Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, is standing in a New Jersey parking lot, looking at Aptera’s sleek teardrop body. This three-wheeled wonder is something in between a car and motorcycle, an autocycle if you will, with up to 400 miles of range, solar panels that may make gas stations obsolete, and a price tag of $35,000.
Getting inside the Aptera feels like entering a spaceship, as a secret knock on the side opens the door to reveal a cockpit made of forged carbon fiber. This lightweight and strong material acts as the vehicle’s backbone, allowing it to weigh just 2,200 pounds. Inside, the dashboard has a solar panel right in front, a daring attempt to capture sunlight but a risky one because the sun’s glare can blind you while driving. The steering yoke, influenced by Tesla’s playbook, feels comfortable in your hands, and the minimalist interior is primarily controlled by a central touchscreen that handles everything from air conditioning to window functions.
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On the road, the Aptera drives normally; despite its single rear wheel and unique design, it handles like a little car—perhaps a Honda Civic, as the Aptera team intended. The front-wheel-drive system provides plenty of torque—not enough to keep you glued to your seat, but enough to get you through traffic. The 200 horsepower is sufficient to compete with East Coast drivers, and the suspension is still a work in progress, but it handles major potholes better than anticipated. Cornering feels planted thanks to the large front wheels, but the single rear wheel makes itself known in tighter turns.
The Aptera’s roof, nose and trunk are covered in solar panels, which can add up to 40 miles of range per day in ideal conditions. Driving on a sunny day, the battery gauge ticks up slightly, a small but exciting confirmation of the vehicle’s promise. Parked outside, it could theoretically do a 40 mile daily commute without ever plugging in, a game changer for those tired of gas stations or charging stations. The NACS charge port, compatible with Tesla Superchargers, adds practicality for longer trips, snaps into place with a satisfying magnetic click.
Storage is another nice surprise. The rear hatch, opened with another secret knock, reveals a huge space like a large sedan, with tie-downs and a sub-trunk for smaller items. The aerodynamic design, with its teardrop shape and covered wheels, prioritizes efficiency over flash, cuts through the air like a dart. Side mirrors, slim and camera equipped, reduce drag but have low res views that could use an upgrade. No front plate and motorcycle style rear plate keeps the air flowing, a nod to the vehicle’s autocycle classification which only requires a standard driver’s license in the US.
Aptera’s journey to this point hasn’t been easy. Years of hype, 50,000 pre-orders at $100 each, shows enthusiasm but also skepticism, as they have yet to deliver a single vehicle. Recently Aptera became a Public Benefit Corporation, a legal status that prioritizes social and environmental goals alongside profit.
