Fisker Latigo CS
The Fisker Latigo CS is one of the two models developed and produced by Fisker Coachbuild . It debuted at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show along with the Fisker Tramonto. The Fisker Latigo CS was intended to be limited to a run of 150 cars. Ultimately, only two Latigos were ever produced, car #000, which was the prototype car built on a BMW 645i chassis, and car #001, which was ordered by a Southern California Customer in the Spring of 2007.
History
The Fisker Latigo and Tramonto were intended to bring back the lost art of custom coachbuilding. The intent was to allow high-end luxury customers to get the greatest exclusivity by both limiting production and by offering many customizable options. There may have been many reasons for slow sales in 2006-2007, but one reason was clear: steadily rising oil prices that were under $30 a barrel in 2004 but were headed toward $80 per barrel and higher in 2007. According to Henrik Fisker, many high-end customers were now expressing that their desire for luxury and performance was now accompanied by a desire for greater efficiency and for a "green" image. It was this realization, and a fateful meeting with Alan Niedzwieki of Quantum Fuel Systems, that led Henrik Fisker and Barnard Koehler to start a JV called Fisker Automotive, whereby Fisker Coachbuild would provide design and Quantum would provide the Hybrid-EV technology to create a new range-extended Electric Vehicle, which would ultimately be named the Fisker Karma. Fisker Coachbuild continues to provide design services for automotive and other applications. As Fisker Coachbuild turned its attention to the new EV market, the company stopped further marketing of the Latigo. The only two Latigos ever built were car #000, the prototype based on the BMW 645i, and the only customer car ever delivered: car #001 based on a BMW M6, discussed further below.
Base Architecture
The Latigo CS is a two door coupe based on the 2nd newest generation BMW 6 Series (E63). Fisker Coachbuild customers would purchase and deliver to Fisker a BMW 645/650/M6 and Fisker would build the Latigo CS on the existing chassis. The original exterior is replaced by a partly new body designed by Henrik Fisker (the bodyshell and doors remain as per the E63 6-series). The body features extensive use of lightweight materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre. Customers could then choose from a number of customized upgrades to the engine/drivetrain, interior, and exterior.
Options
Fisker offered many choices for the exterior, with custom Fisker colors including Titanium Crystal Metallic, Silver Quartz Metallic, Raptor Red, Ocean Blue Metallic, or White Sands Metallic. The base interior of the BMW was redone with new leather and color options, while retaining the electronics and telematics of the original BMW. The leather interiors could be customized to taste, with much of the work being done by an Italian firm, with colors that included Saddle, Coral Reef, Pebble, Sand, Cotto, Raised Sand, Midnight Black, or white. If desired by the customer, even the trunk can be fully lined with leather as part of the Custom Trim Package that also included upgraded center console, door liners, and instrument panels. Alcantara was extensively used in both the interior headliner and the trunk.
Engine
Customers could choose to upgrade the BMW's already potent engine with Fisker's "Performance Plus" package, which took the M6 engine from 500 peak HP to over 650 HP. The engine upgrade selected for Fisker Latigo #001 was the top possibility - advertised by Fisker as a 665HP upgrade, it was a $55,000 upgrade whereby the engine was rebuilt and tuned by RD Sport (aka Racing Dynamics) as what they refer to as their 648HP "RS58" Motor. Described on their website: The V-10 RS58 uses much of the same technology found in the latest F1 motors: billet crankshaft, billet rods, and a set of forged pistons that are amongst the lightest to ever find their way into a production-based motor. The ported cylinder heads boast 17% more efficiency than the stock ones, and this is mainly obtained through the use of larger valves and modified cam profiles. The RS58 Package comes complete with a full exhaust system, including Race Exhaust Manifolds, Metal Matrix Sport Catalytic Converters, Sport X-Flow Midpipe and Competition Rear Silencers with Quad Tips.
Latigo CS #001
The only customer car ordered was based on a BMW M6. Based on this original Fisker Purchase Order, the Southern California customer ordered the car with Custom Trim package and upgraded 665HP engine package on March 27, 2007. The car was sold to its second owner in late 2011, and is now part of a private collection.
Press Coverage
Road and Track Magazine, October 13, 2005: http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/ampersand-november-2005
Automobile Magazine, April 2009: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0512_fisker_tramonto_latigo/viewall.html
Motor Trend, First Drive, November 2005: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0511_2006_fisker_tramonto/
Robb Report: January 1, 2007 http://www.robbreportcollection.com/Fisker-Latigo-CS-2007
DuPont Registry, 2007: http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/NewsCenter/NewsCenterDetails.aspx?mmysid=2915
Car and Driver Magazine, 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show preview: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/fisker-latigo-auto-shows