John Halas wrote:Former GM boss Bob Lutz and car designer Henrik Fisker joined forces and stormed the Detroit Motor Show with their newest creation, the Viper-based VFL Force 1 V10 sports car.
The coachbuilt two-seat, all carbon fiber-bodied Force 1 dresses the Dodge Viper’s internals in a sharper looking suit on the outside, while also giving the interior a makeover, chiefly through the use of different materials and trimmings, as the rest of the cabin remains mostly unchanged.
The Force 1 employs the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 engine modified to produce 745hp at 6,100 rpm and 638 lb-ft of peak torque at 5,000 rpm, allowing the 3,395 (1,538kg) rear-wheel drive sports car to reach 60mph (96km/h) in 3.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 218mp/h (350km/h). Buyers will have the option of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
VFL Automotive is the successor to VL Automotive, with Henrik Fisker joining the company’s existing managerial team that includes Bob Lutz and entrepreneur Gilbert Villarreal – hence the change in the name.
“Force 1 is another dramatic example of what we are going to do at VLF Automotive by combining proven world-class platforms and components with elegant designs to produce stunning bespoke luxury sports vehicles” said Bob Lutz, VLF Automotive Chairman.
Production of the V10-powered coupe will take place in Auburn Hills, Michigan, at the end of April 2016, with deliveries to commence in the third quarter of 2016. Prices start from $268,500 with initial production limited to 50 units.
The Force 1 was shown in Detroit alongside the mildly updated Destino sports sedan that drops a Corvette ZR1 V8 into the body of the Fisker Karma.
