Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/fisker-gm-delaware-plant-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/fisker-gm-delaware-plant-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/fisker-gm-delaware-plant-official/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In Wilmington, Delaware this morning, Governor Jack Markell was joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Henrik Fisker (seen at right) for the official announcement about the purchase of General Motors' closed plant there. Fisker will re-tool the plant to build a new, more affordable plug-in hybrid sedan to slot in below its more luxurious Karma. The goal is to have the model sell for under $40,000 after federal tax credits.

The current schedule is to have the car in production by the end of 2012 with volumes getting up to 75,000-100,000 units annually by 2014. Fisker has moved up its development schedule for what they are calling Project Nina thanks to the $528 million low cost loan it recently received courtesy of the Department of Energy. During the announcement, Fisker stated that he wants to export half of the production from the plant while creating 5,000 jobs in the U.S. (2,000 at the plant and 3,000 at suppliers). The local UAW president was also on hand, so it looks like the plant will remain unionized, which is very unusual for a startup auto plant.

Fisker is paying $18 million for the factory from Motors Liquidation which is the remainder of "Old GM" which is selling off assets from bankruptcy court. The plant most recently produced the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, both of which ended production last spring.


Gallery: Fisker Karma

fisker_karma006bfisker_karma016image003-fkfisker_karma_1747refisker_karma_1798re-3

[Source: Fisker Automotive | Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty]

Continue reading Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant

Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there was any doubt that Fisker Automotive is keenly interested in attracting buyers from the luxury car sector - and, no, there really wasn't any doubt - today's announcement that the company has hired the former president and CEO of Maserati North America should put any lingering questions to rest.

Fisker has appointed Marti Eulberg to the position of vice president of global sales and marketing after being head of Maserati North America for less than one year. Eulberg's position means she will "develop global sales and marketing strategies and manage Fisker's worldwide retail network." Eulberg, a true auto industry veteran, has also worked for Jaguar, Volvo and BMW as well as managing Ford dealerships and interning at General Motors.

As we've seen, Fisker is not following fellow green luxury car maker Tesla down the independent store path. Instead, Fisker will license independent dealerships, hopefully to benefit from their expertise with selling expensive vehicles in local markets. Complete press release available after the jump.

Gallery: Fisker Karma


[Source: Fisker]

Continue reading Fisker nabs ex-Maserati North America chief for sales and marketing duties

Fisker nabs ex-Maserati North America chief for sales and marketing duties originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobloggreenfiskerfisker automotivefisker hybridfisker karmafisker karma hybridfisker karma sfisker Marti EulbergFiskerAutomotiveFiskerHybridFiskerKarmaFiskerKarmaHybridFiskerKarmaSFiskerMartiEulbergMarti EulbergMartiEulbergFri, 07 Aug 2009 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy shots: Fisker Karma makes an appearance in California]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/09/spy-shots-fisker-karma-makes-an-appearance-in-california/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/09/spy-shots-fisker-karma-makes-an-appearance-in-california/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/09/spy-shots-fisker-karma-makes-an-appearance-in-california/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Up until now, the Fisker Karma hasn't really been much more than a pretty face to go along with a promise. That changes today, thanks to a spy photographer who was lucky enough to catch the upcoming plug-in hybrid sedan out testing in California. Lawsuits often seem to have a dampening effect on enthusiasm, so it's good to see the Karma out and about. We can clearly see that the body is the same shape as what we all saw at its introduction earlier this year in Detroit. What we don't know yet is what's powering those shapely curves down the road. The first inclination from Autocar is that a Volkswagen 1.4-liter four-banger will provide power to the lithium ion batteries via a generator, but we really can't be sure what's being tested. Still, given the amount of electric know-how that Quantum Technologies, the electric powertrain supplier to Fisker, already has, we wouldn't be too surprised if something close to final-spec components were being run through their paces.

UPDATE: For what it's worth, these photos were not captured by a photographer hiding in the bushes. They were apparently actually put out by Fisker's Beverly Hills PR agency Rogers & Cowan. We still don't know anything about the mechanicals of the car in question, only that Fisker is trying to generate some buzz.

[Source: Autocar via AutoblogGreen, Autoweek]

Spy shots: Fisker Karma makes an appearance in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 May 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we recently reported, rumors have been swirling regarding Henrik Fisker's involvement with Tesla Motors and its upcoming electric sedan prototype known as the WhiteStar. As is often the case, there's apparently some truth to the scuttlebutt, as Tesla has filed a lawsuit claiming that Fisker Automotive is using stolen design ideas from Tesla sourced when Fisker Coachbuild was employed by the young EV automaker for the styling of its sedan.

According to Tesla chairman Elon Musk, "We could not use the Fisker styling. The styling was substandard compared to what he unveiled for his product. He gave us an inferior work product, and it's obvious why." In the process of working for Tesla, the lawsuit contends that Henrik Fisker and a few of his associates stole design ideas and confidential information related to the design of hybrid and electric cars. Fisker has since announced his upcoming Karma hybrid-electric sedan. Tesla seeks to have Fisker Automotive stop using any design ideas garnered from its relationship with Tesla, and any money paid to Fisker Coachbuild returned along with other unspecified damages.

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster


Gallery: Fisker Karma


[Source: The New York Times]

Tesla files suit against Fisker Automotive originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingfiskerfisker hybridfisker karmafisker-karmaFiskerHybridFiskerKarmalawsuitsueteslatesla motorstesla roadstertesla white startesla whitestartesla-motorstesla-roadstertesla-white-startesla-whitestarTeslaMotorsTeslaRoadsterTeslaWhitestarTue, 15 Apr 2008 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Fisker Karma to project jet turbine sound using speakers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/fisker-karma-to-project-a-jet-turbine-sound-using-speakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/fisker-karma-to-project-a-jet-turbine-sound-using-speakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/fisker-karma-to-project-a-jet-turbine-sound-using-speakers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more high-res images of the Fisker Karma

Every automaker realizes that they need to make their vehicles consume less gas, reduce emissions and lessen their overall effect on the environment. One obvious way to make this happen is to go electric, but that solution poses its own host of problems. One potential sticking-point is that many drivers love the way their car sounds and have gotten used to the underhood roar and scintillating exhaust note of an internal combustion engine. But, what if your electric car sounded ''like something between a Formula One car and a jet plane?"

That's exactly what Henrik Fisker plans to do with his new Karma, a hybrid sedan which can travel up to 50 miles before the engine needs to kick in and recharge the batteries. To make sure that everyone inside and out can hear the F1-car-slash-jet-turbine note, speakers have been placed strategically around the vehicle, both in the interior and on the exterior. A novel, if not obvious solution, but we doubt it's going to have the same effect no matter how well it's executed.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Forbes Autos]

Fisker Karma to project jet turbine sound using speakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiskerfisker hybridfisker karmafisker-hybridfisker-karmaFiskerHybridFiskerKarmahybridhybrid-sedankarmaThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[First pic of Fisker plug-in hybrid luxury car released]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/first-pic-of-fisker-plug-in-hybrid-luxury-car-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/first-pic-of-fisker-plug-in-hybrid-luxury-car-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/first-pic-of-fisker-plug-in-hybrid-luxury-car-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Here we have the first image of the upcoming plug-in hybrid luxury car from Fisker set to debut at this year's Detroit Auto Show in January. Developed in conjunction with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, the plug-in hybrid will cost around $100,000 and initially be built in a run of just 100 units. Fisker hasn't given out any details on the car, like how much power it will produce or what its fuel economy will be, but from the picture above we can tell it will be a stunner. That's not surprising, as the company's namesake, Henrik Fisker, designed such cars as the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, among others. Though the image is small, we can make out design elements from many other high-end autos including a Ferrari 599-esqe front end, some Maserati Quattroporte in the midsection and, of course, a little Aston in the rear. Check back here in January for some solid info on what this car's all about.

[Source: Fisker via Carscoop]

Continue reading First pic of Fisker plug-in hybrid luxury car released

First pic of Fisker plug-in hybrid luxury car released originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker Tramonto shown for demonstration purposes

Although it barely registered on most of our radars when it was announced a few weeks ago, Fisker Automotive is set to debut an all-new hybrid vehicle. Best known until now as a custom coachbuilder that adds a new suit of custom tailored duds to Mercedes SLs and BMW 6-Series cars, Fisker is set to debut a unique hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show next year. While we reported the basic idea a little while ago, now we have a few more details to share, but still no photos. The car will be a sedan. It will be a plug-in hybrid. It will start at around $80,000. It will debut at NAIAS in January and go on sale sometime in 2009.

Fisker Coachbuild is the company that Henrik Fisker founded after leaving Aston Martin as chief designer. His designs are some of the most elegant and stylish in recent automotive history. The Aston Martins alone earn him a spot in the automotive hall of fame, but he was also with BMW for a while, helping with the Z8 among other projects. So now you might better understand why we eagerly await a glimpse of this new plug-in sedan, that could conceivably beat the big manufacturers to market.

[Source: Fisker via Fortune]

A few more details on the upcoming Fisker hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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