- A new electromod drop-in kit from Electrogenic provides the DeLorean DMC-12 with modern power.
- It makes 215 horsepower, offers 150 miles of range, and weighs just 88 pounds more than stock.
- Pricing ranges between £65,000 and £85,000 (US$82,000-$107,000).
Classic cars garner recognition for several reasons, but their performance often plays a role. In other cases, while athleticism is meager, styling or pop culture makes a vehicle a classic all on its own. The DeLorean DMC-12 falls in the latter category but a new electromodding company might have a fix.
That ‘fix’ is a ‘drop-in’ or ‘plug-and-play’ kit that exchanges the stock V6 for an all-electric drivetrain. That includes a 43 kWh battery that sits where the fuel tank would. In addition, a single electric motor powers the rear axle with 215 horsepower (160 kW) and 228 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque. That’s a huge jump over the original 130 horsepower (97 kW) and 153 lb-ft (207 Nm) this car had.
Read: Lynx Motors Brings DeLorean And Ford GT Back From The Future With An Electric Twist
According to Electrogenic, the company behind the drivetrain swap, this upgrade cuts the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time from 10 seconds to just under 5 seconds—not bad at all. It’s compatible with both manual and automatic versions of the DeLorean. Steve Drummond, the CEO of Electrogenic, believes the DeLorean is an obvious choice for an EV powertrain swap—because what better way to fix a car known more for its looks than its performance?
“Since founding Electrogenic in 2018, we’ve seen a great deal of interest from around the world in the prospect of a DeLorean EV conversion,” said Drummond.
“With its sci-fi design – still jaw-dropping over 40 years on – and underwhelming engine, it really is the perfect candidate for conversion to electric drive. We’re now delighted to reveal our ‘plug and play’ conversion package to the world. Developed entirely in-house using our proprietary technology, it gives the DMC-12 the sporting performance its futuristic shape always deserved,” he added .
Here’s why this electromod might be perfect: sure, it dramatically improves performance, but that’s not the whole story. The kit enhances performance without stripping away any of the notable features of the original. In fact, as an EV, it’s almost more in harmony with the original vision and adds just 40 kg (88 lbs) to the stock weight.
“When John DeLorean set out to make the DMC-12 over forty years ago, he was determined to create a sports car that was sustainable and would stand the test of time. An EV conversion therefore makes total sense and feels in keeping with the ethos of the original project,” said Drummond. It’ll offer “over 150 miles of range” and fast charging though there’s no word on how quickly it can fill back up.
Notably, the entire swap is completely reversible. It doesn’t require cutting, fabricating, or modifying the chassis. No car is perfect, but this one checks a lot of boxes. Just be sure to have between £65,000 and £85,000 ($82,000-$107,000 USD) on hand for the swap, depending on the condition of the donor car and the rates from Electrogenic’s partners.
