Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Rumormill
Rumormill: Fisker designed Tesla's upcoming Whitestar sedan
Click above for high-res live gallery of the Fisker Karma
A site of which this blogger previously wasn't aware is reporting that the body of the soon-to-be-revealed Tesla WhiteStar sedan was originally penned by one Henrik Fisker. According to Street Import Online, a mole deep within San Carlos has spilled the beans that the designer who recently unveiled his own plug-in hybrid super sedan, the Fisker Karma (above), had previously been contracted by Tesla Motors for its second product. According to Street Import Online, Tesla had backed out of a deal to have Fisker create the body for the WhiteStar electric sedan but kept the design.
We contacted Tesla's Marketing VP Darryl Siry to verify the accuracy of this story, and Siry declined to either confirm or deny the report, which you can interpret however you choose. If the story is true, it may well have prompted Fisker to pursue building a similar vehicle under his own name, which led to the Karma. The WhiteStar sedan is planned as a battery electric sedan, although Tesla has acknowledged that is also developing a range-extended electric hybrid version. Regardless of who actually drew the WhiteStar, Tesla has said it plans to reveal the sedan's design later this Spring after it begins delivering a steady stream of EV Roadsters. Thanks for the tip, Jose!
Update: Our own sources indicate that Tesla is not using the Fisker design for the final car. Other than having four doors and a similar number of wheels, the Whitestar is completely different from the Fisker proposal.
[Source: Street Import Online]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tankd0g 11:32AM (4/11/2008)
The Karma looks like it's krill powered.
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saabyurk 11:47AM (4/11/2008)
Liberace would have fallen immediately in love with this car!
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Nacon 11:51AM (4/11/2008)
Cause they were drunken when they hired him, woke up on the next day, realizing they made a HUGE mistake.
In case anyone didn't notice... Henrik Fisker sucks.
Look at that car, it look SO happy, the "smiling" car.... It made me think of that Viagra(enzyte) pill guy, Bob... so lame.
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Aug 12:51PM (4/11/2008)
Seriously? He designed all the current Aston Martins. He's awesome.
Shawn 2:56PM (4/11/2008)
Aug, Ian Callum is generally credited for the design for current generation of Aston Martin starting with DB7. Fisker is partially responsible for DB9. He did AM8 and BMW Z8. However, the design language was created by Callum and Fisker followed through.
He's a fine design, but I don't really like anything from his Coachbuild.
Aug 3:01PM (4/11/2008)
Ah, okay Shawn.
I thought it was all him. I like the BMW Z8 though, and I think the Tramonto (except for its rear, maybe) is dead sexy.
Rocketboy 12:38PM (4/11/2008)
I bet mustache rides in that are a bit more than 10c.
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Rocketboy 12:40PM (4/11/2008)
I CONVERTED MY INCOME TO WORK OFF OF SELLING PEOPLE B/S! CHECK IT OUT.
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Toy Yoda 12:43PM (4/11/2008)
I'd rather a car look happy than mean. Anyways, Henrik Fisker sucks? I disagree. Didn't he pen the new Aston Martin series? What a gorgeous lineup.
I like how this Karma looks too.
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MajorGeek 12:44PM (4/11/2008)
LOL, you guys cry about lack of originality and complain when a vehicle takes cues from another then pick on an original design thats actually pretty sharp.
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MikeInNC 12:59PM (4/11/2008)
I think the design looks great. If the Whitestar looks anything like this and costs half what a Roaster does, it will sell like hot cakes.
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spincast 1:09PM (4/11/2008)
Does anyone else think that the Fisker Karma looks as if the Cheshire Cat humped a BMW Z4?
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
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Peter 3:31PM (4/11/2008)
Whoops - though this was a late entry for the Pixar cars photchops...
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k.w.a 3:43PM (4/11/2008)
i love the Karma! sure it looks a little "Happy," but the rest of the car is beautiful. i'd definitely get one if i had $8k lying around
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BlackbirdHighway 7:03AM (4/15/2008)
And now Fisker is being sued by Tesla! Claim is that Fisker was hired to do the Whitestar design, sabotaged the design, took the money, and then started their own car development.
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