DeLorean confirms plans to produce the legendary DMC-12 again

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Image from Wikimedia Commons

If you remember watching Back to the Future in the ‘80s, you’ll probably remember the time-machine DeLorean DMC-12 better than the plot of the movie. Gaining enormous cult thanks to the movie, the DMC-12 remained as an icon of the 80s with its wedges, signature gullwing doors, and most of all, stainless steel bodywork. Even a V8 model has been planned, but sadly, DMC was not in the best financial shape and along with a few ‘scandals’ the company disappeared into history. But you know what, the DeLorean DMC-12 will be back in production again.

Image from Wallpapercave.com

Image from Wallpapercave.com

Now, hold your horses, this is actually no new story. Back in 2016, DeLorean announced that they will be resuming the production of the DMC-12 as a limited-run model thanks to the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Act which was passed in 2015. The act allowed small companies to build 325 cars per year without having to comply with modern safety regulations. Obviously, the plan was never materialized as the NHTSA failed to submit the guidelines for it. Nevertheless, SEMA sued the NHTSA, prodding them to release the regulations, and thankfully, the act was released in late 2019.

Image from Twitter

Image from Twitter

James Espey, the vice president of the DeLorean Motor Company confirmed to Hagerty that plans are underway to produce a fully updated version of the legendary DMC-12. The car will be built from a mix of new-old-stock and brand new parts, thanks to the DeLorean Motor Company’s vast inventory of 3.5 million OEM parts. This ‘new’ DeLorean Motor Company is not directly related to the original, but rather started by Stephen Weyne in 1995 to restore and service DeLoreans. Weyne eventually bought the trademark along with leftover parts from dealers, and now restores and resto-mods DeLoreans.

Image from DMC

Image from DMC

Not a lot is known about the specs of the car, but there are some planned changes. Firstly, there will be a new powertrain producing around 350hp, which is a jump from the original V6’s 130hp. For now, it is unsure who DeLorean will look for to source the engine. Of course, with more power, the car will be equipped with bigger brakes and better wheels. Furthermore, ABS and traction control will be added although the original did not have any. But most of all, the rather Spartan interior of the DMC-12 will be upgraded into a luxurious one, equipped with heated/cooled seats, Bluetooth, navigation, and smartphone integration like Apple Carplay. The price is estimated to be around $100,000 and less than two cars will be produced per week.

Image from DeLorean

Image from DeLorean

Espey hinted that DeLorean is open to working with other marques to license the brand for different kinds of vehicles. Also, although this DMC-12 is likely to be petrol-powered, he stated that an electric powertrain is something that DMC would consider in the future. The engine for these small-volume cars still have to be certified for EPA and CARB regulations, so although the petrol engine will be able to be used within the next few years, it is evident that at some point, DeLorean will go hybrid or possibly electric.

Image from CAR Magazine

Image from CAR Magazine

Espey states, “The DeLorean appeals to ages eight to 80, thanks to those movies,” Espey says. “Someplace in the world right now, one of those movies is on. Somebody’s seeing it for the first time. They’ll go to the internet and look up DeLorean and see it’s a real car they can buy, not a movie prop.” Only time will tell whether the resurrection of the pop icon will be living up to its original.

Image from BMW

Image from BMW

At the end of the day…

DeLorean will not be the only beneficiary of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Act. The act opens possibilities for other marques like Superformance, Revology, and Icon. Personally, I would love to see all the pop-up headlights, outrageous bodywork, and the wedges to return to our modern world again. Although those features were lost through time due to safety regulations, the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Act will allow the combination of modern machinery and retro styling. Anyone willing to build a modern interpretation of the C111 or the M1?