The Fisker Ocean is a California-style electric SUV

Its foursquare stance sets the tone for bold styling with plenty of road presence. It was Henrik Fisker himself who sketched it and made the clay model before handing it over to his design team. The wide track emphasises the car’s focus on dynamics, with Fisker claiming that it drives like a sports car thanks to its torque vectoring. We’ll have to wait and see for that.

The entry-level model is priced at £34,990 and has a range of 275 miles according to WLTP predictions. The next step up is the Ultra, which brings four-wheel-drive, a range of 379 miles and a £48,900 pricetag. The lineup tops out with the £59,900, 390-mile Extreme. Part of the reason for the jump in price to the four-wheel-drive models, as well as additional equipment as standard, is upgraded battery technology. The lithium-ion phosphate batteries of the entry-level model give way to manganese cells for the others.

One option that will be more useful in warmer climates is the optional solar roof panel. If you live somewhere sunny, it could contribute 2000 miles a year to the Ocean’s range. Contributing to the car’s sustainability credentials is the vegan interior that majors on reclaimed materials. Recycled T-shirts are used in the seamless upholstery and waste rubber from tyre production is also used. A large touchscreen is also found inside, which can be rotated to landscape format for entertainment when parked.

The Ocean is being built by Magna in Austria. UK sales will begin in 2023, with the car available directly from Fisker rather than via a traditional dealer network. It’s expected that 60,000 Oceans per year will find homes on this side of the Atlantic.

Photography by Phil Hay.