Fisker made a splash this week when it revealed an all-new concept vehicle which, it said, will be its third EV. But, it seems, many folks misinterpreted the teaser image, guessing it was going to be either a sports coupe or sedan.
Surprise! It turns out Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker wants to break new ground and has another idea in mind for the production model to come.
“I know the first teaser was shown with roof up!” Fisker explained in an e-mail to TheDetroitBureau.com. “I forgot to mention the Ronin is actually a 4-door convertible (we showed picture with top up), which is what makes it unique.”
Looking back for new inspiration
Once upon a time there were some four-door convertibles, and several have explored the concept in recent decades, the old DaimlerChrysler at one point showing off a prototype based on the Chrysler 300 sedan. But there hasn’t been a production version in many decades.
One of the reasons is safety. According to Fisker, that creates “a big challenge” for engineers and designers. The prototype, he explained in his e-mail, adopts “a unique innovative strong lower rocker structure to compensate for the lack of a B-pillar, to be able to sustain side impact.”
Beyond dealing with the safety issue, Fisker offered up only a few details about Project Ronin — but the numbers are intriguing.
To start, the convertible is designed to be powered by three electric motors giving it all-wheel drive. No word on the layout, though it seems likely there will be two motors on the rear axle, one up front.
The Ronin will be quick, the automaker targeting a 0-60 launch “close to two seconds.” That would put it in line with the current EV performance kings, the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air Dream Performance sedans, both hitting 60 in around 2 seconds.
As for range, Fisker claims a target of 660 miles using the European WLTP test standard. That would likely mean something closer to 500 to 550 miles based on the stricter U.S. EPA test cycle. If so, that would still make it one of the range kings, the current champ being the Lucid Air Dream Range model which is EPA-rated at 520 miles per charge.
“The aim is to achieve the world’s longest range for a production EV, combined with extremely high levels of performance,” the automaker said earlier this week. “Project Ronin will be a showcase for our internal engineering, powertrain, and software capabilities.”
Fisker plans to show off the Project Ronin concept in August 2023, with production scheduled to begin during the second half of 2024.
Other vehicles first
That said, the California-based startup has yet to produce its first model, the Fisker Ocean, which is currently scheduled to start reaching showrooms before the end of the year.
That all-electric SUV will be followed by a smaller EV crossover, codenamed the Fisker Pear.
The automaker is taking an unusual approach to production. Rather than set up its own manufacturing facility — which would likely run well over $1 billion, according to industry analysts — Fisker is contracting out production.
The Ocean is set to be produced at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria. That facility has produced vehicles for a wide range of manufacturers including Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar and Toyota.
The Pear is set to be assembled at the old General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The factory was purchased by another EV startup, Lordstown Motors. But it has since been sold to Foxconn. That’s the Chinese company that builds Apple’s iPhone. Foxconn wants to get into contract vehicle manufacturing using that old factory and Fisker is the first company to sign on.
No word on where the Fisker Ronin might be assembled.