For years, designer Henrik Fisker has teased teased the Fisker car company's comeback. First, it was with the EMotion, but quickly, the company refocused on a mysterious SUV model. On Thursday, we finally know what we can call the electric SUV, and that name is Ocean.
Don't be fooled, however. This isn't a debut for the Fisker Ocean,
though, the company did finally confirm we'll see the model in the metal
on Jan. 4, 2020, and showed more of the design than ever.
Instead,
Fisker used the announcement to gently guide us toward the Ocean's
debut date and additionally shared that it will launch a mobile app for
the electric SUV on Nov. 27. At that time, those interested can place
reservations for the Ocean before the vehicle enters production at the
end of 2021. If it looks like this at production, it'll be a swanky
thing with baby Land Rover looks.
Fisker targets a
250- to 300-mile range with an 80 kWh battery feeding the electric
motors, and Mr. Fisker said the Ocean will "combine maximum usability
with an unprecedented driving experience." Full dimensional specs aren't
available yet, but we do know the Ocean will measure about 182 inches
long. For comparison, it's about the length of a Chevrolet Equinox
. To promote efficiency and weight savings, Fisker said it combed
through the entire model; for example, the Ocean includes a fixed hood
to remove any latches or seals. "New-age" electronics and an air
conditioning unit create more interior space for passengers, and a solar panel sits atop the roof to create an estimated 1,000 miles of driving range annually.
That's about all we got on the mechanical side of things for the
Ocean, but the company was eager to talk about the model's
sustainability.
Inside the Ocean, which we haven't seen yet,
there's a completely vegan interior 100% polycarbonate polyurethane
surfaces and 100% reinforced rayon backing. Meanwhile, interior textures
come from recycled polyester (like old T-shirts) and plastics from
water bottles and other items. With these efforts, Fisker said it will
dramatically lower the CO2 produced during Ocean production.
On
the floor, totally recycled carpeting is awash and comes from repurposed
nylon. The material, Fisker said, comes from thrown-away fishing nets
people have left in the ocean. Sounds like we know where the SUV's name
comes from.
The company also mentioned it would use rubber wasted
that's often discarded during tire manufacturing, though it didn't say
where it would implement the material for recycling.
Fisker's tone
appears very optimistic, underscored by the fact that the Ocean
debuting in January will not be a concept. It will be a production
prototype vehicle sitting smack-dab on the platform meant for
manufacturing. In the meantime, we'll wait for Nov. 27 to learn more
about Fisker's flexible lease program.
