Henrik Fisker unveiled a prototype the Fisker Ocean electric SUV, the first vehicle to be produced in conjunction with Magna Steyr at Magna’s facility in Graz, Austria.
The design is sporty and taut, with a rear hatch that visually supports a unique vertical styling element by the D-pillar. It was designed with a wide stance for optimal handling and rides on optional 22-inch wheels made of aluminum and recycled carbon fiber.
“We all dream about a sports car, but we end up driving an SUV, so why not combine the two?” Fisker said after the car’s unveiling. “I’ve only done sports cars, so to do an SUV design was very different. But I wanted to mix a little bit of the sports car feeling.”
The Ocean is built on an aluminum skateboard platform with steel upper body for lower repair costs. Its cabin uses recycled materials throughout, and features seats without seams to impart a more luxurious feeling. Uniquely, it’s center-mounted 17-inch touchscreen rotates from landscape to portrait mode — a true innovation.
What’s coming and when
The new vehicle is expected to reach the market in November 2022, with a starting price of $37,499, or less than $30,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit; making it one of the most affordable EVs on the market.
For that, consumers will get the entry-level Sport model, a single motor front-wheel drive crossover with a 250-mile range and 275 horsepower that will run 0-60 mpg in 6.9 seconds. From there, buyers can step up to that $49,999 Ultra, with dual electric motors, all-wheel drive with a rear axle disconnect, torque vectoring, and a 340-mile range.
Its 540 horsepower driveline makes it a significantly brisker Fisker: 60 mph comes up in just 3.9 second. Topping the range is the $68,999 Extreme, which boasts the same powertrain dialed up to deliver a 350-plus mile range, 550 horsepower and a 3.6-second 0-60 mph run.
Fisker says the company can “easily do over 100,000 vehicles a year,” and how many the company produces comes down to demand. Currently, Fisker has 19,000 preorders.
Fisker retail mode follows in Tesla’s footsteps — somewhat
Fisker admits his is an extremely lean car company, one that doesn’t need incentives because they are selling direct. There are no Fisker dealers. There are no manufacturing plants to pay for and maintain.
Fisker’s service network is with unspecified partners, ones that the company says will give Fisker drivers “access to thousands of service places immediately” when the vehicle is launched. The company will also set up “experience centers” with the first one scheduled to open in Los Angeles in the middle of next year. Vehicle delivery centers are being planned outside of major cities to keep costs down.
The new model will lease for $379 a month with up to 30,000 miles annually, with a one-time $2,999 initiation fee. Buyers will able to turn it back in whenever they want. Fisker will then refurbish the vehicle and lease it out again. Vehicles will be leased for up to 12 years, then will be recycled, Fisker said.