Destino is a four-door Corvette courtesy of Fisker

SCRAPPYDO · 01-15-2013, 10:51 AM

From Fox News Lifestyle tab and verifed not to be a lie on the GREENCARPAGES web site

Is it destiny for performance car enthusiasts, or a disaster for the green automotive scene?

A surprise debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the four-door Destino is a Fisker Karma that’s been stripped of its extended-range electric drivetrain and fitted with the 638 hp supercharged V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Read: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ready to strike
Designed by VL Automotive, a Michigan-based collaboration between investor Gilbert Villereal and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, the Destino aims to bring the high style of the Karma to sports sedan customers more interested in speed than zero emissions driving.
Lutz, the driving force behind the Chevrolet Volt and a member of the board of directors of Via Motors, which makes full-size plug-in hybrid pickup trucks, thinks there’s room in the luxury sports sedan market for the super sexy sedan, which is destined to have a price tag far above that of the $102,000 Karma that its based on.

During testing, VL Automotive has been buying completed Karmas to work with, but Lutz says the company is in talks with Fisker about purchasing “glider” versions of the car, which would have everything but the drivetrain installed, saving both time and money when production of the Destino ramps up later this year.

The development comes at an opportune time for Fisker, which has been unable to build any cars for over half a year due to the extended bankruptcy of its sole battery-pack supplier, A123 Systems. The Karma is assembled for Fisker in Finland by specialty carmaker Valmet Automotive.
It's an interesting turn of events for Fisker, whose founder, Henrik Fisker, got his start as an automaker by building redesigned versions of BMW's and Mercedes-Benz through his first company, Fisker Coachbuild.

Oh the IRONY!!!!!

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White out · 01-15-2013, 10:57 AM

GM is offerring LSx swaps . . . LOL

But seriously, that's freaking awesome.

SCRAPPYDO · 01-15-2013, 11:00 AM

I knew you would like that Nick. And the fact that Lutz is co-partner is just freaking awesome. They threw away all the crappy electric nonsense, and kept the car, which was for the most part beauitful.

When the founder of fiskar was asked how he felt about this...he said with the most extreme amount of arrogance that only he could...

"Fisker believes that it speaks to the appeal of the Karma and its stunning, award-winning design that coachbuilders are wanting to take our cars and modify and customize them. We join many famous brands in automotive history that have been the subject of customization and modification."

-source: greencarreports.com

Even in complete defeat he managed to ooze arrogance.

SCRAPPYDO · 01-15-2013, 11:03 AM

Upon further thinking of this, what is going to happen is they are going to build something akin to a modern day American uber luxury Grand Touring machine.

Beauty and speed. Something No other Merican car has done in years, and something I have personally been working on for a long time. There is nothing like a modern day American Made Grand Tourer. Think American Etype and you have my idea in a nutshell.

warpath · 01-15-2013, 11:19 AM

E. Nick · 01-15-2013, 11:21 AM

Love it - Fisker is beautiful inside and out - with the LS9 and a manual, I'd seriously consider it for a DD - as long as the price was about the same as the hybrid.

SCRAPPYDO · 01-15-2013, 11:31 AM

just for the record, I always thought it was beautiful... dumb, but beautiful.

Mechie3 · 01-15-2013, 01:06 PM

I like the idea. It's like what Maserati is to Ferrari. Same guts, less race car appearance.

Indocti Discant · Today, 03:03 PM

These guys are rumored to be one of 3 bidders for Fisker right now.

Hate · Today, 03:30 PM

We just bought a blue Karma with 400 miles on it. Crazy design on this thing and with a LSx in it... awesome!

Stanley · Today, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

Beauty and speed. Something No other Merican car has done in years,

A lot of folks liked the CTS-v, I personally thought it was ugly but that is a subjective opinion. The Fisker is definitely swoopier and sexier.

01-15-2013, 10:51 AM	#1
SCRAPPYDO Scooby Guru Member#: 873 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Just outside of Houston TX Vehicle: 2013 Golf R 1971 240Z	Destino is a four-door Corvette courtesy of Fisker From Fox News Lifestyle tab and verifed not to be a lie on the GREENCARPAGES web site Is it destiny for performance car enthusiasts, or a disaster for the green automotive scene? A surprise debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the four-door Destino is a Fisker Karma that’s been stripped of its extended-range electric drivetrain and fitted with the 638 hp supercharged V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. *Read: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ready to strike* Designed by VL Automotive, a Michigan-based collaboration between investor Gilbert Villereal and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, the Destino aims to bring the high style of the Karma to sports sedan customers more interested in speed than zero emissions driving. Lutz, the driving force behind the Chevrolet Volt and a member of the board of directors of Via Motors, which makes full-size plug-in hybrid pickup trucks, thinks there’s room in the luxury sports sedan market for the super sexy sedan, which is destined to have a price tag far above that of the $102,000 Karma that its based on. During testing, VL Automotive has been buying completed Karmas to work with, but Lutz says the company is in talks with Fisker about purchasing “glider” versions of the car, which would have everything but the drivetrain installed, saving both time and money when production of the Destino ramps up later this year. The development comes at an opportune time for Fisker, which has been unable to build any cars for over half a year due to the extended bankruptcy of its sole battery-pack supplier, A123 Systems. The Karma is assembled for Fisker in Finland by specialty carmaker Valmet Automotive. It's an interesting turn of events for Fisker, whose founder, Henrik Fisker, got his start as an automaker by building redesigned versions of BMW's and Mercedes-Benz through his first company, Fisker Coachbuild. Oh the IRONY!!!!! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-15-2013, 10:57 AM	#2
White out Scooby Guru Member#: 46277 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Michigan Vehicle: ** Ring Time of 7:43.5	GM is offerring LSx swaps . . . LOL But seriously, that's freaking awesome.

01-15-2013, 11:00 AM	#3
SCRAPPYDO Scooby Guru Member#: 873 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Just outside of Houston TX Vehicle: 2013 Golf R 1971 240Z	I knew you would like that Nick. And the fact that Lutz is co-partner is just freaking awesome. They threw away all the crappy electric nonsense, and kept the car, which was for the most part beauitful. When the founder of fiskar was asked how he felt about this...he said with the most extreme amount of arrogance that only he could... "Fisker believes that it speaks to the appeal of the Karma and its stunning, award-winning design that coachbuilders are wanting to take our cars and modify and customize them. We join many famous brands in automotive history that have been the subject of customization and modification." -source: greencarreports.com Even in complete defeat he managed to ooze arrogance.

01-15-2013, 11:03 AM	#4
SCRAPPYDO Scooby Guru Member#: 873 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Just outside of Houston TX Vehicle: 2013 Golf R 1971 240Z	Upon further thinking of this, what is going to happen is they are going to build something akin to a modern day American uber luxury Grand Touring machine. Beauty and speed. Something No other Merican car has done in years, and something I have personally been working on for a long time. There is nothing like a modern day American Made Grand Tourer. Think American Etype and you have my idea in a nutshell.

01-15-2013, 11:19 AM	#5
warpath Scooby Specialist Member#: 84622 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: -=OT B-Lister=- Vehicle: 2010 EVO X GSR 1992 MKIII Supra

01-15-2013, 11:21 AM	#6
E. Nick Scooby Specialist Member#: 8489 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Atherton, CA Vehicle: 1978 Plymouth Volare Maroon / White Vinyl	Love it - Fisker is beautiful inside and out - with the LS9 and a manual, I'd seriously consider it for a DD - as long as the price was about the same as the hybrid.

01-15-2013, 11:31 AM	#7
SCRAPPYDO Scooby Guru Member#: 873 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Just outside of Houston TX Vehicle: 2013 Golf R 1971 240Z	just for the record, I always thought it was beautiful... dumb, but beautiful.

01-15-2013, 01:06 PM	#8
Mechie3 Scooby Guru Member#: 120152 Join Date: Jul 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Indy Vehicle: 2006 06 WRX, 86 FMOD Blue, White/Red	I like the idea. It's like what Maserati is to Ferrari. Same guts, less race car appearance.

Today, 03:03 PM	#9
Indocti Discant Scooby Specialist Member#: 138000 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: San Francisco Vehicle: Teri Ma	These guys are rumored to be one of 3 bidders for Fisker right now.

Today, 03:30 PM	#10
Hate Scooby Newbie Member#: 304868 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Long Island, New York Vehicle: 2013 Impreza 5 Door DGM	We just bought a blue Karma with 400 miles on it. Crazy design on this thing and with a LSx in it... awesome!