We celebrate Danish design as technically innovative and deceptively simple. For decades it illustrated the best in mid-century-virtually timeless-modern furniture. There were a number of stars, but perhaps the best known in America are Jacob Jensen for his Bang & Olufsen sound systems, Poul Kjaerholm for seating sculptures like his PK24 chaise and Poul Henningsen's light manipulating PH lamp series. There are many more that make us wonder at the talent that has developed in the clear bright atmosphere that reflects off the North Sea and illuminates the tiny land masses of Denmark.
Henrik Fisker is a new star from the timeless grace of that universe; born on August 10, 1963, and trained in automotive design in the brief brilliance of the Swiss lakeside villa known as Art Center College of Design's European campus. He graduated in 1989, was recruited by the prestigious BMW Technik GmbH and quickly earned recognition with his Z07 show car and retro-moderne Z8 roadster. By January 2000 Fisker was in charge of DesignworksUSA, BMW's industrial design subsidiary with offices in Newbury Park, California and Munich, Germany.
Within a year he was offered the design director role in Ford's resurgent Aston Martin. After celebrating the successful introductions of his new-century interpretation of authentic Aston presence with the DB9 and Vantage V8, Ford moved him to the creative director chair of ingeni, the company's London creativity center. In August 2003, 13 years out of Art Center he became the Director of Ford's Global Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, California. Only a year after returning to the inspirational automotive atmosphere of southern California he made the profoundly courageous move to found Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, with his design colleague and business partner Bernhard Koehler. Within only one astonishing year the young firm had premium, coachbuilt sports cars in production - California dreamin' in real time.
Through this climb to design stardom Fisker shared the parallel trajectory and matching taste, talent and work ethic of Bernhard Koehler. While under the celebrity radar, Koehler has been a career-path confidant and accomplished design team member since the two met at BMW. Along with matching energy, Koehler brings training and experience in engineering, design and business to their headlong run through the automotive landscape leaving mark after memorable mark.
Germany born (1964), Koehler pursued his interests in design with a broader vision than his creative partner. He joined BMW directly out of business school in 1980 and by 1984 had finished his training as an automotive sculptor and moved to BMW Technik. He led several concept projects and concurrently established a training program for young design sculptors. A friendship with Fisker developed while they worked together on the Z8. He became Director of 3D Services at DesignworksUSA in 1997 as it became part of BMW, with responsibility for implementing BMW quality standards and establishing a manufacturer and supplier network. By 1999, Koehler became Director of Operations at Designworks to oversee all project and capacity planning. Can we see Fisker Coachbuild's shadow on the wall?
2010 fisker karma plug-in organism automobile has been unveiled by fisker Automotive at NAIAS. Featuring a Q-Drive Plug-in organism powertrain with two 201 hp electronic motors. 2010 fisker karma also equipped with a generator that's attached to a turbocharged 2.0-liter ecotec direct shot gasonline engine.
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