Vehicle Description
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One of 5 ever produced. 1,078 total miles
Originally spec'd and built for Henrik Fisker
Fisker-designed carbon fiber bodywork and interior
8.4-liter naturally aspirated engine, 745 horsepower and 638 lb.-ft
of torque
Performance upgrades developed by racing driver Ben Keating of The
Viper Exchange
Custom-designed leather interior with Alcantara accents
Tremec 6-speed manual transmission
0-60 miles per hour in 3 seconds, 218mph top speed
In a world where new car dealerships populate vast expanses of land
with their hundreds of shining automobiles parked in front, the art
of coach building has quickly become an art form that is practiced
by the few. Many cars share parts, designs, even overall styles,
all in the name of maximizing profits. However, there are some
designers and companies that have decided to continue to pursue the
road of coachbuilding and design, notably VLF. Comprised of Gilbert
Villareal, Bob Lutz, and eventually adding legendary automotive
designed Henrik Fisker, VLF created a modern-day coach-built car:
The Force 1 V10.
VL Automotive (later renamed VLF) was originally a joint venture
founded by former GM Vice Chair Bob Lutz and manufacturer Gilbert
Villareal in 2012, designing a coach-built car based on the Fisker
Karma. In 2015, Henrik Fisker joined the VL team (renamed to VHL)
and moved to Detroit, designing the new 8.4-liter V10 Force 1.
Henrik had always wanted to build an amazing American supercar, and
that dream was slowly coming to fruition.
In 2015 Fisker was told to call American racecar driver and Viper
enthusiast Ben Keating, recommended by many who knew that Fisker
was going to use the Viper platform. From his experience in racing
and in Viper performance components, Ben Keating was able to
upgrade the already-potent engine to 745 horsepower and 638 lb.-ft
of torque paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. With modified
cylinder heads and a camshaft that was extremely similar to GT3R
race Vipers, performance was dramatically improved. The car also
received upgraded suspension that was adaptable from either street
or racing use, providing different levels of stiffness based on a
driver's preference. Custom suspension tunes were also available.
The team worked with Brembo to acquire high-performance brakes to
match the capable performance, filling the wheel wells of the 21"
wheels designed by Fisker. With the upgraded performance to match
the futuristic exterior, you'll never tire of the 745-horsepower
naturally aspirated V10 with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Fisker's signature style is evident throughout the car, with
distinctive elements that let you know immediately that it is a
Fisker design. Responsible for the layout and design, he drafted
the car and then modeled a version in the traditional clay scale
model, perfecting the curves, angles, and overall aesthetic. The
carbon fiber bodywork was then created from these models, to not
only be lightweight but strong. In all, the car weighs under
3,400lbs. The luxury interior is also a highpoint, with Alcantara
and quilted leather on almost all the surfaces you can touch. A
quilted headliner gives the cabin an extra special feeling.
Observing the car from the outside you feel as though it could be a
modern interpretation of the elegant Shelby Daytona coupe. Designed
with unique proportions that are shared by so few cars, the shape
and curves of the Force 1 provide an elegant design for those to
take in and enjoy.
Production time increased dramatically for each of the hand-built
cars. At the end of the program, only 5 examples were built, making
this an extremely rare Fisker-designed supercar.
This particular VLF Force 1 V10 was spec'd personally by Henrik
Fisker and was intended to be his personal car. Painted in a
fantastic shade of dark grey metallic, the car was built with a red
and black interior with leather and Alcantara accenting one
another. This Force 1 was also optioned with a "stage 2" exhaust
system, Henrik wanting a visceral road car that was an occasion
every time he drove it.
In the era of standardization and cost-cutting, experiencing and
owning a coach-built car is a rare experience unlike any other.
Knowing that you have a car that so few are made that you're more
likely to see a multi-million-dollar hyper car than a car like this
is a special and unique feeling. With a striking car designed by
Fisker, performance upgrades designed and performed by Ben Keating,
and with only 5 examples produced for the entire world, it is one
of the rarest street cars you can experience, bar none.
