[SoCalGuy]

Actual pictures here: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/vl-automotive-destino-detroit-2013/

http://www.motorward.com/2013/01/naias-2013-destino-corvette-powered-fisker-karma/

Destino is a new exotic car made by Gilbert Villereal of VL Automotive and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. It is based on the Fisker Karma, and it has a brilliant idea: replace the Karma’s electric drivetrain with a V8 engine from the Corvette ZR1!


It is not a tuner’s nonsense, either. They are planning to produce this car in the second quarter of 2013, and are already testing prototypes. With Destino you get the amazing look of the Karma, but none of its electric system’s drawbacks. For one thing, it won’t be catching fire very often!

The performance of that ZR1 engine is the cherry for the top of Destino’s cake. The 6.2 liter supercharged V8 delivers 640 horsepower and over 800 Nm of torque. Later on they reckon they can offer the car with the newer LT1 engine out of the new Corvette C7.

Of course they can’t just put the engine inside the Karma’s bonnet and let it loose. There is a lot of testing and re-engineering they have to go through, and after that there’s the certification and validation. So, second quarter of 2013 sounds a bit optimistic.

 

[SoCalGuy]

More details: http://www.gtspirit.com/2013/01/14/official-fisker-karma-v8-vl-destino-edition/

- VL will be buying bodies from Fisker
- Price will be $180K
- New "Destino Edition" with the V8 will be 1,320 lbs lighter (~4,000 lbs)

 

[doug]

Interesting that it nixes the main controversial bit of the Karma styling, that front grill. Probably regains a significant about of trunk space by eliminating those inverters. Even gets rid of that mostly useless solar roof. Battery spine space can be repurposed as the more typical transmission tunnel, though it will probably remain larger than it needs, unless they change the stampings. I think that's ok though. The cockpit feel is one of the things I like about the Karma.

I'm not sure how many of these would sell but it would give Fisker something to do their overcapacity. Perhaps a use for those 300+ water damaged, yet intact Karmas from Superstorm Sandy.

 

[smoothoperator]

I really like this updated styling (front). I wonder if these bumpers can be swapped without much modification. It looks like they are retaining the infamous command center which seems a bit odd.

The Karma has become the reverse Tesla Roadster, pretty ironic!

 

[AnOutsider]

IMO it's more ironic the coach builder has been coach built.

 

[smoothoperator]

IMO it's more ironic the coach builder has been coach built.

yea that too.. I like this setup a lot. Now lets see what other improvements they make i.e. command center. 180k is a bit steep but if you compare it to other cars in this price range its really a lot of value for the money. I'll take this over an Aston or a FF. Heck put this setup in a Surf or the Sunset.

 

[Dutch]

Interesting that it nixes the main controversial bit of the Karma styling, that front grill. Probably regains a significant about of trunk space by eliminating those inverters. Even gets rid of that mostly useless solar roof. Battery spine space can be repurposed as the more typical transmission tunnel, though it will probably remain larger than it needs, unless they change the stampings. I think that's ok though. The cockpit feel is one of the things I like about the Karma.

I'm not sure how many of these would sell but it would give Fisker something to do their overcapacity. Perhaps a use for those 300+ water damaged, yet intact Karmas from Superstorm Sandy.

I do hope Fisker doesn't take this road. It would make all the talk about ecochic pretty hollow and meaningless.

 

[Fabulist]

Not something I would buy, but there are a number of cars that are available in both ICE and Hybrid configurations, so I don't see a problem with the option being available.

 

[doug]

I do hope Fisker doesn't take this road. It would make all the talk about ecochic pretty hollow and meaningless.

I thought 20mpg did that. <Zing!>

Seriously, though, if Fisker can sell some shells and stay in business longer to sell more PHEVs, then more power to them. This Destino is a separate brand.

 

[smoothoperator]

More information from wired including the first sales!

The first two Destinos have been completed and sold, although the Auburn Hills, MI-based company still intends to take a knife to the interior. Twenty more are on order from Fisker, with Villareal saying there’s plenty of interest both from U.S. and Middle Eastern buyers.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/01/vlp-destino/

 

[AnOutsider]

I thought 20mpg did that. <Zing!>

Seriously, though, if Fisker can sell some shells and stay in business longer to sell more PHEVs, then more power to them. This Destino is a separate brand.

That was my thought too -- this is a good way for Fisker to make some cash off their investment. I'm curious what other "improvements" were made. Is the battery hump gone? More interior space? New command center?

Either way, at 180k it's pretty ridiculous.

 

[dennis]

I thought 20mpg did that. <Zing!>

Evaluating the Fisker on ICE only mpg is b.s. This poll shows that the median mpg for Karma owners on this forum is 135.

And I'll choose the 22-23 mpg I get on the highway in my Karma on the occasional road trip for the 3 hours of Model S supercharging/waiting that got tacked onto an otherwise 6 hour drive Saturday from LA to Silicon Valley.

 

[doug]

Evaluating the Fisker on ICE only mpg is b.s. This poll shows that the median mpg for Karma owners on this forum is 135.

And I'll choose the 22-23 mpg I get on the highway in my Karma on the occasional road trip for the 3 hours of Model S supercharging/waiting that got tacked onto an otherwise 6 hour drive Saturday from LA to Silicon Valley.

That was a joke (as signified by the winking smiley) to diffuse Dutch's apprehension about Fisker going brown.

Lighten up, please.

 

[pythagoras]

This nose makes it look like a Ferrari. No thanks I'll stick with my mustache grin

 

[dennis]

That was a joke (as signified by the winking smiley) to diffuse Dutch's apprehension about Fisker going brown.

Lighten up, please.

I believe my failure to grasp your intent is understandable.

 

[SoCalGuy]

There was some good info in that Wired article - number one is weight at 3,750lbs, and number two is that the co-founder is a friend of Henrik and Henrik gave them their blessing. Wonder how much Fisker charges for these gliders! Would be cool to see an EV startup buy the gliders and put in alternative EV drivetrains (Maybe some enterprising Tesla engineers!!!)

 

[michaelCA]

How much would it cost to replace my current Karma with the Engine? Not that I am planning to do so...just currious!

 

[Stefan]

I like the bumpers...
That's all.
Even if Fisker could make some money by selling bodies and interior parts, this degrades the karma.

Today, everybody looks for the stunning design at first. Then during the discussions and explanations, there are several 'ahhh's, when it comes to the EVer question.

Having a 600+ HP sibling available will turn discussions to... 'Isn't this the car with the adult brother?'

Luckily, they go for the original CUI... so they won't sell a lot of them ....


Stefan
German Karma Forum
www.karma-forum.de

 

[Weird Fishes]

I didn't buy my Karma just because I thought it was the most stunning piece of automotive art I'd ever seen. I bought it for that reason AND because the electric drivetrain allows me the ability to drive with almost zero tailpipe emissions.

I would have ZERO interest in driving any automobile powered solely by a V8 engine. I think that selling Karma bodies to Destino so they can turn it into a more expensive, gas guzzling, muscle car cheapens the Fisker brand and turns the Karma into a eunuch. I don't like the plan at all. Having said that, if this is a way for Fisker to survive long term, then it's a bitter pill that I'll happily swallow.

What I could get behind 110% would be a Fisker Karma tricked out with its existing battery drivetrain so that I could drive it in Stealth as much as possible along with a V-8 engine for a more refined ICE and more power. And yes, I know that would necessitate dropping weight elsewhere, but surely it could be done somehow?

 

[Weird Fishes]

Actual pictures here: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/vl-automotive-destino-detroit-2013/

http://www.motorward.com/2013/01/naias-2013-destino-corvette-powered-fisker-karma/

Destino is a new exotic car made by Gilbert Villereal of VL Automotive and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. It is based on the Fisker Karma, and it has a brilliant idea: replace the Karma’s electric drivetrain with a V8 engine from the Corvette ZR1!.... With Destino you get the amazing look of the Karma, but none of its electric system’s drawbacks. For one thing, it won’t be catching fire very often!

Oh, and I see we're back to the completely erroneous Fisker-Karmas-Catch-Fire-Because-Of-The-Battery meme. When are automotive journalists going to correctly report that A) the batteries had nothing to do with the initial 2 fires caused by the cooling fans, and B) that it was no big surprise that Karmas caught fire in port during Hurricane Sandy because THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BATTERY IS SUBMERGED IN SEAWATER!!!!!! Heck, even cars powered by internal combustion engines caught fire in that storm!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!