Car Brief: 2006 Fisker Latigo CS

When Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Coachbuild, gazed at the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG, he curiously thought he could improve that car. The result is the 2006 Tramonto, a ride that is admittedly gorgeous, but many would argue that the SL55 didn’t require any modifications to begin with. However, with his other project, the 2006 Latigo CS, Fisker and company took aim at a design that seems to foster more criticism than praise. Serving as the base of the Latigo is the BMW 6 Series Coupe, the latest Bavarian Motor Werks example to be fitted with lead designer Chris Bangle’s tiered, bubble-butt styling cue. It’s a bit ironic that BMW and Fisker Coachbuild chose the same venue, the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, to debut their newest interpretations of this large coupe, the M6 and the Latigo CS, respectively. Spinning under the blue, black and white brand emblem was the remarkable new edition to the M family, offering 500 horsepower and promising unquestionable handling, all for the sum of about $97,000. As one sits and watches this machine slowly rotate, it’s all grins and thoughts of what driver and car could do alone on a back road, and then – yikes – a view of that rear end and the dream is over. Enter the 2006 Fisker Latigo CS. This is a completely rebodied 6 Series, though the BMW’s lines bleed through a bit, though thankfully the tail, with its smooth tasteful lines, resembles the old 8 Series more than any generation of the 6 Series. That’s a good thing, one of many on the Latigo CS, including the interior completely blanketed in fine leather, carbon fiber body panels, and a reworked front grille that is common to all Fisker models (which so far totals two). Under the hood is a 4.8-liter V8 offering 360 horsepower, while the Performance Plus Package bumps that up to 470 horsepower. Fisker Coachbuild is also planning on releasing a M6-derived Latigo CS in the coming months, with a standard rating of 500 horsepower and up to 620 horses with the Performance Plus Package. Consider it an M6 that’s “had a little work done.” That beauty comes at a steep price. Figures for the M6-based Fisker aren’t yet available, but the 2006 Fisker Latigo GS built on a BMW 650 Ci chassis sells for $180,000. That includes $72,000 for the donor vehicle, $108,000 for the Fisker Coachbuild body treatment, $7,500 for the Fisker trim package, and $35,500 for the Fisker custom trim package.

Photos by Ron Perry