides the same benefit for slow-speed & parking.

4) Same turning radius as a Honda Civic < 18 ft

5) Upgradeable battery technology so I might take advantage of advances 3-years down the line and get twice the range.

6) Better seats -- perhaps something like the Ecoclimate seat http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/automotive_experience/Seating/Climate_Systems.html keeps you cool/warm which tends to reduce amount of AC power you might use.

7) Slightly larger steering wheel (if no power-assist). Or sufficient gearing to make it easy to work in tight spaces.

8) Better integration of the computer. It seems "stuck on" the dash. No offense to the great job Design 11 did but I'd like the inside to complement the slippery wavy looks of the outside.

9) Easy iPod integration with a great sound system that can handle hands-free cell phone interface.

10) Rear view cameras---don't lose these in favor of mirrors (rumor)

11) Eerily quiet operation. So quiet that on the inside it seems like sensory deprivation and on the outside it causes people to assume it's hovering.

12) An ad campaign (when the time comes) that pokes fun at itself a la VW in the 60's; avoid the preaching (damn, now I'm preaching).
Cheers

[garygid]

I like your list of items.
I could also wish for a Certification of Permission to use the HOV lane.

Also, how about adding a "referred-by" space in the Reservation Form,
where we might get a small credit (maybe $50 or ???) for referring
somebody (who actually ends up buying a vehicle, of course).

Cheers, Gary #1707

[KarenRei]

3) I wouldn't expect too much in terms of narrowing unless you want a lower top speed. A wide wheelbase is for stability.

6) They have talked about in-seat heating/cooling before for efficiency reasons. I hope they do. A very efficient vehicle like the Aptera needs to be positively miserly with electricity for accessories.

7) I'm not worried about the force for steering. The vehicle only weighs 1500lbs and is designed for not needing power steering.

9) I think StreetDeck already supports that; I'd have to check.

12) I'd been thinking the exact same thing! In fact, if they didn't, I was thinking about making some fan commercials for release on YouTube once I get my aptera, using chromakey in Cinelerra to mix up fresh footage of the Aptera and 60s/70s sci-fi flicks. Things like bubble-helmetted, ray-gun wielding astronauts seeking elusive aliens on the lunar surface in their Aptera, to the tune of "Final Fantasy IV: Surface of the Moon (OC Remix)", or a couple in Soviet garb on terraformed Mars pulling up to a rocket launch in an Aptera, to the tune of the Soviet National Anthem.

[GCustom]

9) Don't forget about the Zune

[n_dawg]

The ads definitely need to have a Theramin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin) player.

Not a fully hashed out idea, but something where they have the sci-fi music playing to a montage of people turning their heads, and then in the last scene it drives by the guy playing the Theramin (plus orchestral instruments, for even more breaking the proscenium), and he stops and rubbernecks.

Add some witty voice-over, and it'll be good.

PS: IANAL, but I hereby release this post and all ideas and works contained therein into the public domain, and irrevocably waive, now and forever any and all copyright, royalty, or attribution rights I may have been entitled to.

[KarenRei]

Oooh -- neat commercial ideas, although it'd require licensing some IP ;) Picture any old cartoon, TV series, or movie in which advanced or sci-fi cars were prominent, especially if it has a well-recognized theme and sequence with the vehicle. In each case, picture the commercial going along the following lines:

--------
Batman: "Yes, commissioner. Yes, we're on it." (Click) "Robin, to the Batmobile!"

(Theme song starts as they leap into the car. The Batmobile races down the road, turning through curves, darting through the streets... and then is suddenly passed by an Aptera. The music stops and the Batmobile slams on the brakes)

Batman: "What the (bleep) was that?!?"
--------

You can easily picture this with other cases. Example:

* The intro to the Jetsons where they're in the flying car
* Speed Racer racing
* Return of the Jedi, the ewok/hoverbike chase scene on Endor
* Tron (bike race scene)

[GCustom]

that would be funny, especially the one with the batmobile

[KarenRei]

And the neat thing is, you can probably do entirely with old footage from Batman with just a few carefully filmed Aptera shots, perhaps with a mockup of just a small sliver of the side of the Batmobile to be in-frame when the Aptera passes. The entire first part can be stock footage, including Batman looking to the side, cutting to a back-facing shot of the Aptera approaching and passing, then a forward shot of it darting forward and around a corner. Then you go back to stock footage of Batman slamming on the brakes and talking to Robin, with spliced-together words and a convenient bleep. Not that much work, really. They just need the IP to use 30 seconds of old Batman footage, and I doubt that's all that expensive.

Oh, and of course, I release all of my ideas on this page (and this website) into the public domain.

[n_dawg]

I would prefer that the Aptera forgo the HID headlamps. I find that when an oncoming car has HID lamps, the glare is distracting and damaging to my night-vision. I would much prefer to see a heads-up infrared display, or at least HID lamps that don't have that blue-ish tint (high-pressure sodium maybe?). I'm not familiar with the technology, but I do know that blue light does much more damage to your dark adaptation than conventional lamps. By that I mean that it takes longer to recover from the the reflexive pupil contraction, especially for older drivers.

If it did feature them, it would be nice to see auto-leveling headlights, which are required in Europe on any car with HID lamps. I fear that would add too much weight and complexity, though.

[Kekoa#433]

If they did use the batmobile idea I'm sure Adam West would be more then happy to do it. He seems like the kind of guy that doesn't take himself to seriously.:D

[Dolphyn]

11) Eerily quiet operation. So quiet that on the inside it seems like sensory deprivation and on the outside it causes people to assume it's hovering.
I'd veto this one. Ideally it should make some noise on the outside, for safety reasons. Too many people use their ears as a substitute for "looking both ways." :)

[GCustom]

the tires will make enough noise, and you should be paying attention to the pediestrians

in a regular car (non-hybrid) deaf people can't hear you

if someone whou could hear you wasn't paying attention it wouldn't stop you from hitting them with a conventional car

I vote completely silent operation

[GCustom]

I take that back, not completely silent, just when crusing. At starts and stops the motor wirring sound is cool, my Prius makes that noise sometimes, make me smile everytime for some reason.

[KarenRei]

I like silent. Wouldn't mind some startup noise, but I want to hear inside during operation only the sounds that I want to hear :)

[3-4-me]

I wouldn't be too dead set on silent. We are talking about a machine that weighs 1500 lbs. and is designed to carry 2 people at freeway speeds.
I use cordless tools every day. I haven't heard a drill yet that was silent. How many electrical devices that have revolving parts do you know of that are silent.
I'm not trying to be contrary, I just don't want to see anybody be disappointed over this.
Quiet on the other hand, would be nice.

[GCustom]

I would, my Prius isn't silent, but its pretty close both inside and out (when the engine is off) when running normally

[Chupacabra]

I like the list, but I agree- add the HOV lane certification sticker to the aptera somewhere. With all these laws it'd make things a lot simpler.

Neat commercial ideas, I like the Jetsons or Tron.

Hell maybe even the Flintstones..

The Aptera.. almost as efficient as Fred's feet (Yabba dabba dooooooo...)