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Bob Lutz predicts Fisker-based VL Destino will world's fastest sedan [w/video]

Ever look at an EV or a dedicated hybrid and wonder what it'd be like with a conventional, high-output V8 under the hood instead of all those batteries and circuit boards? Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villareal did when it came to the Fisker Karma. The result is the Destino from VL Automotive – a vehicle that Lutz says could be the fastest sedan in the world. The Destino was born like a phoenix rising from the ashes of Fisker Automotive and its shapely Karma – an aborted and very costly attempt at making a dedicated hybrid luxury sedan, undertaken by noted automotive designer Henrik Fisker. The project ultimately faltered, but Lutz and Villareal formed VL Automotive to pick up the pieces and put it back together. Only when they did, they got rid of the hybrid propulsion system and replaced it with the 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 V8 from the previous Corvette ZR1, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. With 630 horsepower, a svelte shape and 1,000 pounds trimmed off the curb weight, the VL Destino is expected to top out at or around 200 miles per hour. According to Lutz in his article for Fortune magazine, that would make it "among the fastest four-door cars in the world," but in the accompanying video below, he goes even further to say that the the Destino "most likely will be the world's fastest four-door sedan." To claim the top honor, though, it'll have to vanquish the 204-mile-per-hour Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat – another four-door sedan with a supercharged V8 made by an American automaker... one over which Lutz used to preside, no less. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Long-term Review | Introducing something green

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — I'm stoked to drive this minivan. Legitimately. The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid is an impressive evolution of the minivan and a smart execution of electric technology. Why hasn't someone made a hybrid minivan until now? I ponder this as I unplug the charger and take my first spin in the Pacifica, the newest addition to the Autoblog long-term fleet. Sinking into the leather seats, I'm immediately relaxed. That's why you buy a minivan: comfort and convenience. Hybrid tech? Well that makes this thing sustainable and even cool. Whether your friends are swanky or wonky, play the plug-in hybrid card and your people hauler is cooler than theirs. What we got We went with the Pacifica Hybrid Limited. It starts at $44,995 and wears a beautiful shade of Ocean Blue. The interior features black and alloy pieces and leather. Power comes from the sturdy 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 dubbed the eHybrid for this application, and it works with an eFlite electrically variable transmission home to two motors making 84 and 114 hp. The hybrid battery pack has 96 lithium-ion cells that generate 16 kWh of energy. The net system power is 260 horsepower. In real-world driving, it's quick, torquey and more fun to drive than the average minivan. It can charge in two hours using a Level 2 charger and offers 33 miles of range on pure electricity. Collectively, it puts out 84 MPGe, and using just the Pentastar it's still rated at a robust 32 mpg in combined city and highway driving conditions. The Limited is the top-of-the line Pacifica trim, offering heated and vented front seats, an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen and 13 Alpine speakers as standard equipment. We added a safety and tech package ($995) that includes parking assist, a 360-degree surround view camera, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, seatback video screens and a Blu-ray DVD player. We also ticked the box for the hybrid appearance package ($395) to add 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, body color treatments for the mirrors and door handles, and a "Black Spear Applique" for the rear fascia. It's not worth your money. We topped it off with the $1,595 tri-pane sunroof, which is totally worth your money. Final cost including destination: $49,325. It's reasonable, considering the level of luxury the Limited offers, and as we all know, hybrid tech isn't cheap. If you can get the $7,500 federal tax credit the government offers on electrics, it's a great value.

This is Henrik Fisker's idea of a yacht

He's done cars, he's done motorcycles, and now Henrik Fisker is branching out into boats. The Danish designer revealed the first fruit of his new collaboration with Italian shipyard Benetti at the Singapore Yacht Show last week. The Benetti Fisker 50 superyacht concept calls for a vessel measuring 164 feet, or roughly the length of 10 Karmas parked nose to tail. In that space, Fisker and Benetti envision fitting a spacious salon, a top-deck lounge, swimming pool, sunbathing decks, and "beach club" swim platform, plus six guest cabins, and quarters for 11 crew members. All that spread across three decks with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The master suite alone boasts a library, fold-down balcony, fireplace, and a private staircase to the upper deck with a home theater that can be converted into a gym. The yacht is designed to be built using carbon fiber, reclaimed wood, and other exotic materials. Of course it would be up for the eventual commissioning owner to specify the vessel to his or her needs from the shipyard in Tuscany. That includes the powertrain combination, but true to the Fisker name, a hybrid propulsion system will be on offer. Solar panels are also part of the design. Given the high cost associated with commissioning a yacht this size, it may be a while before Benetti finds a buyer – much less actually gets it out on the open water. Fortunately the shipyard has other projects under way, as does Fisker: the designer recently revealed Vipers, Mustangs, and Aston Martins, all rebodied in his signature style – and even teamed up with Bob Lutz and company to relaunch the Karma as the VLF Destino, ditching the hybrid powertrain for a supercharged V8. OFFICIAL REVEAL OF Benetti "Fisker 50" concept – ready to be built -A 164 feet superyacht concept designed by Henrik Fisker -Dynamic sporty three decks -Offering ultimate luxury living on board -Convertible upper deck from movie theatre to gym area -Advanced solar panels provide ambient deck lighting, using solar power stored during the day April 8, 2016 – SINGAPORE – Entrepreneur and acclaimed international designer Henrik Fisker and influential global superyacht builder Benetti revealed the concept of a 50 meter – (164 feet) superyacht, Benetti "Fisker 50". Benetti and Fisker have worked on this partnership throughout 2015 to fully engineer the feasibility of this production-optimized superyacht.