Comments on: The Aptera Typ-1 http://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:29:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Aptera Designs Solar-Powered Pontoonhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-36686 Aptera Designs Solar-Powered Pontoon Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:51:50 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-36686 [...] AGM battery is filled. There’s no word on price in this early stage, but given Aptera’s penchant for designing affordable green vehicles, perhaps the Loon will sell for less than your average [...] [...] AGM battery is filled. There’s no word on price in this early stage, but given Aptera’s penchant for designing affordable green vehicles, perhaps the Loon will sell for less than your average [...]

]]> By: The Car of the Future Coming This Fall: the Aptera 2e | GearCrave | The Mens Buying Guide for Gadgetshttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-34490 The Car of the Future Coming This Fall: the Aptera 2e | GearCrave | The Mens Buying Guide for Gadgets Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:01:28 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-34490 [...] off the production line this fall.  We initially revealed Aptera’s earlier prototype, the Aptera Typ-1, in December of 2007, suspecting that this concept was just too good to be true.  The Aptera 2e, [...] [...] off the production line this fall.  We initially revealed Aptera’s earlier prototype, the Aptera Typ-1, in December of 2007, suspecting that this concept was just too good to be true.  The Aptera 2e, [...]

]]> By: KarenReihttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-34175 KarenRei Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:25:04 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-34175 Phillip: 1) This is an early prototype (released in late '07), not the production model. The specific interior design components have already changed, as per pictures on the new website. 2) Talk of style choices like "character lines" is exactly what this vehicle is not; the exterior is all about streamlining. This is a vehicle where mother nature was allowed to dictate the external form. Phillip: 1) This is an early prototype (released in late '07), not the production model. The specific interior design components have already changed, as per pictures on the new website. 2) Talk of style choices like "character lines" is exactly what this vehicle is not; the exterior is all about streamlining. This is a vehicle where mother nature was allowed to dictate the external form.

]]> By: Amphibian Akoya Airplane, the Wonder Aircraft | StyleCrave | The Lifestyle Guide for the Modern Man.http://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-31374 Amphibian Akoya Airplane, the Wonder Aircraft | StyleCrave | The Lifestyle Guide for the Modern Man. Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:01:22 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-31374 [...] for orders.  In name and design, this brilliant, private air taxi reminds us quite a bit of the Aptera, a car we reviewed on GearCrave last December.  Powered by a tail-mounted 100hp Rotax piston [...] [...] for orders.  In name and design, this brilliant, private air taxi reminds us quite a bit of the Aptera, a car we reviewed on GearCrave last December.  Powered by a tail-mounted 100hp Rotax piston [...]

]]> By: Suck It OPEC: 13 Amazing Gasoline-Free Supercars | GearCrave | The Mens Buying Guide for Gadgetshttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-23965 Suck It OPEC: 13 Amazing Gasoline-Free Supercars | GearCrave | The Mens Buying Guide for Gadgets Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:13:17 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-23965 [...] the most progressively designed of these electric supercars, the Aptera Typ-1 is a shot right out of the future.  This three-wheeled electro-pod comes in a pure battery version [...] [...] the most progressively designed of these electric supercars, the Aptera Typ-1 is a shot right out of the future.  This three-wheeled electro-pod comes in a pure battery version [...]

]]> By: GearCrave Interview: Henrik Fisker and the Fisker Karma | GearCrave | The Buyers Guide for Menhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5143 GearCrave Interview: Henrik Fisker and the Fisker Karma | GearCrave | The Buyers Guide for Men Fri, 16 May 2008 18:29:43 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-5143 [...] can run up to 50 miles without switching on its combustion engine once (much like our friends at Aptera). We sat down for an interview with the founder and namesake of Fisker Automobiles, Mr. Henrik [...] [...] can run up to 50 miles without switching on its combustion engine once (much like our friends at Aptera). We sat down for an interview with the founder and namesake of Fisker Automobiles, Mr. Henrik [...]

]]> By: GearCrave Crave of the Week: the Aptera Typ-1 | GearCrave | Stuff you want to touchhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1313 GearCrave Crave of the Week: the Aptera Typ-1 | GearCrave | Stuff you want to touch Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:41:33 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-1313 [...] the Philips Norelco Arcitec, and the sweet deal we posted on a 1 terabyte hard drive, but the Aptera Typ-1 takes the cake with a running start. A tabletized PC, the ultimate shave, and a shitload of storage [...] [...] the Philips Norelco Arcitec, and the sweet deal we posted on a 1 terabyte hard drive, but the Aptera Typ-1 takes the cake with a running start. A tabletized PC, the ultimate shave, and a shitload of storage [...]

]]> By: MissileStickhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1261 MissileStick Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:51:16 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-1261 By the way, here's the webpage of the designer: http://designby11.com/ By the way, here’s the webpage of the designer: http://designby11.com/

]]> By: MissileStickhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 MissileStick Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:47:58 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-1260 Wow, those are really well thought out comments and criticisms. Personally I'd love to see the changes you propose, if you don't mind posting them. You could always post them to flickr or photobucket if you need hosting space. Wow, those are really well thought out comments and criticisms. Personally I’d love to see the changes you propose, if you don’t mind posting them. You could always post them to flickr or photobucket if you need hosting space.

]]> By: Phillip E. Paynehttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Phillip E. Payne Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:34:09 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-1242 Interesting engineering workout but not all that new. Use of too wide fret around glass openings is not attractive and fret around windshield does not correlate well with side glass & fret. Designer tried to make too much of a meal out of the headlamp area instead of treating it as an aerodynamic shape that would enhance the overall design - this workout interferes instead of aids the overall theme. Further, the designer should add a crisp character line (such as at center of hood running and fading out before cowl) to revlieve the vehicle being overall too soft.The interior disregards the need for knee impact restraint under the instrument panel. Also, the cluster atop the instrument panel, in a binacle, is not properly integrated into the overall design of the I/P itself. Why the instruments, including GPS or whatever camera screen, aren't made to flow properly into the design is a mystery. Also, the parts shown on the instrument panel all have the look of JC Whitney after market parts that are probably cheap.Automotive interior designers always try to make the interior look where the occupants might touch it or be impacted into it in a crash. This does not do that. Some Japanese products still haven't caught on to this.The steering wheel is another reheat of old design themes. Too bad. Citroen started this sort of thing back in the 1950s and theirs was better. I'd suggest the designer keep working on what he has started with the steering wheel as he has an opportunity to pull off something really nice with the proportions seen so far.The door trim panels don't provide the driver or passenger with any storage nor do they take advantage of the space to permit a deeper rest area for one's arm or a map pocket - or even a cup holder. Why not??? Further, like the instrument panel, the segments of the door just look "stuck on" like the pieces of the instrument panel. Further, the door trim panels look bland.The exterior side view is interesting and a continuation of other themes of this type. Difficult to make work in various views, like a three quarter front view which may make the designer want to re-configure that area from a flat horizontal plane to a different aero shape.The "A" pillar (that support pillar between the windshield and door glass) needs to be better developed. Currently it risks looking like a "dogbone" shape which is what all auto designers avoid like the plague. I suspect the side view that is shown has the door up to show the entry into the interior and also disguise the "dogbone" I think I see in the "A" pillar shape.I've spent about 5 minutes doing a real fast Photoshop rework of the front three quarter view and interior to support these statements. I'll forward them to this website for inclusion with this commentary if it is thought beneficial.Phillip E. Payne Interesting engineering workout but not all that new. Use of too wide fret around glass openings is not attractive and fret around windshield does not correlate well with side glass & fret. Designer tried to make too much of a meal out of the headlamp area instead of treating it as an aerodynamic shape that would enhance the overall design – this workout interferes instead of aids the overall theme. Further, the designer should add a crisp character line (such as at center of hood running and fading out before cowl) to revlieve the vehicle being overall too soft.

The interior disregards the need for knee impact restraint under the instrument panel. Also, the cluster atop the instrument panel, in a binacle, is not properly integrated into the overall design of the I/P itself. Why the instruments, including GPS or whatever camera screen, aren’t made to flow properly into the design is a mystery. Also, the parts shown on the instrument panel all have the look of JC Whitney after market parts that are probably cheap.

Automotive interior designers always try to make the interior look where the occupants might touch it or be impacted into it in a crash. This does not do that. Some Japanese products still haven’t caught on to this.

The steering wheel is another reheat of old design themes. Too bad. Citroen started this sort of thing back in the 1950s and theirs was better. I’d suggest the designer keep working on what he has started with the steering wheel as he has an opportunity to pull off something really nice with the proportions seen so far.

The door trim panels don’t provide the driver or passenger with any storage nor do they take advantage of the space to permit a deeper rest area for one’s arm or a map pocket – or even a cup holder. Why not??? Further, like the instrument panel, the segments of the door just look “stuck on” like the pieces of the instrument panel. Further, the door trim panels look bland.

The exterior side view is interesting and a continuation of other themes of this type. Difficult to make work in various views, like a three quarter front view which may make the designer want to re-configure that area from a flat horizontal plane to a different aero shape.

The “A” pillar (that support pillar between the windshield and door glass) needs to be better developed. Currently it risks looking like a “dogbone” shape which is what all auto designers avoid like the plague. I suspect the side view that is shown has the door up to show the entry into the interior and also disguise the “dogbone” I think I see in the “A” pillar shape.

I’ve spent about 5 minutes doing a real fast Photoshop rework of the front three quarter view and interior to support these statements. I’ll forward them to this website for inclusion with this commentary if it is thought beneficial.

Phillip E. Payne

]]> By: Car of the Future: 1000MPG Less than $30,000 and SoCal only - the Aptera Typ 1 | La.Cityzine.comhttp://gearcrave.com/2007-12-10/the-aptera-typ-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1237 Car of the Future: 1000MPG Less than $30,000 and SoCal only - the Aptera Typ 1 | La.Cityzine.com Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:09:49 +0000 http://www.gearcrave.com/buyers-guide/autos/the-aptera-typ-1/#comment-1237 [...] Delivery is in 2008 and you can reserve yours now for $500 from the Aptera 1 Site. [GearCrave.com] [...] [...] Delivery is in 2008 and you can reserve yours now for $500 from the Aptera 1 Site. [GearCrave.com] [...]

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