The effort to revive the DeLorean DMC-12, considered as one of Hollywood’s most iconic cars, is now in full swing, and from the looks of things, it appears that the new version will receive a host of modern-day parts and components, including a new and more powerful engine that at would least double the output of the original 2.8-liter V-6 engine.

No details have been unveiled in that regard, but according to Jalopnik, Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company – not related to the original DeLorean Motor Company – is looking at three possible engine suppliers for the revived DMC-12. One of these engines is a naturally-aspirated V-6 that reportedly produces anywhere from 300 to 400 horsepower.

In addition to the new engine, the new DMC-12 is also slated to get a new chassis, electrical system, wheels, tires, and brakes. This is being done in an attempt to modernize the iconic vehicle and make it more suitable for today’s technological standards. The chassis, in particular, will be built with a NOS chassis to help protect it from corrosion, a common problem that the original DMC-12 was plagued with. The car’s wheels will also be replaced and an updated braking system will put in place to accommodate these changes. Likewise, the interior will be upgraded with an in-car entertainment system, to go with high-end instrument clusters and modern amenities like heated and cooled seats. No more of those AM/FM cassette decks found in the original.

DMC has already met with a number of suppliers to address the issues of the DMC-12, although details on specific suppliers have yet to be unveiled.

Despite all these changes, the DMC-12 will retain its famous looks, keeping in tune with the spirit of the original model. That should include the fastback body type, the sloped hood, and the famous gull-wing doors. DMC plans to build around 300 units of the DMC-12, priced in the $100,000 range, with an eye towards launching the car in 2017.

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Why it matters

You have to give it to the DeLorean Motor Company for seeing this whole project through no matter how many challenges it has faced over the years. Remember, the company initially announced its plan to sell custom-made electric DeLoreans in 2011 before being subjected to a long legal battle against the widow of John Z. DeLorean. It wasn’t until October 2015 – four years after the initial plan was made – that the lawsuit was settled out of court in exchange for DMC receiving the rights to use the of company’s name, trademarks, and logo.

That exercise in patience and determination should be lauded in it of itself, but the company still has a lot to work with on how it plans to rebuild these cars to bring them up to par with today’s standards. Some of the work is within the company’s control, but there are issues that it also has to hurdle that are completely out of its control. One of the biggest sticking points is the Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015, which would allow small companies like DMC to build up to 325 replicas per year of cars that were built at least 25 years ago. The problem is that the law requires both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to put in final regulations. Those regulations are expected to be discussed by December 2016 but it’s easy to see why DMC is clamoring to have the process sped up so it knows when to start production of its cars.

Hopefully, these issues get settled in time because I’m rooting for these guys to succeed. I want to see the hard work they put into making this work get rewarded. Plus, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who agrees with this, I want to see the DMC-12, or at least a modernized version of it, hit the road as an actual production car. That’s been the dream of a lot of Back to the Future fans and if it does happen, you can be sure that a lot of people will be interested in buying these cars from DMC.