2023 Fisker Ocean Extreme Sport Utility 4d on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Model X pinch sensor update, Karma plans first store

Tesla has improved Model X pinch sensor function in its latest over-the-air update. As we've seen, the pinch sensors already stop the falcon wing doors from completely shutting when they sense an obstruction. Now, though, the doors retract slightly after the sensors are triggered. While the pre-update doors didn't appear to do as much damage to human fingers as they do to various foodstuffs, it definitely looked uncomfortable, especially when one's hand is stuck in the partially closed door. Now, any pinch that does occur should be brief. See the updated sensors at work in the video above, and read more from Teslarati. Karma Automotive will move to Kawasaki's former headquarters in Irvine, California where it will also open its first store. The revival of the now defunct Fisker will sell its Revero plug-in hybrid through both dealerships and company-owned stores like the one planned for its new two-building campus. The property owner, Bixby, had planned to renovate the site, but now says Karma will make its own improvements. Bixby said it was seeking, "a progressive-minded tenant that would value the unique configuration," and appears to have found just that in Karma. Read more at Electrek, or from the OC Register. San Francisco is asking residents for help in expanding its subways. Using an online tool called Subway Vision, users can draw their own subway lines and stations that they'd like to see built and submit them to planners. Listening to the public is a useful tool for the city because, as Grahm Satterwhite, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's principal planner, admits, "Transportation planners may be too close to a problem to see the solution." This approach allows the subway expansions to "reflect the vision of not just a few transportation planners, but of all San Franciscans," he says. Read more from FastCo.Exist. Toyota is continuing its commitment to Yellowstone National Park with a sustainable Youth Campus for environmental education. The automaker donated $1 million to Yellowstone for the facility, which is seeking Living Building Challenge certification. It will have onsite wastewater treatment for its locally sourced water usage, and will generate all of its electricity needs from photovoltaic panels, with excess to put back into the grid. The campus will have classrooms and residences for students and staff for its youth programs.

Fisker delivers first Ocean One Launch Edition in Denmark

Danish car designer and eponymous automaker Henrik Fisker delivered the first Ocean One Launch Edition crossover in his native land, stopping by the Fisker Center+ in Copenhagen to deliver the keys to the new owner. The unit came in Great White over black, 22-inch AirGlider wheels, with white Alcantara seats set among a Sea Salt interior. Being the Launch Edition, it came with the most powerful 550-horsepower dual-motor drivetrain and nearly option, like the 17.1-inch swiveling infotainment screen and SolarSky roof. The dual-motor AWD Ocean One packs a 113-kWh battery powering a range of 436 miles in Euro testing on the 22-inch wheels specced on retail delivery #1. If the customer had chosen the 20-inch wheels, range would be 440 miles. Either number is enough to get from Copenhagen to Stockholm for a seaside vacation with the Ocean. Just after the Denmark celebration, Fisker flew to Munich, Germany, to commemorate the first Ocean registered in that country, a car delivered to Henrik himself. He also opened the new Fisker Lounge in the center of town and a showroom at the company's local headquarters in Munich Motorworld.  On this side of the Atlantic, the company spent last week addressing its Q1 results and expectations for deliveries. Headwinds continue for EV makers of all sizes, but Fisker told analysts he expects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to certify the Ocean this month so that deliveries can commence in June. If that timetable holds, all 5,000 examples of the Ocean One Launch Edition should meet their new owners by the end of September, around the same time the top-trim Ocean Extreme — the serial production version of the Ocean One Launch Edition without all the standard goodies — begins deliveries.  Even more recent news suggests a trim package on the way that could almost be considered a fifth trim. Not long after the Ocean debuted in 2020, Henrik Fisker teased an off-road version called the Force E, which stands for Force Electric. At the time, the overhaul was touted as a fleet option for companies who needed "an extreme off-road package" with items like a brush guard, big beadlock tires, and a water spout set into the front bumper. The latest Force E package targets the camping set with a stouter roof rack, new front and rear bumpers, tow hooks at both ends, and less aggressive non-beadlock 33-inch tires on 20-inch wheels. Inside, the options sheet extends to grab handles, tiedowns, and rubber floors.

Wanxiang's last-minute bid for Fisker could restart Karma production, add Atlantic hatchback [UPDATE]

The remains of bankrupt Fisker Automotive are supposed to be sold by the Department of Energy to Hybrid Tech Holdings LLC for $25 million. But, the new year brings a new possibility for the troubled plug-in hybrid automaker and now we hear that Wanxiang America Corp. wants to jump in at the last minute and snatch Fisker up in a 'stalking horse' deal. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. Stalking horse offers are intended to prevent undervalued deals from taking place. Since the DOE is reportedly losing $139 million on its Fisker holdings, it seems like any pressure to increase the $25 million bid would be welcomed. Wanxiang's bid isn't that much different than what Hybrid Tech Holdings was offering, though, since WHYY reports that Wanxiang is offering to pay "$24.7 million and will assume some of Fisker's liabilities." The big difference is that a Wanxiang purchase could bring Fisker production back to life. The big difference is that a Wanxiang purchase could bring Fisker production back to life. In court documents, Wanxiang mentions a new Fisker design (a hatchback version of the Atlantic, pictured above) and proposed restarting Karma production at Valmet in Finland, the place where all of the Karmas built to date have been made. At an unspecified future date, production would be moved to VL Automotive's manufacturing facility in Michigan. Wanxiang calls VL a business partner, but you might remember it as the Bob-Lutz-connected company that wants to put small-block Corvette V8 engines into Karma bodies, creating the Destino. Lutz and Wanxiang previously tried to buy Fisker in early 2013. You can find the court documents below, and the concept is on page 11 of the Wanxiang Presentation. On page six you will find mention of a "Karma / Destino production line" and then on page 12 we hear about trucks, cargo vans and SUVs, all of which hints at Wanxiang's big dreams. How big? Wanxiang thinks it could sell 1,000 Karma/Destinos in the first 18 months in the US, along with 500 a year in Europe. The last stalking horse in the plug-in vehicle industry happened when Coda went under. Before that, Johnson Controls acted as a stalking horse against Wanxiang Group Corp. when Wanxiang bought the remains of A123 Systems. A123 batteries were used in the Fisker Karma powertrain, but the relationship between the two companies was troubled. Perhaps when everything is owned by the same corporate entity, things will run smoother.