The Fisker Karma is enviro-friendly sex on wheels. But what if you want the style without the the green cred? Say hello to the Corvette ZR1-powered VLP Destino.
The “V” stands for Gilbert Villarreal, one of the company founders and a friend of Henrik Fisker. The “L” stands for Bob Lutz, the petrol-blooded ex-GM, Ford and Chrysler exec responsible for some of the most intriguing automobiles to come out in the last three decades (think Viper, Camaro and Volt).
Together, they’ve struck a deal with Fisker to provide decontented “rollers” of the Karma, sans the dinky four-cylinder engine, battery pack and electric motors. In their place, VLP has fitted one beast of a motor: the Corvette ZR1′s supercharged 6.2-liter V8, good for 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. If that’s a bit much for your taste (or lack thereof), they’ll put in the Z06 ‘Vette’s 550-hp LS7, saving you about $20,000 in the process. Oh, and you can get it with a six-speed manual.
All told, the Destino sheds over 1,000 pounds from the standard Karma, with Villarreal claiming a curb weight of 3,750 pounds. They’ve also fitted new front and rear fascias and a bulging hood to accommodate the V8′s supercharger.
The first two Destinos have been completed and sold, although the Auburn Hills, MI-based company still intends to take a knife to the interior. Twenty more are on order from Fisker, with Villareal saying there’s plenty of interest both from U.S. and Middle Eastern buyers.
As for Fisker’s take on this over endowed version of his baby, Villareal tells Wired, “we went and got their blessing.” And for $200k, you’ll need all the blessings you can muster.
Fisker Karma Gets a 638-HP Corvette Heart Transplant
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Fisker Karma Gets a 638-HP Corvette Heart Transplant
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Fisker Karma Gets a 638-HP Corvette Heart Transplant
