Fisker Automotive to unveil new car at Detroit Motor Show ~ station of gear

The company says 'The Force 1' will feature the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever

2015-12-14 15:10

The manufacturer behind the range-extending hybrid Fisker Karma will debut a new car at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, dubbed The Force 1.

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The Force 1 (and yes, 'The' is capitalised) will be a totally different proposition to the Karma. Details are thin on the ground, but while the Karma used a 2.0-litre petrol engine as a generator for electric motors, The Force 1's engine will directly drive its wheels - and Fisker says it's going to be the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever put in a road car.

That should certainly endow The Force 1 with plenty of shove, as it will have to beat the 789bhp V12 that sits aboard the Ferrari LaFerrari - although that car has an electric motor to bring the total up to 950bhp.

It's been reported that the car will sit atop an existing platform taken from an American sports car, with a Fisker-designed body on top. Given that owner Henrik Fisker's previous design portfolio includes the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The sketch released certainly has shades of Aston Martin about its shape, with a long nose, short tail, and wide tracks front and rear. Fisker says the body will be all carbon-fibre, and sit on 21-inch wheels. It also features Ultra Thin Ventilated laser blade tail lamps.

Fisker hasn't released information about which car will underpin it, though it has said it will be an 'American take on a super sports car' so it's likely to be based on a muscle car, like the Chevrolet Corvette. The Force 1 will be rear-wheel-drive and unusually for an American car will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional automatic. It has also apparently been developed in conjunction with 'an acclaimed American race car driver and his team' so we're expecting the handling to have been tuned accordingly.

The Force 1 will be on display at the Detroit Motor Show next month. Production will start in April 2016 with a limited run of just 50 units.

What are your thoughts on The Force 1? Let us know in the comments section below...

Tom Wiltshire

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