Automotive

Fisker's new Surf - the 'eco station wagon'

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Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
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Fisker Surf
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Fisker Surf
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Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
Fisker Surf
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Lamborghini Espada
Lamborghini Espada
Lamborghini Espada
Ferrari FF
Ferrari FF
The Fisker Surf at the Frankfurt Motor Show
The Fisker Surf at the Frankfurt Motor Show
View gallery - 46 images

Shown for the first time at IAA in Frankfurt last week, the Fisker Surf is a luxury/sports "shooting brake" or station wagon, built on the same base as the Fisker Karma (electric drive with gas-engined range extender), though the Ferrari FF look makes it a lot easier on the eye.

The Surf can be expected in showrooms in the first half of 2013 with a price tag in the low six figures.

With an identical drive train to the Karma, the biggest thing the Fisker Surf offers over the Karma is its luggage space and aesthetics.

The car comes with two drive modes - Sport and Stealth.

In Sport mode, the massive 981 lb-ft (1,330 Nm) torque of the vehicle is on tap with 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, and a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).

In Stealth mode the generator stays turned off, so the Surf has a limited range of 50 miles (80 km) dictated by the 20 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack carried inside the car's central tunnel. In this mode, it accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h).

Fisker Surf

The drive train is a series-hybrid, with only the rear wheels driven by electrical energy, which can be topped up by the 260 bhp turbocharged and direct-fuel-injected gasoline engine generator.

Under normal driving conditions, battery power alone will drive the Surf about. After that the gasoline engine/generator and 9.5-gal (36 l) fuel tank provide another 250 miles of range for a total of 300 miles (483 km).

Using a standard 110-volt household supply, the Surf's battery will fully recharge in about 14 hours. The Fisker Surf can also utilize standard European 220-volt outlets, allowing this time to fall to about six hours.

View gallery - 46 images
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9 comments
Brian McGee
This is worse in all ways than any other electric vehicle on the market, proposed, or imagined currently. Electric range is less than the Tesla Roadster OR Model S, total range w/ gas is less than the Chevy Volt, the battery pack is bigger but goes a shorter distance, it takes longer to charge than any other with equal or farther ranges, the look is awkward and unattractive, and the price is ridiculous.
I used to be worried for Tesla because Fisker stole their design secrets, but if this is the best he can do, I am no longer worried. Did the Karma ever make it into production?? Did ANYONE buy one??
Nelson
This thing is ugly!
Luddite
Personally I like the look. But in terms of performance, mileage and distance, WTF? The combined electric and gas range is only 300 miles? There are many gas only vehicles with much better performance stats that can get 30mpg. The electric charging rate has to be the slowest on the plante.
BZD
@Brian McGee: That is a lot of misunderstandings and down right lies you put forward. Here are some facts instead. 1.The Karma is in production and it is being sold, in fact it goes like hot bread and you know it. 2. Fisker stole nothing and he even has the courts words for it. The principle behind the Karma is based upon military tech not the Tesla. 3. The price of the Karma is competitive with conventional luxury sedans and the car press is loving it. Again I\'m sure you know this and are just trolling. 4. The Karma is much bigger than the Tesla Roadster so of course it will use more energy (more batteries=longer charge time). 5. The Model S you give so many praises only has a decent range with the max battery option that is bloody expensive and it\'s less of a car than the Karma in every way.
I suggest everyone do their own research.
PS. @Luddite you need to consider the small gas tank. The 36L is 9.5 gallons.
Bill Bennett
@ BZD you left out the fact that it looks like a very fugly loafer ie a fugly shoe
Gregg Eshelman
That\'s not a station wagon. An Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is a station wagon. A big hatch or door in the back with a cargo bay able to hold heaping gobs of stuff - with a roof the same height all the way back, or higher in the back than at the front, like an Oldsmobile Vistacruiser.
The closest thing to a station wagon on the road today is the Ford Flex. The other \"wagons\" are just sedans with extra space tacked onto the back which is difficult to get stuff into or out of.
Griffin
LOW six figures?
Isn\'t that a contradiction in terms?
Jay Givan
My problem is the fact that we are not going to \"save the planet for global warming\" by providing \"eco friendly\" cars in the \"low 6 figure\" price range. The one percent of the population that can afford said car is not going to make any significant change at all assuming you can get all of them to buy and drive the thing.
Jean Sagmeister Duffy
I guess a few blokes like it cause I see they already took 3000 orders. Is that more or less than ur teslar?