Just after it was revealed that Bob Lutz had managed to purchased 25 unsold Fisker Karmas in order to kick-start development of the VL Productions Destino, it’s been revealed that the Corvette ZR1 powered sedan could be ready for deliveries as early as mid-2014.
Where the standard Fisker Karma is equipped with a potent plug-in hybrid powertrain, Lutz hopes that the VL Productions Destino will be an entirely different beast. This will be achieved thanks to the fitment of the 638hp supercharged LS9 V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. That potent powertrain will then mated to either an automatic and six-speed manual transmission.
In addition to offering the LV Productions Destino as a completely new vehicle, Lutz will also offer the V8 upgrade for regular Karmas which are in “pristine condition”. When further discussing the car’s development, Lutz said, “It’s going to take time. I don’t want a rough car that’s hard to drive with a bad transmission and high noise levels. At close to $200,000, these things are going to have to be silky and buttery to drive. The sound and feel have to be just right.”
Lutz’s acquisition of these Karmas couldn’t have come soon enough, as the company’s remaining assets were recently purchased by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li. While it’s currently unclear just how much Richard Li’s winning bid was, Fisker currently owed the U.S. Department of Energy $168 million and the minimum bid to allow participation in the expensive auction was $30 million. So to put it simply, whatever the cost was, it was more than most can afford.
