All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Fisker went bankrupt

The American automotive company founded by Danish automotive designer Henrik Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker, has been trying to stay afloat for years, but not everything went according to plan. After eight years of business, the company went bankrupt.

Over the years the debts have increased and now the owners are forced to sell off the property to avoid foreclosure. According to the company, Fisker has assets worth more than $500 million, but also debts of $500 million. That means they will survive.

In 2023, Fisker had big plans. 40,000 electric vehicles were targeted, but only 10,000 left the production lines. The Ocean SUV has received mixed reviews, with Consumer Reports claiming that the promise has not been fulfilled, while regulators have addressed issues with brakes and doors that won’t open. Further complicating the situation for Fisker was the fact that the Ocean lost its place on the list of tax-deductible electric vehicles unless leased because it was manufactured outside of North America.

At the beginning of the year, production of the Ocean model was halted even though they dropped the price to $24,999 in an attempt to raise cash, but trading in the stock was suspended in March. The company admitted that they could run out of capital by the end of 2024. Unfortunately, this turned out to be true, so discussions with potential partners such as Nissan followed, but without success.

The car market has become really cruel, and the American manufacturer is just one of the companies that, in the years to come, will experience the same fate.

Source: Reuters

Maserati MC20 Icona and MC20 Leggenda

For the 20th anniversary of the MC12, Maserati revealed two special edition MC20 models, the Maserati MC20 Icona and the MC20 Leggenda. Both models are decorated with special liveries from the Maserati Fuoriserie program, and each model will be produced in 20 copies.

The Maserati MC20 Leggenda pays tribute to the MC12 GT1 racing car from the Vitaphone Racing team. It is an important model for the brand as it has achieved several wins and two second places in the 24 Hours of Spa endurance race. It is finished in Nero Essenza black with Digital Mint Matte color and bright yellow details. The rims are painted in two shades of black (Nero Lucido and Nero Opaco), while the brake calipers are in Digital Mint and black.

The Maserati MC20 Icona is finished in a combination of Bianco Audace Matte and Blue Stradale with blue lines in the lower part, paying homage to the original MC12 Stradale model. Maserati also added the Italian flag just below the MC20 badge on the profile, the hood is made of carbon fiber, while the mirrors have an auto-dimming function. It is equipped with chrome rims and blue brake calipers.

The interior is equipped with monocoque racing seats with the model name imported into the headrest, a Sonus Faber sound system, several ADAS systems, a nose lift function and a carbon package. The Icona has black and blue upholstery, while the Legend model received a darker Nero black configuration.

The Italian company has not released information about the powertrain and price.

Source: Maserati

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Cadillac released photos of the mysterious Coupe

In 2018, rumors began about a new Cadillac coupe that was revealed thanks to a design patent, but there was no announcement from the company. At least not until now when his appearance was revealed on Instagram.

As a part “From the Vault” (GM Design series), the car mixes elements of the Escala concept with more modern design elements. The result is one of the best cars from GM since the Buick Avista concept. “The coupe was born as an internal exploration of Cadillac’s aesthetic and shaped the portfolio of models on the road today, including the CT5 and CT5 V-Blackwing,” the company said.

Unlike the CT5, this Coupe has a new front fascia with thin headlights, muscular intakes and a wide grille, a sculpted hood and bright trim, while the rear design is standard for Cadillac cars.

The interior is equipped with leather-trimmed seats with fancy seat belts, a rotary shifter controller, and metal speaker covers and wood accents.

This concept never went into production, and it’s not certain that it ever will because Cadillac has since given up on the Coupe.

Source: Cadillac

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