Fisker sets up shop in Pontiac, Michigan
Click above for high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma
The Big 3 may be laying off workers left, right and center, but at least one start up is moving into town to swoop up some skilled workers. That start-up is Fisker Automotive, the aspiring luxury-hybrid automaker headed up by noted designed Henrik Fisker. The new facility is based in a leased property in Pontiac, Michigan, in suburban Detroit, and will help Fisker's engineers get the Karma, first shown in concept form at the last Detroit show and ambitiously gearing up for a production preview at the next one.
The Pontiac site is not replacing Fisker's Irvine, California, headquarters, nor its production site in Finland. It will, however, bring the outfit closer to component suppliers in the Detroit area in an effort to expedite the development process. The 34,000-sq.-ft. Pontiac facility already has approximately 130 staff members hard at work on the Karma, ramping up to 200 dedicated workers and consultants from local parts suppliers.
[Source: Automotive News – subs. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 8:46AM (11/12/2008)
Does anyone see the obvious rip off of the Chrysler Chronos show car in this design - minus the 300c like grill, it is the same car.
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JN 9:03AM (11/12/2008)
The two cars could have come from the same hand, Dave. The difference? The Karma's front makes it look like Henrik got scared by a '39 Buick when he was a kid.
Kevin 8:58AM (11/12/2008)
Wow, read about the car some more. This has been in development for several years. It's a hell of a lot closer to a BMW than a Chrysler anything.
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Preus 9:02AM (11/12/2008)
Danish design FTW.
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JN 9:06AM (11/12/2008)
http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/chronos.html
Maybe you need to read a little more, Kevin. FWIW, the Chrysler is still the better looking car.
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andybee 9:29AM (11/12/2008)
...in your opinion.
certainly not mine
dsharp23 11:42AM (11/12/2008)
"Chrysler is still the better looking car."
what are you blind? that thing is ugly as hell. I think the Fisker is awesome.
Alex 9:12AM (11/12/2008)
God, that car is ugly.
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John P. 9:38AM (11/12/2008)
It makes sense from a skilled workforce and geography standpoint, but I sure hope the taxpayers of Michigan aren't paying for this nonsense in some way. That car is ugly. I give it about a 5% chance of surviving more than a couple years.
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UCJR 9:39AM (11/12/2008)
The front almost looks like the Guy Fawkes mask from 'V for Vendetta'.
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Khalid 10:06AM (11/12/2008)
Yup, looks like they slapped the mask onto a granturismo.
http://pulseautosport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/2008-maserati-gran-turismo-s-1.jpg
fixitfixitstop 10:31AM (11/12/2008)
Yay! Jobs for Michigan!
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Bluestreak 10:45AM (11/12/2008)
After what he did with Astons, Fisker surely has more potential than this. The Karma is a styling nightmare. When it first showed up in the car mags months ago, I thought it would almost certainly be dropped in favor of something less hideous. There's no hope for it-- remove the unique design elements (i.e. the unattractive parts) and you're left with something completely derivative. As it is, this one will get you noticed, but I'd rather be seen in a Yaris.
Perhaps Fisker and Bangle should hook up and start building cars for those with lots of cash but no taste.
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Torrent 11:06AM (11/12/2008)
Good looking car.
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Dave 11:16AM (11/12/2008)
Say what you want about the design but see Allpar's site http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/chronos.html pictures don'tlie.
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happy_penguin 12:22PM (11/12/2008)
It is a cool car. I wish them luck because they're going to need a lot of it in this financial climate and I'd love to see it succeed.
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bobsacomano 12:31AM (11/14/2008)
I think this might be the most beautiful car I have ever seen.
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