Following a press release today after first teasing the vehicle last week, Fisker, Henrik Fisker’s latest EV startup, has announced new a sub-$40,000 electric SUV with 300 miles of range.
After all the issues with Fisker’s first EV startup, should you get excited about this new electric vehicle?
The company describes the new vehicle as an “affordable SUV powered by an enhanced +80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that pushes the limit — with a range of close to 300 miles.”
Henrik Fisker, Chairman and CEO of the startup, said of the new vehicle:
Our team set out on a mission to create an affordable EV that’s more exciting and emotion-stirring than what the market has been offering. We’re now excited to be introducing a vehicle that truly reinvents the SUV. At an affordable price point, starting below $40,000, we’re delivering a desirable, luxuriously rugged and green vehicle – complete with unique new experiences and technologies – that’s accessible to people across the USA and the world.”
Surprisingly, Fisker, who is known for his car designs, only released a single not-so-revealing image of the vehicle in the announcement:
The company claims that the vehicle, which has yet to build a production facility for the new SUV, will make it to market by the second half of 2021.
Here are all the details and specs released by Fisker today:
▪ Passion In the Details:
- Future-forward technologies are now an integral part of the SUV’s design. A small, center high-mounted radar – behind glass – replaces a traditional grill, which is no longer a necessity on an EV.
- A parametric pattern dominates the lower front, where air cooling is directed only as needed.
- Lower body aerodynamic features add more stimulating visuals.
▪ Never-Before-Seen, High-Tech User Experiences:
- With the touch of a button, an extended open-air atmosphere will be made possible without compromising the rugged and safe structural integrity of an SUV.
- The vastly spacious interior is complemented by a modern aesthetic and high-quality materials.
- Dashboard features will include a large heads-up display and a unique, intuitive user interface that will control some of the latest emerging in-vehicle technologies.
▪ Cutting-Edge Options and Performance:
- Available in four-wheel drive with two electric motors – one at the front and one at the rear.
- The all-electric SUV will come standard with an extended range (target of approximately 300 miles), enabled by an enhanced +80 KWh lithium-ion battery pack. More details will be released closer to launch.
- Optional 22-inch wheels.
▪ Pricing and Sales:
- Set at a base price below $40,000 (U.S.), final pricing and a drivable prototype is anticipated to be revealed by the end of 2019.
- Fisker is set to sell direct to consumers. A nationwide concierge service model is also in development for a superior user and maintenance experience.
- The company will begin accepting early deposits closer to the start of production. More information on timelines, as well as a website link, will be shared at a later date.
▪ Production:
- Fisker Inc. is currently finalizing the selection of a facility, located in the United States, to produce the all-electric SUV.
Electrek’s Take
This electric vehicle looks virtually perfect on paper but yet, I have zero faith in this project — not solely because of what happened with Fisker’s previous EV startup, either.
First off, they are only unveiling a single angle of a rendering, which they already teased a week prior. I don’t think that’s the right way to announce a vehicle — especially for Fisker who is known for his beautiful designs.
This announcement looks like it was put together quickly and based on the fact that the vehicle has similar specs as Model Y, I think they announced this quickly to try and ride Tesla’s Model Y wave.
Secondly, Fisker keeps hyping its solid-state battery technology which was apparently supposed to come in 2019, but they now announce a new 2021 car, which doesn’t appear to be equipped with solid-state battery cells.
Speaking on the release of the vehicle, Fisker is talking about a large-volume vehicle, which would obviously be required to deliver a $40,000 price tag.
That’s simply impossible to deliver in the next 2 years if you don’t have a production facility already in the mid-to-late stages of development.
Also, they are developing this vehicle while still talking about bringing to market the EMotion, a high-end sedan. I don’t think a startup that never delivered a single car should be trying to bring two different vehicles to market at the same time.
Start by one. Let’s see what you can do with that.
Now, you add all those things to the fact that Fisker’s previous EV startup failed and I don’t see this project having a high chance of success.
I’d like to be proven wrong, though.
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