De Lorean Motor Company
De Lorean is the car brand that has travelled to the future and to the past. This Northern Ireland vehicle was the futuristic car featured in the sci-fi trilogy movie 'Back to the Future'. Literally, this car brand was futuristic and very sophisticated during its time. Now, the few De Lorean cars still existing worldwide are considered as novelties and are auctioned in the specialty market at highly premium prices.
What is so special about the De Lorean cars? First, it was an Irish made car specifically to target the United States market. The features and designs were made to please, satisfy and invoke interest among American car buyers. The actual model name was De Lorean DMC-12 manufactured by De Lorean Motor Company only during the years 1981 to 1983. The car model has been referred to as the De Lorean because it was the first and only car rolled out by that car making firm.
The design of the car brand was very much specified and specialised. Italian car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro made the exterior and interior designs of De Lorean. Giugiaro was the automobile designer behind the success of supercars and most of the popular cars still in use today. De Lorean was unique because it was entirely clad in stainless steel.
The car was also the first to use gull-wing doors that are so unique. That is mainly the reason why De Loreans would still look very much futuristic today. The novel door feature was also adopted in light-weight versions by Mercedes-Benz in the years after De Loreans made waves.
As for the engine, three car manufacturing names collaborated to come up with the one that the De Lorean used, namely, Renault, Volvo and Peugeot. Five-speed manual and three-speed automatic transmissions were simultaneously used in the car. The output for the engines used was at 170 horsepower. However, many car aficionados were disappointed because that horsepower specification was reduced to just 130 in the United States because of the emission regulatory requirements upon import.
Because De Lorean's popularity as a sports car was short-lived, only nine thousand cars were manufactured in the entire existence of De Lorean. Of those, three were plated with 24 karats gold. It is estimated that about 6 thousand of the cars still exist today. Thus, those De Loreans can now be considered as specialty or novelty items for the affluent collectors. There are many auctions that are being held today to trade such cars, which would serve well as decorations or museum pieces.
Although De Lorean stopped making the cars, there is still a great demand for the vehicles. Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done to revive the company. De Loreans would always serve as great part of the global car industry's history. It would serve as a reminder that cars could be made futuristic and highly innovative. If Do Loreans did it during its time, modern and more sophisticated technologies of today would surely facilitate for the development of many other futuristic and practical vehicles.
Original Authors: Manny
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 25/06/2007
