Last year’s North American International Auto Show introduced us to the VL Automotive Destino, a Fisker Karma that had the earth-friendly hybrid bits swapped out in favor of a Corvette ZR1-sourced LS9 V8. VL is back at this year’s show, this time with a V8-powered Fisker Karma convertible called the Destino Red Concept. The Red Concept is based off the Fisker Karma S hardtop convertible that was introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009.
If the Destino Red reaches production, it will be powered by either an LT1 or LS9 V8 sending power to the rear wheels via a 6L80E 6-speed automatic transmission. A variety of interior trim packages and colors will be available courtesy of leather supply company Katzkin.
VL also explained their progress in regards to bringing the four-door Destino to production.
“We had hoped to be in retail production by now, but a five-month interruption was caused by the reorganization and restructuring of Fisker Automotive which is a major supplier of some structural components and some body panels,” VL Automotive co-founder Gilbert Villarreal said in a statement. “Pending resolution of the bankruptcy proceedings, we will continue to negotiate for those parts in tandem with development of VL Automotive’s own fabricating operations which make front and rear facias, roofs, trunks and hoods.”
Former GM vice chairman Bob Lutz added that response to the Destino has been all that he had hoped for, with orders pouring in from the world over.
“We have received hundreds of inquiries and orders from customers and dealers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” said Lutz. “We have also been pleasantly surprised by the number of Fisker owners inquiring about conversions. Gilbert and I are preparing for that work, too.”
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