By John D. Stoll
LOS ANGELES-- Henrik Fisker is tying his future to one of the
most iconic automobiles in American history: the Ford Mustang.
About a year and a half after his high-profile resignation from
the hybrid-electric supercar company he founded, Mr. Fisker used
the Los Angeles Auto Show as the platform to show off his next
venture. Working with the largest Ford dealer in America, the
Danish car designer plans to produce hundreds of modified Ford
Mustangs. Dubbed the "Rocket," the revved-up Mustang will make 725
horsepower and cost more than $100,000.
Mr. Fisker is the latest gear head to enter a cottage industry
of entrepreneurs who take existing cars--ranging from Mustangs to
Tesla electric roadsters--and modify them by adding bigger engines,
rebuilding body panels or tricking out interiors. Steve Saleen,
Jack Roush, Carroll Shelby and John Lingenfelter are a few of the
industry's well-known car modifiers.
But the move represents an abrupt turn for Mr. Fisker, who made
a name as an Aston Martin and BMW AG designer and then started his
own company building the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, a highly
efficient automobile known more for its sophisticated engineering
than brawn. After selling more than 2,000 Karmas, also priced at
more than $100,000, Mr. Fisker left the company he founded. Fisker
Automotive was purchased by a Chinese auto parts company.
In an interview, Mr. Fisker said he is working on an "exciting
new venture," but wouldn't elaborate when pressed for more details
on his plan. For now, he is committed to working with Galpin
Motors--a California Ford Motor Co. dealer--on fabricating and
selling the Rocket, which is anything but a highly fuel-efficient
hybrid car.
Fuel economy numbers weren't available. Mr. Fisker said he has
to abide by Environmental Protection Agency regulations, but those
standards are different for vehicle customizers than they are for
car companies building vehicles from scratch.
GFMI Metalcrafters Inc., a Fountain Valley, Calif., concept-car
builder, and Galpin's Auto Sports customization division will
produce the car. The Galpin dealership is responsible for
distribution.
Mr. Fisker and Galpin's owner, Beau Boeckmann, agreed to embark
on the project at a recent car show in Pebble Beach,
Mr. Fisker's new venture has him playing the role of the auto
industry's version of app developers, who build games or other
mobile products by using a specific software platform provided by a
large company, such as Apple Inc.'s iOS. Instead of software, he
used the redesigned Ford Mustang as his platform.
To build the Rocket, he takes many of the traditional
sheet-metal panels off a Mustang and replaces them with carbon
fiber materials. Mr. Fisker redesigned the grill, the hood, the
fenders, the spoiler and other parts of the car.
He said he did most of his design work without having the actual
car to look at. After months of design work, he finally received an
actual redesigned Mustang (which Ford is just now putting on sale)
six weeks ago, forcing him to race to get a car done that could be
displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
"This was quite unique. I would like to have had a little bit
more time. (But) I had thought about this design for a while and
that kind of gave me a little bit of a head start."
The Rocket is fitted with a V8 engine that is capable of
churning out 725 horsepower. The car, Mr. Fisker says, is the first
of a low-volume series.
Write to John D. Stoll at john.stoll@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=DE0005190003
Access Investor Kit for Ford Motor Co.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US3453708600
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires