Personal note...
- Thread starter Kerbe
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I hope they're flying you in and picking you up at the airport in a chauffered Aptera. You do a great job as Aptera's Ambassador on this forum.
Kerbe
Well-Known Member
HA! I'm hoping they don't waste any of their funds on serving us refreshments and you have them throwing money around!
Oh, I mistakenly assumed the firehose of cash coming from Launch Design would be paying for this eventHA! I'm hoping they don't waste any of their funds on serving us refreshments and you have them throwing money around!
Kerbe
Well-Known Member
I believe that the firehose is drawing from a rather limited cistern: They're using every penny just to get a small number of vehicles hand-built and into the hands of paying customers before the end of the year.Oh, I mistakenly assumed the firehose of cash coming from Launch Design would be paying for this event
I'm looking forward to the YouTube reviews of the first delivered Apteras. No vehicle manufacturer has walked a higher, longer tightrope than Aptera and their loyal customers are eager to finally do their part to contribute to its success.
Kerbe
Well-Known Member
I've just enjoyed the ride: I don't know when I've ever had so much fun for $100! I waited a week after the announcement to place a reservation and got #2705 although, as you noted, that really doesn't mean anything. But, should production start, I also wouldn't want a vehicle made during the first year.
Kerbe
Well-Known Member
The Ambassador event was outstanding - I had a terrific time meeting members of the staff, management and technical teams, as well as over 100 of my fellow Ambassadors! In addition to a number of interesting presentations and fun activities they provided ride-along experiences - of which I took two: My first ride was in the final prototype - Artemis - and my second in Atlas 2, one of the eight validation vehicles. To say that the vehicle had been improved between the two generations would be an understatement!
We learned a number of intereting things about the vehicle and its near-future plans, including the fact that there will no longer be a belly scoop for cooling purposes and that the partnership with Launch Design has provided new suppliers and engineering options that will improve the vehicle. For example, the switch from cast iron brake calipers (from a German supplier) to aluminum calipers will trim 37 pounds from the curb weight of the vehicle - and allow for further refinement of the suspension system.
Next up will be two runs of vehicles: A set of ten to be known as the "LV1 series" - which will be used for final testing - and a set of 30 to be called the "LV2 series" which will be delivered to customers. Launch Design is currently building the various subassemblies for these 40 vehicles which, when completed, will be shipped to Carlsbad for final assembly.
I stopped to make the first image when I arrived in Carlsbad the night before the event. The second image shows the three vehicles used for the ride-alongs and the third is a "cheesecake" image of Atlas 5, of which I became much enamoured!
We learned a number of intereting things about the vehicle and its near-future plans, including the fact that there will no longer be a belly scoop for cooling purposes and that the partnership with Launch Design has provided new suppliers and engineering options that will improve the vehicle. For example, the switch from cast iron brake calipers (from a German supplier) to aluminum calipers will trim 37 pounds from the curb weight of the vehicle - and allow for further refinement of the suspension system.
Next up will be two runs of vehicles: A set of ten to be known as the "LV1 series" - which will be used for final testing - and a set of 30 to be called the "LV2 series" which will be delivered to customers. Launch Design is currently building the various subassemblies for these 40 vehicles which, when completed, will be shipped to Carlsbad for final assembly.
I stopped to make the first image when I arrived in Carlsbad the night before the event. The second image shows the three vehicles used for the ride-alongs and the third is a "cheesecake" image of Atlas 5, of which I became much enamoured!