Stock Fisker Ocean: rotating screen, convertible mode and recycled finish
California-based electric vehicle startup Fisker, led by Danish designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker, has unveiled the production version of its first model, the Ocean mid-size crossover, which will begin production exactly one year from now at Magna Steyr's plant in Graz, Austria.
Henrik Fisker's path in the automotive industry (depicted in the title) turned out to be rocky: his former company, called Fisker Automotive, went bankrupt, was sold to Chinese auto parts manufacturer Wanxiang and renamed Karma Automotive. Fisker's collaboration with Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal at VLF Automotive was also not very successful and ended. The Dane now runs another startup that bears his name: Fisker Inc. This company, founded in 2016, has radically changed its plans more than once, but over the past year and a half, it has brought only good news and delighted investors.
At the beginning of 2020, Fisker introduced a prototype of the Ocean electric crossover, and therefore few believed that it would be possible to bring it to mass production, but at the end of that year, Fisker managed to conclude a deal with the Canadian company Magna, which agreed to supply its own electric vehicle platform for the Ocean crossover and appointed its release in the Austrian branch of Magna Steyr. Yesterday, November 17, the premiere of the production version of Ocean took place, prices and main specifications were announced, and the production start date was announced – November 17, 2022.
So, Fisker Ocean is a 5-seater mid-size crossover: overall length – 4775 mm, width – 1995 mm, height – 1629-1631 mm (depending on modification), wheelbase – 2921 mm. The skateboard platform with a built-in battery in the floor is made of aluminum, the body is made of steel and composite materials. Front suspension – MacPherson type, rear – multi-link. The batteries will be supplied by China's CATL, not Korea's LG, as announced during the prototype preview. The capacity of the batteries (there will be several varieties) was not disclosed.
The Ocean will be offered in three regular versions. The base $37,499 Sport is powered by a single 279bhp electric motor at the front axle and will be able to travel about 440km on a single charge under the WLTP cycle (exact range figures to be announced after certification). Ocean Sport will be able to accelerate to 100 km / h in 7.4 seconds and pull a trailer weighing 1090 kg.
The $49,999 Ultra version has two electric motors (one per axle) with a total output of 547.5 horsepower and hits 100 in 4.2 seconds. The power reserve on one charge is approximately 610 km. Permissible weight of the towed trailer 1815 kg.
The flagship $68,999 Extreme is also twin-motor and all-wheel drive, but peak power has been bumped up to 558bhp. This crossover accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The power reserve on one charge is approximately 630 km. Only the Extreme version has a special off-road driving mode.
A limited pilot run of 5,000 Ocean One cars is the Extreme version, but with richer standard equipment and specially designed 22-inch wheels. The price is the same: from $68,999.
The Ocean body has retained the ability to roll down all windows except the windshield, which was announced at the prototype stage – this option is called California Mode and allows you to get the same sensations as driving a convertible. A solar panel is installed in the transparent panoramic roof, which charges the battery and gives about 2,500 km of “free” mileage per year in a favorable climate.
The interior is finished with environmentally friendly recycled materials: old clothes, old tires and fishing nets. The driver's seat is decorated modestly and is remembered only by a swivel 17.1-inch multimedia screen in the center – you can choose portrait or landscape orientation. The equipment includes a 500-watt audio system with 16 speakers and a 20.5-liter subwoofer, as well as modern electronic driving assistants, but autopilot is not yet provided.
The Fisker website accepts pre-orders for Ocean – a $250 deposit is required to complete the application. As an alternative to purchasing, a subscription will be offered with a one-time payment of $2,999 and a monthly subscription fee of $379. The main markets for Fisker's debut are North America and Europe.
Next, an Alaska pickup will appear on the basis of the Ocean crossover. In addition, Fisker, as part of a May partnership with Taiwanese IT giant Foxconn, is developing a kind of conditional budget model of PEAR, priced under $30,000 in its base configuration, to begin production in 2024 at the former Lordstown Motors plant in Ohio, USA (now this plant owned by Foxconn).