Another alternative DeLorean: DNG Motors has announced a second model

DNG Motors, founded by Catherine DeLorean, daughter of the legendary American designer and entrepreneur John Zachary DeLorean, following the debut model Model-JZD, made based on the classic DeLorean DMC-12, plans to bring to the market a more mass-produced and affordable sports car, it will be made on the basis of the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.

Developed in the early 80s of the last century, the DeLorean DMC-12 sports car became famous thanks to its role as a time machine in Robert Zemeckis' science fiction film trilogy «Back to the Future», but John Zachariah DeLorean could not make a big business out of the DMC-12 — how and why, we were told in a separate large article. Today, the DeLorean trademark belongs to the DeLorean Motor Company, which is in no way connected with the DeLorean family. This company plans to produce modern premium electric cars; the first production model next year should be the Alpha5 fastback with a body from Italdesign, very vaguely reminiscent of the DeLorean DMC-12.

Kat DeLorean has undisguised contempt for the current DeLorean Motor Company and its projects, which, in her opinion, only discredit the name of her father. The daughter of a legendary entrepreneur from his third marriage wants to build an alternative, proper company, this company was named DNG Motors, the letters DNG stand for DeLorean Next Generation.

DeLorean DMC-12 and DNG Model-JZD

A year ago, DNG Motors announced its first model — the Model-JZD sports car (the letters JZD stand for John Zachary DeLorean) with gull-wing doors and styling close to the original DeLorean DMC-12, the appearance of the Model-JZD was developed by Spanish designer Angel Guerra.

Kat DeLorean recklessly promised to launch the Model-JZD into production at the beginning of this year and, of course, could not fulfill this promise — such projects are not done so quickly. Nevertheless, her newly created company is alive and making plans for the future, the American magazine Hagerty spoke about them this week.

DNG Model-JZD 1/3 DNG Model-JZD 2/3 DNG Model-JZD 3/3

So, the Model-JZD project remains in force, although nothing is yet known about what kind of car it will be in terms of technology — gasoline, electric or hybrid. We only know that the Model-JZD will be an expensive flagship model, the circulation of which will be only 42 copies (42 is a meme number from Douglas Adams’ novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”). When and where production of the Model-JZD will begin is also unknown, but DNG Motors is already working on a second, more affordable and mass-produced model — the company has been posting renderings of it on its social media pages since the beginning of this fall.

< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0f25da52284ea8ecc60014dc1c60e839.jpg" />Second model DNG

The renderings of the second model are also the work of Angel Guerra; this model does not yet have its own name, but its stylistic kinship with Model-JZD is felt. The second model will be based on the chassis and technical filling from the current mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette of the C8 generation, in which Cat DeLorean sees a historical connection with her father’s career. Before creating his own company, John Zachariah DeLorean worked for 17 years at General Motors, where he became one of the leading managers and was an adherent of the idea of ​​​​transferring the Corvette to a mid-engine platform. In the 70s, GM management did not dare to do this; subsequently, DeLorean even tried to buy the rights to the mid-engine Chevrolet Aerovette prototype from GM, but was refused.

Second model DNG 1/3 Second model DNG 2/3 Second model DNG 3/3

Now that GM finally has a mid-engine Corvette, Cat DeLorean believes she can make her father's dream of the ultimate sports car come true. The finished platform and technology will allow DNG Motors to significantly reduce the time and costs of developing the second model, but the body will have to be seriously worked on, because Kat DeLorean certainly wants the second model to have lifting doors. The original Corvette C8 does not have an integral roof, the body has it is like a targa, so you will have to build a superstructure for the overhead doors. Today it is not difficult to change the body design of the original car beyond recognition: the Italian supercar Ares S1 Project, for example, is also built on the basis of the Corvette C8, but does not look a bit like it.

DNG Model-JZD and the second model based on the Corvette C8

Whether Kat DeLorean will be able to create a full-fledged automobile company is unknown — it is clear that she has the temperament, but to launch a big one business also needs money and managerial talent — we hope Kat has both.