Since the collapse of the car company bearing his name, Henrik Fisker has kept busy.
At the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, he unveiled the Mustang-based Rocket in conjunction with Galpin Auto Sports, and now Fisker is back with something based on a model from one of his former employers.
Fisker helped design the Aston Martin DB9 and Vantage, and he once again teamed up with Galpin Auto Sports to restyle the Vanquish into the Thunderbolt.
While not officially associated with Aston, the Thunderbolt is Fisker’s “personal interpretation” of the carmaker’s flagship coupe, according to Galpin.
Unveiled at the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the Thunderbolt features bodywork made almost entirely of carbon fiber, and styling that’s even more dramatic than the stock Vanquish it’s based on.
The Thunderbolt looks like it’s literally been sharpened. It’s covered in aggressive slashes, scoops, and blade-like headlights and taillights. It also rides 15 millimeters lower than a stock Vanquish on 21-inch wheels.
The powertrain is apparently unchanged, meaning there’s a 5.9-liter V12 with 568 horsepower under that rakish bonnet, which drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
On the inside, the Thunderbolt sports an 11.6-inch Panasonic Curved Control Screen designed to reduce glare, plus leather seating surfaces from Italian furniture maker Natuzzi.
The Thunderbolt shown at Amelia Island was a one-off proposition, Galpin says, but it could build a limited run of production models if customers order them.
These production versions (depicted in red above) will differ from the original Thunderbolt, with changes to the front fascia and the deletion of that fancy Panasonic screen.
Galpin did not say how many Thunderbolts it plans to build, but it will keep the numbers low to ensure collectibility.
