‘Back to the Future’ car goes back in production

Fans of the hit film “Back to the Future” will get a chance to experience getting on board and driving the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 sports car, complete with the signature gullwing door.

For the first time in over 30 years, the vehicle that has been adored by movie buffs worldwide will be back in limited production, the DeLorean Motor Company announced.

The Texas-based carmaker said it plans to produce about 300 new DMC-12 replicas starting next year, according to a report by The Guardian. The new DeLorean cars will be built with a more powerful and more environmentally efficient engine than the original model, the company said.

“DeLorean Motor Company has been working for some time to identify a supplier for engines and other parts that must be reproduced to facilitate this production for 2017,” the company said in a statement. “A number of hurdles exist before production can begin, and we’re still early on in this process of determining the feasibility of moving forward.”

While reports about building DeLorean replicas have surfaced as early as 2008, plans just recently firmed up, thanks to a US government initiative, titled the “Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act.” Otherwise known as H.R. 2675, the bill has provided the opening that DeLorean is waiting for to reproduce its well-loved car.

For the new DMC-12 model, the company is exploring three possible suppliers for the engine, including US car brand General Motors, DeLorean Vice President James Espey told car site Jalopnik. It will also sport bigger wheels, bigger brakes, and shocks from “a famous German supplier,” Espey was quoted as saying.

Since production will not begin until early 2017, those who wish to get their hands on the new DeLorean DMC-12 can save up for the sport car’s hefty price tag. The company said it plans to sell the updated version for US$80,000 (AU$112,413) to US$100,000 (AU$140,516).

It was in 1981 when the original DeLorean models were first manufactured. However, only 9,000 units were produced before the company filed for bankruptcy in 1983. DeLorean Motor Company is not connected to the original carmaker or to its founder John DeLorean.