Industry News: VL Productions Say Destino Still A Go, Despite Fisker's Problems

[William Maley]

By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

May 5, 2013

With the problems that Fisker Automotive is currently going through, one of companies that is somewhat effected is VL Productions? How so? Well, VL Productions showed off a vehicle called the Destino at the Detroit Auto Show this year that used Fisker Karma as a starting point, rips out the plug-in hybrid powertrain, and slips in the supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8 from the Corvette ZR1.

Planned to go into production sometime in third quarter, is VL Productions worried about the future? Well not really according to one of the partners of VL Productions, Bob Lutz. Lutz tells Wards Auto that the company has already gotten twenty Karma “gliders” (doesn't come with electric powertrain and batteries). Lutz also said that VL could work with the Fisker’s suppliers to build the Karma/Destino itself, although that could introduce “a logistics hassle.”

VL has also received a large number of inquiries from Karma owners who have an interest in converting their vehicles to using a V8.

“We’ve heard from hundreds of Karma owners, with about 10% who may want to convert their cars, because sooner or later the cars might wind up as boat anchors,” Lutz said.

The transformation could cost $85,000 to $90,000.

Source: Wards Auto

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Camino LS6]

Interesting.

[pow]

Sounds like a lot of work. Why not retrofit the weak Fisker motors with one from Tesla? If the 4,700 lb Model S can do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, then I imagine a 5,300 lb Tesla-powered Karma wouldn't be far off... maybe 4.5 seconds?

[ocnblu]

BECAUSE... Internal Combustion FTW!

[dwightlooi]

Why bother? The C7 Vette is lighter, just as powerful and just $58K. It looks better too IMHO.