Fisker's EMotion: Realer Than Ever and Still Promising the Moon By 2019

Fisker, now called Fisker, Inc. after the company Henrik Fisker originally created fell into bankruptcy, is going after the luxury EV market for a second time. Don’t let past money troubles worry you too much, though. Even Henry Ford filed for bankruptcy twice before forming the company that build the Model T.

Instead, let your fears stem from the questionable build quality of the Fisker Karma, which faltered on the market in 2012. Because the new model, dubbed the EMotion, appears to be a rehash of the old formula with its ambitions set much higher. Offering self-driving abilities, an impressive electric range, an extravagant design, and some of the market’s most desirable infotainment functions, the EMotion is either a trumped-up prototype or the absolute pinnacle of electric luxury sedans.

Glossing over the model’s groan-inducing name and the trust issues we have with the brand, let’s begin with what Fisker is promising. First off, we have a targeted 400-mile range. According to Henrik, the goal is sufficient to alleviate range anxiety in prospective buyers, but it would also best anything else on the market by a wide margin. In fact, it’s so impressive that we’re wondering if it’s even possible by the vehicle’s target date of 2019.

While Fisker has said it now possesses solid-state battery technology that could ultimately lead to 500-mile ranges and charging times faster than anything currently in existence, it wouldn’t be ready in time for the EMotion. That saddles the model with a more traditional lithium-ion battery pack.

Next there is the car’s performance. While the all-wheel drive sedan’s claimed top speed of 161 mph seems achievable, Level 4 autonomy does not. Partnering with Quanergy, Fisker claims the EMotion will be equipped with a LIDAR array (hidden mostly in the vehicle’s nose) capable of providing a complete autonomous driving experience. However, the hardware is only half of what it takes to make a self-driving car. There needs to be software to make sense of the data and help the car make the important decisions — and the brand has yet to explain that side of the coin.

Propulsion for the EV is achieved via “multiple electric motors” delivering a combined sum of more than than 575 kW (or approximately 780 horsepower). Instant torque and all-wheel drive help it hit a proposed 0-to-60 time of under 3 seconds and will rush it along to the aforementioned 161 mph top speed.

The car is about 197 inches long, with an overall height of around 52 inches. Fisker says the packaging of the electric powertrain allows for a more spacious interior than most similarly sized vehicles. It’s a sharp-looking model, similar in shape to the Karma while still being distinctive. Its butterfly doors feature flush handles and can be opened or closed with the help of one’s smartphone. Even though we admit it would be a glorious sight to behold, we’re extremely wary of non-traditional door designs that also utilize an electric motor.

Clad in black and tan vegan leather, the EMotion’s interior is lavish. While it can be optioned with non-vegan upholstery, Fisker seems proud of just how soft it managed to make the faux alternative. Continuing on its luxury bent, the sedan has four individually adjustable electric seats with a five-seat variant that utilizes a rear bench. Additional entertainment options will become available when the unit is operating in autonomous mode through a trio of driver-oriented screens. There will also be a an optional 27-inch rear screen for the upscale Chauffeur Edition of the car. The glass roof is also said to feature four zones of tint, each electrically adjustable to let in the desired amount of sky.

It sounds great, maybe even too good to be true. While we’d certainly like to see something like this take to the road, it’s almost unfathomable that the EMotion can pull all of it off before the end of 2019. However, if it does, Fisker says it will start at $129,000. The company is currently taking reservations for $2,000 a pop on its website.

[Images: Fisker Inc.]