Alpha Motor Corp. released photos of its latest battery electric concept vehicle last week, dubbed the Saga Estate. The prototype joins its siblings, the Saga and SuperSaga sports sedans, Ace coupe, Jax SUV, and the Wolf pickup., all of which are battery electric vehicles designed and marketed by Alpha, and contract manufactured.
Like the company’s other prototypes, the Saga Estate wears a face reminiscent of past performance cars, with styling cues cribbed from here and there. Yet it cloaks an up-to-date BEV driveline.
What motivates it
The Saga Estate, like Alpha’s other models uses its “Sleek Adaptive Geometric Architecture” and employs a 450-volt, dual-motor all-wheel-drive system powered by an 85-kilowhatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Range is estimated to be 300 miles and can be recharged up to 80% in up to an hour using DC power. Alpha intends its Saga to be DC fast-charging compatible using a combo charging adapter.
While Alpha didn’t mention it, don’t be surprised if the Saga Estate uses same the Driver-Assistance Systems used in other Sagas, including Cross-Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Indicator, Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Forward Collision Warning.
A bigger Alpha
While the Saga Estate retains the tough, pugnacious stance of the Saga sedans, it’s added length lends it a bit more of a refined appearance. Like other Alpha models, there’s very little sheet metal over the wheel arches, giving it a stance of a classic, if modern, British car as its beltline arcs cleanly from the front to rear finders. Lightweight aluminum alloy body panels sheath the car’s high-strength steel framing with 225/65R tires on 17-inch wheels nestled under its aggressive wheel arches.
At 191 inches long, 78 inches wide and 57 inches tall, the Saga Estate is 6 inches longer and 3 inches wider than its sedan counterpart and boasts 35 cubic feet of cargo space. And, it also has a frunk, but you probably expected that.
Inside, you’ll find seating for five and a stark modernist vibe with an aggressively horizontal instrument panel interposed by a large digital center display with Bluetooth, haptic climate and audio controls, and a premium digital audio system. A digital speedometer dominates the instrument cluster.
This sounds great, but where did the company come from?
Alpha Motor Corp. was established by Edward Lee, the company’s current executive chairman and an American car designer with more than 18 years of automotive industry experience, according to the company.
The privately held business is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is privately funded. Plans call for its vehicles to be built through contract vehicle manufacturing in the United States and Europe, although other details have yet to be announced.
Alpha intends to develop a vehicle service network, which suggests it will use the online business model pioneered by Tesla. The company plans to warranty its battery pack for a minimum of eight years or up to 100,000 miles.
The prognosis? Wait and see
While it remains to be seen whether Alpha Motors will truly take off, or merely become the wishful thinking of another EV startup, the company’s pronouncements are confident.
“The company has a unique perspective that comes from experience in the automotive industry and is laying out an optimal roadmap to reach its goal,” the company stated in a press release without providing specifics. “In 2022, Alpha Motor Corp. aims to make considerable progress in vehicle production and robust preparations for future market entry.”
Given the stunning design of their products, let’s hope it happens. But the lack of clarity regarding its financial position may give some potential buyers pause.
“Style” is not the word I would use to describe the outer shape of this thing. I guess none of the Alpha executives had a 16 year old in the family. Even worse than what BMW’s been putting out recently.