Biden Tongue-Slip Reveals Fisker 'Nina' Model Lineup Plans

Veep Discloses that New Plug-In Hybrid Will Come in More Than One Flavor

It wasn't much of a secret to leak - Henrik Fisker has always talked about offering multiple models of the "project Nina" plug-in hybrids his company plans to build.

But Vice President Joe Biden, somewhat notorious for his talkativeness, let slip during remarks at a recent Fisker event that those models would include an SUV-styled crossover and a coupe, in addition to the sedan that's always been talked abut.

Fisker later conformed that the Veep was correct, and went on to tell reporters that after he'd shown Biden sketches of the sedan the Vice President told him it "looked like a four-door Ferrari.'

We're not sure if Fisker, who made his name designing BMWs and Aston Martins, thought that was a compliment.  

Biden's tongue slipped in Delaware earlier this week at ceremonies announcing the acquisition of the idled General Motors' Wilmington Assembly factory by Fisker's eponymous Fisker Automotive for $18 million - plus an anticipated $175 million in refurbishing and equipment costs.  The money is coming form a $528 million federal Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan the company recently was awarded.

Southern California-based Fisker plans to build as many as 100,000 cars (and crossovers, it seems) at the plant once production is in full-swing, with about half intended for export to Europe, Latin America, Japan, China and, we expect, wherever else Fisker can find customers.

The so-called Nina cars will be priced at around $48,000 before any applicable tax credits and pother incentives, and will use a downsized version of the 408-horsepower, extended-range  electric drive system in the company's upcoming luxury-exotic plug-in, the $87,900 Fisker Karma (right).

While the Karma initially is being build for Fisker in Finalnd, the designer-turned car builder says he plans to move production t the U.S. as some point.

Maybe when the convertible version is ready to launch?

Posted by

John O'Dell October 29, 2009, 12:21 PM

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Fisker Nina Models, Plug In Hybrids