FISKER AUTOMOTIVE COULD LEAD THE CHARGE TO BATTERY-POWERED CARS

In the hotly contested race to provide consumers with the most efficient and eco-friendly cars on the road, a new leader is emerging.  No, not Honda, Toyota, or one of the other titans of the industry. 

Instead, it appears that Fisker Automotive may be the first to offer a plug-in hybrid production car.  Fisker Automotive is a small car maker that is a joint venture between Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. and venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. 

With the new announcement that Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers would be infusing another multi-million dollar round of financing into Fisker Automotive, it appears that the goal of selling the first production cars by the end of 2009 might just be attainable. 

The first car out of the gate for Fisker Automotive is a very sporty and luxurious sports sedan that utilizes Fisker Automotive’s patented Q-Drive system.  The vehicle boasts 50-mile electric-only range with gasoline-electric hybrid technology kicking in after that.  The car can go from zero to sixty in less than six seconds and tops out around 125 mph. 

The bad news, as is the case with most exotic sports cars, is the price tag.  At around $80,000, the Fisker Automotive sports car places itself out of reach for most consumers, even those that irrationally love their exotic cars.

The solution for many car aficionados who still want to make their mortgage payments is to join an exotic car club.  These clubs exist around the country (www.exoticcarclubs.com) and enable many consumers to pursue their passion for exotic cars while bypassing much of the cost and hassle of direct ownership. Exotic car clubs allow members to sample many different exotic cars and not just the one or two they may own.  DFW Elite Car Club (www.dfwelitecarclub.com) is one car sharing club that stands out for its impressive selection of automobiles.  Owned by Texas millionaire Ron Sturgeon, the club started with autos from Sturgeon’s private collection.

Sturgeon also operates DFW Elite Auto Rental (www.dfweliteautorental.com) which offers exotic cars for rent.  This business specializes in providing a varied lineup of exotic rental cars to fit the needs of any special occasion. 

Finally, Sturgeon also operates an exotic car tour company by the name of DFW Drive Your Dream (www.dfwdriveyourdream.com).  This operation allows car fans to enjoy a full day tour driving five different exotic cars back to back on one of several scenic routes throughout North Texas.  The different tour offerings allow participants to choose from several different car packages, and there is even a romantic couple’s tour that offers lunch at a five star restaurant.  Valentines is coming up! If you’re not able to give your sweetheart a exotic car from Fisker, a tour from DFW Drive Your Dream is an excellent Valentine’s Day gift for a true car enthusiast.

Written by G.D. Gregory.  If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com. garrett is a regular contributor to the exotic car rental blog. Read more of his stories on our exotic car rental news page.