{"id":558,"date":"2017-01-18T12:43:57","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T17:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/?p=558"},"modified":"2017-01-22T14:46:33","modified_gmt":"2017-01-22T19:46:33","slug":"exclusive-interview-with-fisker-automotive-founder-henry-fisker-detroit-is-back-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/?p=558","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive Interview with Fisker Automotive Founder Henry Fisker (Detroit is Back Series)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/api.ning.com:80\/files\/5hjmb23PQMWC3DxyYr1WRid38qStTorQds5z*x5OgzWwHWVPvZoFXj7bs*I*ayJlDxuAiP9Hu8A6cNxQJ6pr*bTvXrj61eLT\/Fisker_843_1_1.jpg\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/api.ning.com:80\/files\/5hjmb23PQMWC3DxyYr1WRid38qStTorQds5z*x5OgzWwHWVPvZoFXj7bs*I*ayJlDxuAiP9Hu8A6cNxQJ6pr*bTvXrj61eLT\/Fisker_843_1_1.jpg?width=750\" width=\"750\" class=\"align-full\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">As Fisker came up for his DOE loan under<\/font><\/font> the department of Energy Advanced Technology\u00a0vehicle\u00a0manufacturing loan program created in 2008 with a fund of $25 billion <font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"sans-serif\"><font size=\"2\">authorized under section 136 of the\u00a0<\/font><\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Energy_Independence_and_Security_Act_of_2007\"><font color=\"#0B0080\"><font face=\"sans-serif\"><font size=\"2\">Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/a><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"sans-serif\"><font size=\"2\">,<\/font><\/font><\/font> to reduce dependence on foreign oil. The Bush administration initially signed the program into law but the program has become a hot button topic. Innovation and development of new technology should be cheered. Fisker was to get funds to build the\u00a0vehicle\u00a0in the picture above at a former GM plant in Delaware where now defunct brands Pontiac and Saturn used to manufacture the Sky and the\u00a0Solstice. Those plans are currently on hold as the politics sorts itself out pending this election however I thought it great to share my exclusive interview with the energetic innovator. I am also presenting some video of our interview.<iframe width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MAIHstFuTn8?wmode=opaque\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Necessity breeds ingenuity for most, while others can perceive an<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">opportunity and voyage towards it before the masses are in tow. Such<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">is the case of distinguished automotive designer Henry Fisker whose<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">work with BMW and Aston Martin are of legend and his coach build work<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">has undisputedly been regarded as second to none. Henry Fisker has now<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">embarked on a ground breaking venture, an entire green luxury car<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">company and if the first product the Karma is an indication his<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">approach may change the automotive industry. Fisker Automotive is<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">truly a global car company with headquarters in Irvine, CA, a<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">development studio in Detroit, an engine building alliance with GM for<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">their global Echotec I-4 engine, and a manufacturing agreement with<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Valmet Automotive in Finland. Of the overall strategy of the company<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Henry stated &#8220;green cars can be good looking sexy, fast, and big\u2026 its<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">important to make a statement about getting a green car that&#8217;s<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">exciting enough that you want to own this car, that you want to buy<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">it&#8221; and one glance at the Karma and you would concur with his vision.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Simply stunning to look at the Karma features flowing lines, an<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">extended front end, 22 in wheels, solar roof, multi-media integration<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">of the design Henry said opined it was like &#8220;a stylish New York<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Apartment\u2026with 4 single seats, with a long battery from front to<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">rear.&#8221; Of the structure Henry told us its an &#8221; aluminum body, lighter<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">material to make cars as light as possible&#8221; This light frame paired<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">with a combination of 2 electric engines and the GM sourced Echotec<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">produces a top speed of 125 mph and 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds. The<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">specs on the electric powertrain are just mind numbing a 408hp<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">combined output with 959 ft-lb of torque. The Karma works on a<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">proprietary Q drive which operates as a plug in electric car and<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">powers the first 50 miles on electric power then switches to hybrid<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">mode. There are 3 modes HEV, Stealth, and Sport. Stealth mode is the<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">default and essentially automatically conservers power limiting top<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">speed to 95 mph, and reducing acceleration while as charging the<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">battery automatically, HEV mode serves to charge the battery, with<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">auto shutoff and other energy saving measures, Sport mode opens the<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">full performance possibilities offering peak power and torque, all at<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">a tock of a button. Priced at $87,000 the Karma is very competitive<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">with other ultra luxury sedans such as the S550 and Lexus LS460 among<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">others. Manufacturer Valmet assembled the Porshe Cayman, and Boxster<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">at the plant prior to the deal with Fisker so build quality should be<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">high. In addition it doesn&#8217;t hurt to have a Nobel prize winning,<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">former Vice President as an investor, AL Gore a partner in Kleiner an<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">green initiative venture capital firm, helped close the deal for the<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">second round of financing for Fisker. Fisker plans to sell 15,000<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">Karma&#8217;s a year beginning in the 4th quarter of 2009, there are also<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">plans for other product lines with Karma derivates to follow after<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">launch. In conclusion a statement by Henry Fisker sums it up the best<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">&#8220;Karma means whatever you do in this life you gonna either be rewarded<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">or punished for in your next life&#8221; With the superb effort with the<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">&#8220;Karma&#8221; we expect nothing but great Karma for Fisker. For more<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#000000\"><font face=\"Helvetica, sans-serif\">information visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fiskerautomotive.com\/\">www.fiskerautomotive.com<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>As Fisker came up for his DOE loan under the department of Energy Advanced Technology\u00a0vehicle\u00a0manufacturing loan program created in 2008 with a fund of $25 <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/?p=558\" title=\"Exclusive Interview with Fisker Automotive Founder Henry Fisker (Detroit is Back Series)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","category-toyz-makers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=558"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":559,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions\/559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toyznation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}