Photo: Twitter / Italdesign
This week marked the 40th anniversary of the release of the first production model of the DeLorean DMC-12, one of the most iconic car of the ‘80s. Even after so many decades without a new product, the DeLorean still remains pretty hot.
Just this week, we’ve learned that DeLorean is considering bringing back the DMC-12 as an all-electric vehicle, because EVs are the future and emission norms are the worst. This isn’t the same DeLorean that made the first batch of DMC-12s, but a new company started in 1995 that owns all DeLorean trademarks and remaining inventory, and that has been working toward a comeback all these years.
As if that wasn’t enough to look forward to, here’s one more thing: before we might get a DeLorean EV, we could possibly get an updated DeLorean courtesy of Italdesign. The prestigious Italian design firm doesn’t explicitly say so, but that’s how many car enthusiasts are choosing to read the latest teaser posted to the company’s official Twitter.
And, truly, can you blame them?
“DeLorean DMC-12 turns 40 this year! This picture was shot on the 21st January 1981, when the very first production model was released,” reads the post. “What a better way to celebrate an icon of automotive history than a sneak peek of the (near) future? Stay tuned for more… #visionbeyondtime![winking face]”
A “stay tuned” promise and a winking face, coupled with the darkened silhouette of what’s clearly a rebodied DMC-12? Could there be any other interpretation than that this is a teaser for an upcoming announcement? If this is some render or concept of some sort, hearts will break.
Produced between 1981 and 1982, the 9,000 units of the DMC-12 that ever came out of the original DeLorean company were notoriously under-powered, poorly manufactured and prone to many issues. However, by a strange turn of events that included DeLorean going out of business and John DeLorean being arrested for drug trafficking, constant appearances in the Back to the Future film trilogy and, most importantly, a visually striking design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, turned the DMC-12 into the quintessential ‘80s car and a cult classic.
As if that wasn’t enough to look forward to, here’s one more thing: before we might get a DeLorean EV, we could possibly get an updated DeLorean courtesy of Italdesign. The prestigious Italian design firm doesn’t explicitly say so, but that’s how many car enthusiasts are choosing to read the latest teaser posted to the company’s official Twitter.
And, truly, can you blame them?
“DeLorean DMC-12 turns 40 this year! This picture was shot on the 21st January 1981, when the very first production model was released,” reads the post. “What a better way to celebrate an icon of automotive history than a sneak peek of the (near) future? Stay tuned for more… #visionbeyondtime![winking face]”
A “stay tuned” promise and a winking face, coupled with the darkened silhouette of what’s clearly a rebodied DMC-12? Could there be any other interpretation than that this is a teaser for an upcoming announcement? If this is some render or concept of some sort, hearts will break.
Produced between 1981 and 1982, the 9,000 units of the DMC-12 that ever came out of the original DeLorean company were notoriously under-powered, poorly manufactured and prone to many issues. However, by a strange turn of events that included DeLorean going out of business and John DeLorean being arrested for drug trafficking, constant appearances in the Back to the Future film trilogy and, most importantly, a visually striking design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, turned the DMC-12 into the quintessential ‘80s car and a cult classic.
#DeLorean DMC-12 turns 40 this year! This picture was shot on the 21st January 1981, when the very first production model was released. What a better way to celebrate an icon of automotive history than a sneak peek of the (near) future?
— Italdesign (@italdesign) January 21, 2021
Stay tuned for more… #visionbeyondtime! pic.twitter.com/JKcHsMjgOy
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