The destiny of Fisker Automotive may still be up in the air, but the Destino is a go.
The Corvette-powered Destino sedan unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show by Detroit startup VL Automotive is a Fisker Karma that’s had its plug-in hybrid powertrain replaced with the V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette.
The brainchild of former GM executive and father of the Chevy Volt, Bob Lutz, tells Automotive News that the company has secured 25 Karma sedans and the codes to their infotainment systems, which were supposedly holding up development of the $200,000 vehicle.
VL Automotive will also offer conversions of existing Karma’s for around $100,000, with the choice of a 450 hp Corvette Stingray V8 or the 638 hp supercharged V8 from the Corvette ZR1.
Lutz adds that he’s confident a supply of additional donor cars will soon be secured, and that VL Automotive will show a second model at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January.
Before it ceased its business operations last year, Fisker was working on a station wagon version of the Karma, as well as a two door convertible. The company is currently awaiting the results of an auction of its Department of Energy loan, access to which was frozen due to missed payments, before possibly resuming production of the Karma.