FISKER

Fisker Ocean arrives on the US market to rival Tesla Model Y

After being absorbed by Chinese investors, the former Fisker Automotive we all know from the introduction of Karma had no choice but to separate itself completely from its founder, Henrik Fisker, who went ahead in his quest to offer high-performance electric vehicles with a new company that also bears his last name, and that for some years has been showing some anticipations of what promises to be his big commercial move: the Fisker Ocean. A rival to the Tesla Model Y.

Both the front and the back boast a muscular aesthetic that is accompanied by prominent bumpers, an oversized lower grille, daytime running lights on the sides and tapered headlamps that are linked together via a small LED strip. At the rear, on the other hand, we see a smooth, oversized cover and very slender headlamps that extend horizontally. All this with the manufacturer's emblem in the middle. The wheels, in turn, can be 20 or 22 inches, shod with tires specially designed by Bridgestone.

Inside, five passengers will be seated in ecological luxury thanks to a fully vegan cabin made from recycled materials. The most eye-catching element is a 17.1-inch high-resolution screen that can rotate from vertical (meant to drive) mode to horizontal or 'Hollywood' mode, whenever the Ocean is parked. Fisker will also offer a wide range of driving assistants and aids, including a mode designed to improve driver safety, security and comfort, using radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors to anticipate and prevent accidents.

Fisker divided the Ocean line into four versions: Sport, Ultra, Extreme and One. Depending on which one is chosen, the SUV will come equipped with one or two electric motors, as well as batteries of different natures. The most basic, the Sport, is characterized by equipping lithium-ion phosphate cells and an electric thruster located at the front of the vehicle, so that it offers 279 hp of power and its autonomy is 402 km. Furthermore, this version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

All other versions come with nickel, manganese and cobalt batteries, also supplied by the company CATL. In the case of the Ultra, the configuration changes to two electric motors, with a total power of 547 hp and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The autonomy, for its part, grows to 547 km. Its bigger brothers of the line, the Extreme and One, are exactly the same, but the engines were optimized to offer 557 hp of power, so that the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is completed in 3.6 seconds.

It also improves autonomy, which is now 562 km and Fisker calculates that these models will benefit from an additional usage range of up to 3,219 km per year in ideal conditions thanks to the sunroof that these two versions can equip. Basically we're facing the same vehicle, although the One includes some unique aesthetic details, like a Big Sur Blue paint job in a matte metallic finish, among other things.

The company informs that anyone interested in this vehicle can book it through its website with a deposit of $250 in advance. Production is scheduled to start from November 2022. Starting prices (not counting any discounts) are as follows:

Fisker Ocean Sport - $37,499

Fisker Ocean Ultra - $49,999

Fisker Ocean Extreme - $68,999

Fisker Ocean One - $68,999

Autonews/Mundoquatrorodas