All about Gamma

[OZ.]

Frist Ride In Gamma Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_g13Fdpzs&ab_channel=DriveTheLightning

[ray-holan]

Thanks for linking this video, Oz.

Haven’t watched the entire video yet, but here’s some tidbits that seemed significant so far. I ignored the over-the-top enthusiasm of the YouTube couple in the video and focused on what Dave H. , who rode in the Aptera, had to say about the Gamma he rode in as a passenger:

It was quick — nothing we haven’t already heard there…

It felt “finished” — reassuring; we expected there would be less creaking, etc. vs. Alpha

It tracked straight and true — Dave’s impression as they zipped along the highway

Seats fine for long trips — the seat comfort got a thumbs up

Headroom no problem for tall drivers — Dave recounted a 6’4″ guy at Fully Charged saying he was surprised he had enough head room as he has a long torso.

I’m sure there’s several other points in the rest of the video that I haven’t highlighted.

[Greek]

For me the best part of the video was there was a nice view of the APTERA at night. Beautiful lighting that created nice visual glow off reflected body panels. Super Cool!

[jonah-jorgenson]

Thanks for making this video available to the forum!

In fact thanks to all on the forum who lookout for Aptera post and refer them to us here as they are a better source of Aptera information than the Aptera forum itself.

[george-hughes]

I saw the DTL’s video and heard the story of the ride including the ‘punch-it’ order from Chris. Cool.

I bought my EV from a private party in early 2018 and as my rule is to pay cash for cars and I’m ‘cheap’ … I was looking at the early models with sub 100 mile ranges. The Spark EV was getting nods for being fun along with the Fiat 500E. This was when the first round of EVs that had been put out on lease.

I found my ‘car’ on Craigslist and made arrangements to test it and ultimately buy it.

The guy, noting my interest in the mid-7’s 0-60 times in the Spark, suggested that was nothing and invited me for a short jaunt in his ‘new vette.’

I’ve driven at speeds over 100 mph for literally hours in my nearly 60 years of driving but I had never driven at these speeds weaving in and out of traffic. I’d passed many cars on the freeway but this ride was weird because of the sensation and also because I think the guy was trying to freak me out.

But it was weird because when you’re traveling 120 mph in traffic going 45, it is like driving through a maze of not quite stationary objects at 65 mph.

It is awesome to know that the Aptera is easily capable of every bit and more of that really remarkable and totally irresponsible act by the guy who sold me the hot hatch.

I don’t see myself ever driving like that unless I was trying to outrun a nuclear blast in the next holler. Still, that level of power and control is ‘remarkable’ and having access to it BECAUSE you chose the MOST EFFICIENT vehicle that runs on the suns is pure magic.

[david-macfadyen]

So , is the Gamma that David H was a passenger in, front wheel drive or all wheel drive ?

I like his comment “riding on rails”

[OZ.]

The Gamma is AWD. (IIRC)

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by  OZ (It's OZ, Just OZ).

[david-macfadyen]

Hmm, But the 1st Aptera deliveries will be front wheel drive 400 mile range …. True ?

[Greek]

That was and up to now, until we hear something different, still should be the case. Just remember the first 1,000 or so APTERA will be sold locally. It is possible that after the first wave of local sales, they may be in a good position to deliver the all wheel drive versions.

[kerbe2705]

Steve did an interview with Dave, too: https://youtu.be/JNBTwKpKGCw

[steven-kutoroff]

Gamma is out of box (bag?).

Isn’t it time to update the photos and videos on the Aptera pages to reflect this?

Come on people. Show use more Gamma in action. Show it off.

:-)🙂

[kerbe2705]

Everyone we’ve met from Aptera’s marketing team has been absolutely spunky!

https://youtu.be/5cF9Ck04ENo

[paul-kirchner]

They ain’t lying, it sure sounded quiet in there.

[Greek]

I knew the honeycomb body shell would be extra quiet because of its thickness. I’m not so sure that the new body will be as quiet.

[kerbe2705]

@John Voules As we saw during the building of the Beta, not very much of the body is actually honeycombed – and the parts that were seemed to be less than 1/4″ thick. The honeycomb system provided extra rigidity to the fiberglass panels – CFSMC is, from what I gather, at least four times stiffer than fiberglass SMC.

The amount of soft fabric upholstery and carpeting determines a great deal of cabin noise levels – the body panels not so much.

[FoggyOptic]

Not the tallest speed bump in the world but looks like more clearance than I had expected. Yoke doesn’t seem to be much of an issue either.

[ROMAD]

The old 10 & 2 o’clock hand positions are for NON-airbag steering wheels. For steering with an airbag in the wheel, the 9 & 3 o’clock position is correct. If they did away with the soundtrack music, we would get a better idea of how quiet it is; if they stopped talking for 30 seconds it would be even better.

[Russell]

It was nice to hear some motor whine in the background. I was afraid it wouldn’t be there since the motors are out in the wheels.

[jonah-jorgenson]

Good video of a somewhat extended drive in the gamma. Seemed somewhat scripted to address some of the reservations expressed by some forum posters. The yoke, many revolutions to make a turn. I thought I heard some rattles even though they said it was quiet inside. Crossing the speed bump was pretty slow. For me, not convinced that there would not be contact between the vehicle wheel pants and the speed bump if going a little faster with the gamma clearance spec. For everything, need to wait to see what the delta is like for all of the issues raised by forum members.

[jonah-jorgenson]

My grandfather is 78. He has reserved two Apterae, one for himself and one for his wife. They both currently drive Teslas with screens safely with no issues and no complaints about using screens. I think it is all in the mind. If you think you can do it you can. If you think you will have trouble with it you will. If your confidence in your driving skills is not high, and you can’t take your eyes off the road for the moment it takes to look at the screen to touch what you are looking for then maybe someone else should be doing the driving.

The user interface will be evaluated by people with early deliveries. (The best evaluators rather than journalists who may have an imperative to be controversial) Since the interface is software-driven, changes can be made and distributed quickly and easily to fix or enhance features with no expense or time. 😁

[kindofblue]

One possible way to deal with vehicle functions would be really good voice activated functions. Tesla’s are well thought out and I use them frequently for the most common functions I need (e.g., turn on heated steering wheel).

[kerbe2705]

@Reid Hester I fear that the “screen-averse” are also likely to not trust voice controls for – I dunno – “privacy” issues?

The voice controls in my Honda Clarity are limited but they ALWAYS work – and most of the controls in my home are voice-activated. I was raised with “The Jetsons” and I get an absolute thrill when I can ask my house and car to do things for me!

#SimplePleasuresForSimpleMinds

[kindofblue]

Hi Kerbe,

I think what turns people off is having to divert their attention to the screen to do simple things like turning up the heat.