Last month we saw the introduction of the Elation Hypercars Freedom, a luxury EV supercar coming from an obscure startup automaker. In December, we’re not dealing with something touting around more than one megawatt of power (1,040 kW or 1,427 hp), but the Alpha ACE Coupe does come out as a project that still needs to be taken with a healthy dose of salt.
Probably intoxicated with the news of Tesla’s spectacular rise to fame and incredible transformation from a tech startup into a fully-fledged automaker (among others), there are many more automotive EV startups aiming for glory.
Every now and then, one punches above its weight and manages to attract our attention for a shot at (probably transient) glory. As far as California-based Alpha Motor Corporation is concerned, they’ve come on our radar previously thanks to their COM commercial line of electric vehicles and the modular ICON (designed to be configurable as an SUV, van, or truck).
Now they have also unveiled the ACE Coupe, which in their view has the makings of a “quintessential urban electric vehicle set to transform zero emission mobility.” For us, the compact and retro-modern design seems like a blend of Honda’s e and Sports EV Concept from 2017. And that’s not a bad thing, because we really love those quirky little Japanese vehicles.
Alpha promises the ACE Coupe will share not just the ICON architecture but also its modularity. Thus, the compact EV will have multiple body styles – we see here the coupe, and we should also expect a sedan and utility crossover going forward.
The version that just premiered is decidedly for crowded urban environments, with a footprint of just 4,180 mm (165 in) in length, 1,886 mm (74 in) in width, and 1,450 mm (57 in) in height. Cargo storage amounts to more than 14 cubic feet (396 liters), and the company also claims the ACE Coupe to be a true EV, as it features both rear cargo space and a frunk (a.k.a. front trunk).
The electric powertrain is hidden in the middle of the Blue Seraph-colored body, with the battery sandwiched in the floor. The interior has adult-sized space up front, while the compact rear seats are just for “occasional storage.”
As far as the estimated performance credentials are concerned, things look a little too good to be true – especially since the company doesn’t give us the horsepower rating or the battery’s capacity. Instead, they only entice prospective customers with a promised acceleration to 60 mph (96 kph) in six seconds, 250+ miles (402 km+) of driving range, RWD, and a weight of 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg).
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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