People have gushed about the handling of the Fisker Karma, it's low, long and wide chassis said to provide amazing handling. But, the powertrain has certainly caused some... problems. So, VL Automotive (a small auto manufacturer backed by Bob Lutz, among others) did what felt right: kept that luscious body and chassis and ripped out the guts. In exchange for the series hybrid get-up that drives the Karma, the Destino received a supercharged V8 -- more specifically, the LS9 that powers the Corvette ZR1. Under the see-through hood of the 'Vette that motor puts down 639hp, a figure that's said to be maintained here, but with the four-door practicality the Chevrolet lacks. Pricing is said to be around $180,000 for the bespoke four-door supercar (a huge premium over the $102,000 Karma), but its designers hope that this could be the fastest four-door sedan on the planet when it goes on sale later this year. Just don't expect to set any records on the fuel efficiency scoreboard.
VL Automotive Destino eyes-on
"Destino" Premiers at the 2013 North American International Auto Show
DETROIT, Mich., Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Destino made its world premier today at the North American International Auto show as the newest four-door performance car in the world market of exclusive automobiles. Based on an award-winning design by Henrik Fisker and powered by the internationally applauded Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 powertrain, Destino is the result of collaboration by industrialist Gilbert Villereal and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz .
"The goal in designing and engineering this automobile is to provide true motoring enthusiasts with an exquisite work of automotive art that performs at a world-class level. Attention to detail is a paramount concern, as is reliability and ease of maintenance," according to Lutz. "We have made styling modifications to differentiate our design and reengineered the chassis to accommodate the 638bhp ZR1's handcrafted LS9 engine with either a manual or automatic transmission. The result is truly an American designed, engineered and manufactured four-door performance car that rivals such models as the Porsche Panamera and Aston-Martin-Lagonda Rapide.
"We are developing our distribution network now and will deliver Destino on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers will have the option of customizing the exterior color and interior trim," Lutz said.
Destino has an overall length of 202.8 inches and a 124.4 inch wheelbase. Overall height is 52.4 inches.
Destino will be manufactured in Auburn Hills, Michigan under the auspices of VL Productions. Destino is scheduled for retail sales in the second half of 2013 following certification and validation. Prototypes are currently in testing.
Additional information, specifications and photos are available at www.VL-Automotive.com.
SOURCE VL Productions
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