2023 Fisker Ocean on 2040-cars

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Will Bob Lutz's VL Automotive really offer V8 conversions for Tesla Model S?

VL Automotive is closely tied up with Fisker. The company's first product, the Destino, is a converted Karma and the Destino Red Concept, just unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, is the same hardtop Karma convertible that Fisker showed in 2009. So, what a surprise it was to see that Bob Lutz, who owns half of VL Automotive, is ready to convert a brand new electric vehicle: the Tesla Model S. A gas-powered Tesla? Say what? A gas-powered Tesla? Say what? That's at least one way to read this short article in The Detroit News. There's not a lot of context and a distinct lack of details, so we're left wondering if maybe Lutz just meant that Model S owners can buy a Destino. You can read the exchange for yourself here. What we do know is that Lutz said that VL Automotive has already sold nine Destino conversions. The cars cost $200,000, up from the previous estimate of $180,000, and well above the $116,000 max price tag on the original Karma. For your money, you get a 6.2-liter V8 taken from a Chevrolet Corvette that puts out 636 horsepower and can beat the 135-mile-per-hour top speed that the Karma has. Lutz said that all could add up to sales of around 200 or 300 Destinos each year. Featured Gallery VL Destino Red Concept: Detroit 2014 View 21 Photos News Source: The Detroit News via Green Car ReportsImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Green Detroit Auto Show Fisker Tesla Electric Hybrid PHEV vl automotive destino

Fisker EMotion EV and flexible solid-state battery debut at CES

We've been following Henrik Fisker's new company closely, and have taken a keen interest not just in his Fisker EMotion luxury electric sedan, but also in the battery and charging technology the company's been developing. Now, at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show ( CES) in Las Vegas, we've gotten a full reveal of the upcoming vehicle, as well as new details about Fisker's solid-state battery technology, which has the potential for dramatic increases in electric driving range. Fisker teased the reveal of the EMotion in recent days, showing off the butterfly doors, and giving us a glimpse of the interior. Previously, we had learned of its fantastic, 400-plus-mile range and swift charging capabilities. A conversation we had with Henrik Fisker revealed more about the design, the battery and a secret charging method that he thought could change the EV game. Now, we have a lot more details about the car, though Fisker is still keeping some of his company's tricks under his hat. View 21 Photos The all-wheel-drive Fisker EMotion will have an estimated top speed of 161 miles per hour. It will be capable of Level 4 automated driving thanks to a suite of five Quanergy lidar sensors. The car will ride on 24-inch Pirelli low-rolling-resistance tires. The butterfly doors feature flush handles, and they open and close with the help of smartphone control. The car is about 197 inches long, with an overall height of about 52 inches, but Fisker says the packaging of the electric powertrain allows for a more spacious interior than most vehicles of this size. Let's talk more about that interior, as this is the first time we've gotten such a close look at it. It's very luxurious, combining the comfort of leather with the convenience of modern infotainment technology. Fisker says it will also offer a vegan interior option for the EMotion. The car has four individually adjustable electric seats, with a five-seat option with a rear bench. Fisker promised the car would provide entertainment when operating in autonomous mode, and that comes in the form of three driver-oriented screens, with a curved center screen, as well as an optional 27-inch rear curved screen for the Chauffeur Edition EMotion. The glass roof features four zones of tint, each electrically adjustable to let in your desired amount of light. The Fisker EMotion is set to launch by the end of 2019, with a starting price of $129,000. The company is currently taking reservations for $2,000 at its website.

New Fisker owner Wanxiang is a $23-billion-a-year auto parts company

If you thought early Fisker Karma buyers like celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio and Cee Lo Green had deep pockets, get a load of the company's new owners. China's Wanxiang Group, which earlier this year acquired the extended-range plug-in vehicle maker in a bankruptcy auction, generates more than $23 billion in annual revenue, Automotive News says. Billion with a "b." In fact, the company generates about $3 billion a year from US autoparts sales alone, so it's no stranger to the domestic automotive industry. That said, there's plenty of work to be done to revive the company. Wanxiang US chief Pin Ni said the Karma has "hundreds of issues" that need fixing before the sleek but troubled sedan is manufactured again. One hurdle cleared, though, is the fact that Wanxiang also bought lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems out of bankruptcy for $257 million. As for Fisker, Wanxiang beat out Hong Kong-based Hybrid Tech Holdings for the right to buy the automaker earlier this year for $126.2 million in cash and $8 million in assumed liabilities. And, while Wanxiang Group Chairman Lu Guanqui has recently been making the rounds with dignitaries such as US Vice President Joe Biden, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Delaware Governor Jack Markell, no details have been revealed about when Fisker will start making cars again.