US car maker Fisker has today confirmed that its first volume-selling model – the Ocean SUV – will start from less than £35,000 when it goes on sale in the UK next year.
The Californian auto brand is set to challenge Elon Musk and Tesla’s electric vehicle empire with its stylish zero-emission family model, which has a range 275 to 390 miles, depending on specification.
The car made its official European debut in Barcelona today, during the Mobile World Congress event held in Spain.
UK examples, which will be produced in Austria, are set to arrive from the second quarter of 2023 with performance to rival Tesla’s vehicles but at a fraction of the cost.
The US Tesla rival heading for the UK next year: This is the all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV that will be sold in Britain in 2023 with a starting price of £34,990
Henrik Fisker, car designer and CEO of Fisker, said on Monday: ‘Europe is critical to the company’s success as we work towards building the most sustainable vehicle and starting production in November.’
The entry version of the Fisker Ocean – called the Sport – links a ‘Touring Range’ battery to a 275bhp electric motor powering the front wheels, meaning a 0-to-60mph sprint time of 6.6 seconds and an estimated range of 275 miles.
It will start from £34,990, meaning it does not qualify for the Plug-in Car Grant of £1,500. That said, it is some £8,000 less than the cheapest Tesla Model 3 saloon and a massive £20,000 under the least expensive Model Y SUV – though lowest-spec versions of both Teslas offer better ranges and performance stats.
Other notable rivals from mainstream brands include the Audi Q4 E-tron, BMW iX3, Skoda Enyaq iV and Volkswagen ID.5.
Prices rise to £48,900 for the mid-spec all-wheel drive Ocean Ultra, which has a ‘Hyper Range’ battery and adds a second electric motor at the rear axle to boost power to 540bhp.
This cuts acceleration time to 60mph down to 3.9 seconds and offers a claimed 379-mile range – which is on par with rival machinery from Musk’s popular marque.
The range-topping Ocean Extreme (with the same Hyper Range battery) will cost £59,900 and features a slightly improved 550bhp electric motor combo, shaving 0.3 seconds off the 0-to-60mph time and extending the range to an estimated 390 miles.
The Extreme also has the option of solar panels installed in the roof that can help to boost driving range. For those in sunnier climates, Fisker says it can add around 1,500 miles per year – though that might not be the case in Great Britain’s bleak conditions.
UK examples, which will be produced in Austria, are set to arrive with customers from the second quarter of 2023 with performance to rival Tesla’s vehicles but at a fraction of the cost
The Californian auto brand is set to challenge Elon Musk and Tesla’s electric vehicle empire with its stylish zero-emission family model, which has a range 275 to 390 miles, depending on specification
The car made its official European debut in Barcelona today, during the Mobile World Congress event held in Spain
Battery capacity information has yet to be confirmed by Fisker, as is also the case for charging times and top speeds.
However, it has stated that the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity will be around 4,000lbs (1,800kg).
The EV brand also confirmed that the initial 5,000 cars built will carry the Ocean ‘One’ moniker, offering the same drivetrain and performance as the top-of-the-range Extreme (and the same price) but with exclusive wheels and a few additional design features.
Fisker Ocean: Will it fit in my garage?
Price: from £34,990 to £59,990
Production: Graz, Austria
On sale: UK first deliveries second quarter 2023
Length: 4,775mm
Height: 1,631mm
Width: 1,994.5mm
Wheelbase: 2,921mm
Seats: 5 Doors: 5
Versions
Sport – ‘Touring Range’ battery and single electric motor, Front Wheel Drive
Ultra / Extreme / One – ‘Hyper Range’ batter and dual electric motor, All Wheel Drive
Range: 275 to 391 miles
Power: 275bhp to 550bhp
Acceleration 0-62mph: 6.6 seconds to 3.6 seconds
All cars will come with the company’s six-year or 100,000 kilometre (62,000 miles) warranty, with a powertrain and battery warranty of 10 years or 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) – whichever comes first. The Fisker Ocean warranty also includes corrosion coverage and roadside assistance, the maker says.
Fisker promises after-sale care in all regions the car is sold, with vehicles collected from owner’s addresses or Fisker Mobile Services carrying out regular maintenance of vehicles at homes.
The five-seat Ocean SUV was first unveiled in Los Angeles – where its headquarters are located – at the LA Auto Show last year, but today is the first time it has been shown on this continent.
European-spec models will be built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, as the brand looks to increase its footprint outside of the US.
It recently opened its European head office in Munich, Germany, and will also setup ‘brand experience centres’ in both Germany and the UK.
Last year, it announced a ‘Fisker Magic Works’ department that will produce special edition models, with the division’s headquarters in England.
Henrik Fisker forecasts full-year annual sales of around 60,000 units in Europe, with the brand having already produced prototype models that will be used for crash tests so that it can be brought to market as quickly as possible.
The car itself combines striking looks and is packed with tech.
In terms of dimensions, it is just under 4.8 metres long, 2 metres wide and 1.6 metres tall, making it slightly larger than an Audi Q5 but smaller than a Range Rover Sport.
The US company says it will look like a ‘true SUV’, with an elevated ride height, short overhangs, squared wheel arches and a wide track.
The design is fuss-free, with slim light clusters front and back, flush door handles that pop-out when the car is unlocked and deep indents chiselled into its profile.
The exterior design has lots of clean lines and is generally fuss-free, with slim light clusters at both the front and front and back and four flush door handles
Inside, the cabin is ‘fully vegan’, with cloth materials made from reclaimed fishing nets, T-shirts and rubber
The Fisker Ocean has a number of party pieces up its sleeve. Among these is a rotating 17.1-inch infotainment screen that can swivel from landscape to portrait view at the push of a button when at a standstill
Inside, the cabin is ‘fully vegan’, with cloth materials made from reclaimed fishing nets, T-shirts and rubber to produce the ‘world’s most sustainable electric vehicle’, say bosses.
It has a number of party pieces up its sleeve, too.
Among these is a rotating 17.1-inch infotainment screen that can swivel from landscape to portrait view at the push of a button when at a standstill.
With all the windows down, the roof panel above the driver and passenger’s head can be retracted behind the B-pillars to give a sensation of open-top driving up front.
And mid-spec and above examples also get a unique rear ‘doggie power window’, which rolls down the glass so pooches in the boot can get some fresh air or, as the Fisker images suggest, can facilitate the transportation of surf boards.
Mid-spec and above examples of the Fisker Ocean get this ‘doggie power window’ at the back, that allows the user to wind the rear glass down so dogs in the boot can get some fresh air
The ‘doggie power windows’ can also be useful for transporting longer items, such as a surf board
Revealing the car to the Barcelona show crowd on Monday, Mr Fisker said: ‘Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is the ideal place to showcase the Fisker Ocean, as our vehicle is full of advanced technology, including over-the-air offerings that we will take to a new level.
‘With the Fisker Ocean’s combination of performance, value and sustainability, I believe we have a unique electric vehicle with industry-first features, such as California Mode, a 17.1-inch rotating screen and the longest range in our segment.’
Last year, Fisker said it will be producing the first all-electric Popemobile for Pope Francis, presenting His Holiness with images of the converted Ocean SUV he will be able to ride around in.
The entry version of the Fisker Ocean – called the Sport – links a ‘Touring Range’ battery to a 275bhp electric motor powering the front wheels, meaning a 0-to-60mph sprint time of 6.6 seconds and an estimated range of 275 miles
The range-topping Ocean Extreme (with the same Hyper Range battery) will cost £59,900 and feature a slightly improved 550bhp electric motor combo, shaving 0.3 seconds off the 0-to-60mph time and extending the range to 390 miles
Henrik Fisker, car designer and CEO of Fisker (pictured), said on Monday: ‘Europe is critical to the company’s success as we work towards building the most sustainable vehicle and starting production in November’
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