Fisker dreams big with plans for electric ute, convertible and an off-road SUV

In the fight to become ‘the next Tesla’ (rather than perhaps the next Lordstown, or Coda etc), one name keeps popping up as a potential contender: Fisker.

Having already survived one failure back in 2013, Henrik Fisker returned in 2016 as Fisker Inc. and revealed the production ready Fisker Ocean at the 2022 Paris motor show.

Deliveries have begun slowly – limited European deliveries only began in the last few months and US deliveries (where the company is based) started with 22 deliveries in June this year. 

Being nowhere near mass production or break-even in economics hasn’t stopped Fisker from making showy announcements of future models and plans though. Early this month Fisker Inc. in the US presented four vehicles, as well as technology and sustainability visions, to an audience of investors, analysts, employees, and the media.

The four vehicle revealed were a Fisker Ocean SUV with a ‘Force-E offroad package’; the 1,000-plus-horsepower Fisker Ronin grand-touring four-door convertible; the Fisker Pear city EV; and the Fisker Alaska dual-cab EV ute.

To quote Henrik Fisker: “Fisker isn’t standing still. We want the world to know that we have big plans and intend to move into several different segments, redefining each with our unique blend of design, innovation, and sustainability.”

After the conclusion of the event, Fisker opened reservations for both the Fisker Ronin (US$2,000 for first reservation, US$1,000 fully refundable for second) and the Fisker Alaska (US$250 for first reservation, US$100 fully refundable for second).

Of the four vehicle revealed, three were new:

Alaska dual-cab ute

Few details of the Alaska have been released beyond that it will be a dual-cab ute (‘pickup’ in US parlance) built on an extended version of the Fisker Ocean platform.

Fisker expect the Alaska to be the lightest vehicle in its class, with features that include multiple cargo configurations for the cargo bed utilising a ‘Houdini bed divider’ (which hides away) that connects the cargo bed and rear cabin.

This divider is planned to enable an adaptable cargo length ranging from 1.37 m to 2.8 m. Driving range is expected to be between around 370 km to 540 km. (Depending on selected battery size). Fisker expect deliveries to commence sometime in 2025, with a starting price of US$45,400 (Approximately A$70,000).

Pear city EV

The Pear is intended to come with a much lighter environmental footprint, including 35% fewer parts than other EVs in its class. Features of the Pear are to include a ‘Houdini Trunk’ (hideaway hatch) and a front storage compartment called the Froot (front boot).

The design is said to allow room for “a spacious and modular interior with seating for up to six”. Design elements will include an ultra-wide wraparound windscreen, “sculptural exterior design”, and slim LED lighting. Pricing is expected to start at US$29,900 (approx. A$46,000) with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-2025.

Ronin GT convertible

The Ronin has been announced with a driving range nearing 1000 km, butterfly front/‘suicide’ rear doors, a foldable carbon-fibre folding top, carbon fibre wheels and instrumentation including a 17.1 inch centre screen plus a full information cluster placed directly in front of the driver.

Performance is projected to give a 0 – 100 km/h time of around two seconds and a top speed of 275 km/h.

Fisker plan to only build 999 examples of the Ronin – but with a price of US$385,000 (almost A$600,000!) they should at least prove profitable for the fledgling company.

All-up, big plans for an auto manufacturer that has delivered perhaps less than 100 cars so far.

However, Fisker has big ambitions to produce low impact, sustainable EVs as part of its reason for existence. As such, we can only applaud Fisker for trying … and wish it well for the inevitable ‘production hell’ that accompanies scaling up to become a viable EV mass-manufacturer.