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Fisker Ronin previewed as electric four-door, four-seater convertible

Fisker plans to expand its range of electric vehicles with a four-door, four-seater convertible called Ronin. The model is being engineered to have "the world's longest range for a production EV," according to the company, and a new digital rendering gives us a better look at it. Published on the official Fisker website, the computer-generated preview image shows a convertible with a futuristic-looking front end that's characterized by a light strip made up of individual LEDs. There's no grille, which isn't surprising for an electric vehicle, but it looks like designers chiseled air intakes into the lower part of the front bumper. McLaren-like dihedral front doors and massive wheels add a touch of drama to the design. We don't know how the rear doors open yet, and Fisker hasn't released images of the Ronin's rear end or interior yet. Earlier in 2022, company founder Henrik Fisker pledged that the Ronin will offer 660 miles of driving range when tested on the WLTP cycle used in Europe. While the convertible's EPA-estimated range will undoubtedly be lower, even a 500-mile range would be an impressive figure. We don't know how Fisker plans to achieve that yet. In terms of specifications, all that's been announced is that the Ronin will offer "extremely high levels of performance" and serve as "a showcase for [Fisker's] internal engineering, powertrain and software capabilities." It's being developed by Magic Works, a United Kingdom-based division tasked with bringing special high-end projects to production. If everything goes according to plan, Fisker will unveil the Ronin as a close-to-production concept in August 2023 and will begin building the model the following year, according to Motor Authority. Pricing will reportedly start under $200,000. In the meantime, the company will continue developing a smaller, far more affordable, and Foxconn-built EV called Pear that's allegedly due out by the end of 2024. Green Fisker Convertible Electric

Fisker unveils EMotion electric sedan's butterfly doors

Henrik Fisker runs a new company called Fisker Inc., founded after Fisker Automotive crumbled and the Karma electric sedan went to China to be resurrected as the Revero made by a company called Karma. Any new company needs a new product, and Fisker has it: the EMotion electric sedan, which will bring its 400-mile-plus range, four butterfly doors, and a tiny example of its "revolutionary" battery to next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. We have about enough specs on the EMotion to fill a Post-It note, but we're told that the range comes courtesy of a whopping 143-kWh lithium-ion battery that can be re-juiced with a 125-mile range in nine minutes. Fisker Inc. had formed a joint venture with Nanotech to produce graphene batteries, but the JV fell apart. Fisker says the replacement li-ion batteries sourced from LG Chem employ proprietary module packaging to create "probably... the most energy dense battery pack in the world." The company won't be ready to divulge all of its battery and cooling secrets at CES, however, reps do plan to bring a cellphone-sized version to demonstrate the possibilities. Other innovations in development are an automated, hands-free charging connector. As for those doors, they take us back to the Savage Rivale Landyacht GTS, being butterfly portals all around, rear-hinged for the rear set. Not sure how practical they'll be, but they make the all-wheel drive EMotion look like nothing else - something the EMotion already didn't need to worry about. Fisker says the sedan's interior will be more spacious those of its competitors, with rear legroom exceeding that of "many full-size luxury sedans." Every seat gets viewing screens, and top speed rings in at 161 miles per hour. Fisker expects production to begin in 2019 somewhere in the US, and set the base price at $129,000. The order books are open now, with a $2,000 deposit securing your reservation. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla hiring new sales executives, A123 focuses on starter batteries

A123 Systems is shifting more of its focus to lithium-ion starter batteries for cars with stop-start systems. The company sees the smaller batteries as a safer, more viable way to bounce back from its recent bankruptcy than by providing battery packs to power EVs. A123 still provides EV batteries to China, and hopes to provide them to Fisker, which is now owned by a mutual parent company, Wanxiang. A123's Detroit facility is currently building starter batteries for Mercedes-Benz, with microhybrid battery production expected in within the next few years. Read more at Automotive News. Tesla Motors Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Service Jerome Guillen is being reassigned to a role in customer satisfaction. After struggling sales in California and China, Tesla is also seeking sales executives for its three major sales regions: North America, Europe and Asia. "Once they are on board, Jerome's focus will be on post- sales activity from delivery to long-term customer care, where he has done an incredible job," says Tesla. For 2014, North America made up about 55 percent of Tesla's sales, while Europe and Asia made up 30 and 15 percent, respectively. Tesla expects those numbers to eventually be distributed evenly, and aims to increase sales by 74 percent this year. Read more at Automotive News. David Noland of Green Car Reports wants Tesla to address a double-pedal problem in the Model S. Noland says that when both the accelerator and brake pedal are pressed at the same time, it can increase the stopping distance, creating unsafe situations. Noland, along with other drivers with large feet, are having problems with this due to the narrow spacing between the pedals. Elon Musk has stated that the Model S limits torque in a double-pedal situation, but Noland's own tests find some inconsistencies. Noland would like to see a change to the firmware to address this problem. Read more at Green Car Reports. Featured Gallery Tesla Model S View 10 Photos Related Gallery 2012 Fisker Karma: Second Drive View 30 Photos News Source: Automotive News, Automotive News, Green Car ReportsImage Credit: Tesla Motors Green Fisker Tesla Green Automakers Safety Electric recharge wrapup