zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
For $95,900, would you let-it-go?
For $95,900, would you let-it-go?-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:14

Before he decided to sing the body electric, Henrik Fisker liked to re-body Bimmers and Mercs. Today's Latigo may be an über rare example of his small body of work, but is its price electrifying?

Yesterday's candidate may have once been a Fairlady, and a topless one at that, but for 57% of you it didn't come with a fair price. It also seemed, horror or horrors, that the automatic gearbox was even more of a no trespassing sign than either its price or its questionable provenance.

Datsun's sports car went by the name Fairlady in its homeland, possibly explaining why a…

There's nothing questionable about the pedigree of today's car, as it at once melds some of the best of modern mechanicals with a body design penned by arguably one of the most applauded of contemporary automotive stylists. Henrik Fisker graduated from the Art Center College of Design in La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland in 1989, and immediately landed a cushy gig at BMW. Since then, he has jumped to Aston Martin, Ford, and then his own coachbuilding/electric car business. A look at his resume shows that in his wake he has left a litany of beautiful cars in the same way James Bond does comely women. The BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, Ford Shelby GR1 showcar, and his current electric dream, the Karma, all represent designs that aren't just achingly beautiful, but that also ‘look right.' Sure Chris Bangle may be bold and forward-looking in the investigation of new styling dialogs, but hey, some of his stuff seriously brings on the fug.

Interestingly, today's was an opportunity for the two designers to sort of meet in the metal, and in this case for Fisker to get the final word. In between returning Aston Martins to their rightful place as objets d'art, and introducing his Karma chameleon electric luxury car, Fisker built a very limited number of coachbuilt tourers, based on existing high-zoot cars. Fisker Coachbuild's initial offerings were the Mercedes SL-based Tramonto, and the BMW 6-series (E63) Latigo. Only 150 of each were to be produced, and at more than two hundred grand a piece their target audience would appreciate that exclusivity.

The Latigo maintained the donor BMW's glass, doors, and much of the interior, while modifying everything else with aluminum, steel and lots of carbon fiber to keep it regular. This one happens to be based on the snarling mile-eater M6, and sports a modified version of the BMW V10 under its re-shaped hood that is said to be good for an eye watering 648-bhp.

I'll wait a moment for that to sink in.

Not only does this Latigo rock more ponies than a Chincoteague wet dream, but its transmission is likewise over the top, sporting a Spinal Tap-esque 7 forward speeds. That's a manu-matic with flappy paddles behind the leather wrapped and Fisker embossed steering wheel so you automatic haters will be able to take a half day off.

The rest of the interior is also covered in the kind of leather that's so buttery soft that touching it may elicit impure thoughts of its bovine provider. The textures and color covering the parts you likely would touch in the interior exemplify its no compromise origin. There's a lot of M6 in here, but also enough change that it will still feel like a special place to be, and even after 5 years and 19,000 miles it still looks - and probably smells - like Henrik's craftsmen just finished stitching it together.

Outside, the wheels are bespoke 10-spoke 20" alloys, behind which preen massive cross-drilled disc brakes. Wrapping the wheels are rubber bands disguised as tires, and the whole thing slots into wheel wells that feature simple but generous flares which break the swage line and roll into bumperless end caps. Fisker used these cars to develop his grille treatment, which continues on the Karma, and it's best described as being reminiscent of Anonymous' mustache in V for Vendetta. The car's silver paint lends it an appearance of being carved from a single block of that precious metal, and continues the impression that this Latigo is like-new.

If it were like new, it would probably sport a price tag that's a nose bleed away from the heady heights of three hundred thousand clams. As it is the asking price is still in the stratosphere at $95,900. Yes, that's a lot of Miatas. And yes, neither you nor I could afford that, even if we, together, managed to sell both of your kidneys. But this isn't about us. It isn't even about you spending your remaining days hooked to a dialysis machine. The question here is whether this super rare super car is worth a super premium $95,900. So even if you can't afford it, do you think that's a decent price for someone who could? Or, is this a Latigo to which even the rich should just say no?

You decide!

or go if the ad disappears.

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Yes, I know you can't see the poll. Vote in the comments, email and let ‘em know.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part Three
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part Three
You'd never be caught dead in a foreign car but you're still drawn to the versatility of a hatchback. Your friends all drive Preludes with ridiculous body kits and faux carbon fiber hoods and you want to give them something to think about at stop lights. You're Mopar through and...
Oct 25, 2024
2007 Audi A6 3.2L, Part Two
2007 Audi A6 3.2L, Part Two
It works and it doesn't. While this luxury sedan has nice, though moderately conservative, styling on the front and rear end, the A6's profile is something Ingolstadt must fix. It is this car's Achilles heel. The spot you conduct your asphalt assault from is a really nice place to be....
Oct 25, 2024
2007 Audi A6 3.2L, Part Three
2007 Audi A6 3.2L, Part Three
Buy this car if you want a large luxury sedan with impeccable fit and finish, cool toys and one of the smoothest powertrains you'll ever have the pleasure of piloting. When you order one, be very careful picking your color and wheels. There's a tan A6 with the base model...
Oct 25, 2024
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Part One
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Part One
I drove the backwards. Not in the reverse gear sense, but leaving Palm Springs it's only a very short climb up a straight, steep highway before you get to the kind of roads we car guys can usually only dream about. As state route 74 climbs up to Pinyon Crest,...
Oct 25, 2024
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Part Two
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Part Two
The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI isn't what you'd call traditionally handsome. But with the wildly flared arches, huge hood scoop and restrained rear wing, it caries an air of purposeful muscularity. We prefer it to the old version, but would order ours in either black or white. Red does...
Oct 25, 2024
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part Two
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part Two
Though not quite designed for the city, the SRT4's looks are architectural. Instead of taking the truck-like exterior of the Caliber RT and making it appear sporting, Dodge's design team has embraced what they were stuck with and given the vehicle a unique, rough, look that isn't completely unlikable. The...
Oct 25, 2024
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved