VLF Automotive

VLF Automotive

Designer and businessman Henrik Fisker, former General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz, and businessman Gilbert Villarreal formed the firm. The initials of their last names were used to create the company name VLF.

The company originally started in 2012 as VL Automotive, before being renamed VLF Automotive after Henrik Fisker officially joined the partnership. The company focused on producing low-volume luxury performance vehicles using existing premium platforms combined with bespoke design and upgraded powertrains.

Their debut model, the VLF Destino, was based on the Fisker Karma platform but replaced its hybrid drivetrain with a powerful 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine derived from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, producing about 638 horsepower. The Destino was first shown publicly at the North American International Auto Show in 2013.

During the 2016 North American International Auto Show, the company unveiled the VLF Force 1, an American carbon-fiber sports vehicle producing 745 horsepower from an 8.4-litre V10 engine derived from the Dodge Viper (VX I) platform. The car could accelerate from 0–60 mph in about 3 seconds and reach a top speed of roughly 218 mph, placing it among modern American boutique supercars. Only a very limited number were planned for production.

VLF Automotive later collaborated with Galpin Auto Sports to develop another specialty vehicle called the VLF Rocket V8, based on the Ford Mustang platform. The company also worked with AM General to produce a civilian export version of the HUMVEE C‑Series for selected international markets.

Relevance to Ghana 🇬🇭 (market context)

Although VLF Automotive vehicles are extremely rare worldwide, they are particularly uncommon in West Africa, including Ghana, mainly because:

Production volumes were very limited
Prices exceeded US$250,000
Vehicles were largely custom-order coach-built units
Distribution focused mainly on North America and select global luxury markets

However, their technology relevance to Ghana’s automotive environment includes:

1. Engine platform familiarity
The Destino’s GM LS9 V8 engine architecture shares lineage with engines already known to Ghanaian performance workshops that service Chevrolet-derived platforms, making servicing theoretically possible with specialist support.

2. Viper-based Force 1 engineering
Because the Force 1 uses a modified Dodge Viper V10 platform, parts compatibility with Chrysler-related components increases long-term maintainability compared to fully bespoke supercars.

3. Collector-class vehicle status
If imported into Ghana, models like the Force 1 would be classified as:

exotic collector vehicles
high-value specialty imports
premium insurance category vehicles

similar in ownership profile to rare Ferrari F8, Lamborghini Huracán, or limited-edition Dodge Viper units occasionally seen in Accra.

4. Practical ownership considerations in Ghana
Potential challenges locally would include:

sourcing body panels (carbon-fiber coachbuilt)
ECU tuning support availability
limited diagnostic tooling compatibility
shipping time for replacement parts

These factors make VLF vehicles more suitable as collector garage cars rather than daily-use vehicles in Ghana.


VLF Automotive
http://www.vlfautomotive.com