Hands-on with Fisker PEAR, a very promising k small electric SUV

Hands-on with Fisker PEAR, a very promising $30k small electric SUV

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2023

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We got a chance to get up close and personal with a production-intent version of the upcoming Fisker PEAR, and it looks even better than we expected.

Fisker first unveiled the PEAR at its Product Vision Day in August. We wrote about it at the time, saying that it looked promising but that the promised $30k price and 2025 availability seems quite optimistic, especially for a company that has only just started shipping its first car.

Fisker gave us some more details later that month, but this weekend, we got to see and sit in a “production-intent” version of the PEAR at the Fisker Lounge in The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, while we were there for a roundtable about the company’s sustainability initiatives.

At the event, Fisker told us all about its focus on making the auto industry more sustainable, especially in manufacturing. We heard from CEO Henrik Fisker, Interior design director Nadya Arnaout, ESG director Patrick Newsom and CTO David King how all of them are incorporating sustainability into every part of their work at Fisker, and how they intend to bring a climate-neutral car to market by 2027.

Then afterwards we got to hop behind the ropes and have a sit inside the upcoming PEAR, which looked and felt great.

We had a glance at the interior at the unveiling event (even though we weren’t supposed to…), and it looked quite spartan, recalling somewhat of a Honda Element vibe.

But in this iteration, the interior seemed much improved from the one we saw just a few months ago. Part of this is because that version had the base “sport” trim and this one had the upgraded interior option. Fisker says the “sport” trim will be less plush, so we might still get some of those Element vibes for those who are looking for them.

Even with these upgrades the interior is still quite spartan, but I like that. There’s still interior storage – a “device shelf” across the largely open dash, with a small ridge that Fisker says will hold devices (though we question whether they’d stay there during “spirited driving”); an open space under the display for small devices or a glasses case; room for a bag under the center console (which doesn’t open, it’s just an armrest); water bottle holders in the door pockets.

We didn’t sit in it for long, but the alcantara-like seat material felt soft and smooth and headroom and legroom were adequate with four adults climbing in and out of the car. Fisker says that there will be an option for a front bench seat that deletes the center console/armrest, bringing the count up to six total seatbelts, though we wonder how wide each of those six people could be.

One feature on display was Fisker’s “see-through A-pillar.” This consisted of a small screen on the inside of the A-pillar, hooked up to a camera on the outside, allowing the driver to effectively see what’s on the other side.

While it’s a neat idea in concept, especially for a city car that is likely to encounter a lot of pedestrians who may be obscured by the A-pillar, the still-prototype version we saw seemed quite chintzy and didn’t work too well. With a little more design focus, it could turn out cool – or drivers could just move their head around a couple inches like they’ve been doing all this time anyway.

The steering wheel was beefy, and seemed impossible to hold at 9-and-3 (which is how you should be holding it). But Arnaout said that Fisker is already working on improving that.

Through the steering wheel was a mockup of the intended driver display, which is rather minimalist and will be integrated into the dash itself. I hope it sticks around in approximately the same form as the mockup (and still functions in bright conditions), because it looked really cool.

We didn’t get to see much from the UI, as it was only running a pre-rendered video. The demo video was buttery-smooth, a stark contrast to the choppy actual software on the Ocean which we had just tested. But the PEAR will use Fisker’s in-house Blade computer, which promises improved performance.

We didn’t sit in the seats with “lounge mode” fully activated, and only saw the 60-split of the rear seat folded down. It didn’t fold down to “flat” as we were promised at the intro event, but it did recline quite far.

Another feature that Fisker is quite proud of is its “Houdini Door,” the rear trunk opening that recesses into the vehicle rather than opening up or out. Fisker says that this will allow easier trunk opening in tight situations, which this city car is likely to be in. Plus, it looks cool – which seems like a primary motivation for a lot of what Fisker does (hey, fair enough).

One thing we didn’t get to see was the frunk, or “froot” as Fisker calls it, which will be a slide-out drawer-style compartment, complete with optional insulation to help keep things hot or cold, as you like.

It was only a quick look at the PEAR, but we came away quite impressed and really looking forward to this small vehicle. Perhaps a worthy successor to the excellent Chevy Bolt, or competitor to the upcoming Boltium or the EX30, which we’re really excited about. Either way, at least we’ll finally get some smaller cars around these parts (but we could always go smaller… or smaller… or even smaller… or minus a couple wheels… but hey, it’s a start).

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Environment

Ford’s electric F-150 Lightning pickup may be all but dead

Published

3 hours ago

November 6, 2025

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Ford's electric F-150 Lightning pickup may be all but dead

America’s best-selling electric pickup may be headed for the chopping block. According to sources, Ford is now considering killing off the F-150 Lightning.

Is Ford canceling the F-150 Lightning electric pickup?

After Ford halted production of the electric pickup at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, earlier this year, it may never return to the assembly line.

Ford announced during its third-quarter earnings that F-150 Lightning production would remain paused after a fire at Novelis’ plant in New York disrupted aluminum supply.

The company said it would focus on gas and hybrid trucks, which are more profitable and require less aluminum.

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According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Ford’s electric pickup may be as good as dead. Citing sources close to the matter, the WSJ report claims Ford is now considering scrapping the F-150 Lightning altogether.

The move comes after Ford’s electric vehicle business, Model e, lost another $1.4 billion in Q3. Ford’s EV unit has now lost $3.6 billion through the first nine months of 2025.

Ford-F-150-Lightning-production — Ford F-150 Lightning production at Rouge EV plant (Source: Ford)

Around $3 billion of the loss is due to its current EVs, such as the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. The other $600 million is for investments in next-gen electric models.

Ford is shifting to smaller, more affordable electric cars with its Universal EV platform. The flexible, low-cost platform is key to unlocking more affordable EVs, which will start at around $30,000.

The first vehicle on the platform is expected to be a midsize electric pickup, similar in size to the Ford Maverick or Ranger. It’s set to roll out sometime in 2027.

CEO Jim Farley said during the company’s Q3 earnings call that $30,000 EVs are “not a distant plan,” adding they are “right around the corner” at Ford.

The F-150 Lightning is still America’s best-selling electric pickup, after Ford sold a record 10,000+ in Q3. Through October, Ford sold 24,577 F-150 Lightnings, slightly less than the 24,670 sold during the same period in 2024.

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Environment

Stellantis’ Chinese EV brand gets 590 hp worth of German tuner cred

Published

3 hours ago

November 6, 2025

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Tariffs? What Tariffs? Leapmotor Teams With German Tuner Irmscher For A Sharper, Sportier i C10 EV

In the spirit of SEMA week, Stellantis’ Chinese EV brand Leapmotor is getting some tuner cred from the German performance experts at Irmscher, delivering a 590 hp compact EV that should play well in both the Asian and European street scenes.

European regulators may be slapping heavier tariffs on Chinese EVs in an attempt to slow them down, but automakers like Stellantis-owned Leapmotor finding new ways to build momentum. The latest proof of that is a new, limited-edition Leapmotor i C10 SUV that was developed in and for the Chinese market, but that’s had its edge sharpened up for European roads through a partnership with German tuner Irmscher.

It’s another clear signal that Chinese brands are ready to play the long game in Europe, and they’re doing it by appealing directly to the continent’s performance heritage and partnering with known and respected brands.

The first results of what is being called a long-term partnership is the Leapmotor i C10 by Irmscher, a limited run, 250 unit sports crossover built for the German market — and, with nearly six hundred hp on tap, the German autobahn, too!

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The Irmscher version of the i C10 features a more prominent rear spoiler and a new set of five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile, high-performance rubber, sure, but the real magic lies beneath the car’s skin.

Irmscher has fitted a firmer suspension setup specifically engineered to sharpen the SUV’s handling, making it more suited to the Leapmotor’s already potent, dual-motor AWD powertrain. That powertrain remains largely unchanged, offering a hefty 590 hp (440 kW) for a zippy 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprints in under 4 seconds.

Built to move

The electric motors get power from an 81.9 kWh li-ion battery pack, good for an estimated range of 437 km (272 miles), positioning it as a performance-oriented variant of the standard crossover rather than a long-distance tourer (and, yes, I know what “GT” stands for, I’m just choosing to ignore the baked-in irony).

Priced from €49,900 in Germany (about $57,600 US, as I type this), the Irmscher i C10 commands a €5,000 premium over the standard flagship C10, but the pricing strategy is just as calculated as the Irmscher partnership itself.

By pricing the car well into Mercedes and BMW territory, Stellantis is showing that its Chinese-developed EVs aren’t just competing on cost alone. So, while the tariffs aim to protect the European car brands in their home markets by raising their prices, Leapmotor and Irmscher are betting that European drivers will willingly pay more for a Chinese EV that delivers authentic performance.

Take a look at the photos provided, below, and let us know what you think of Leapmotor’s chances in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Stellantis; via CarScoops.

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Environment

Good news: Volvo donates L25 Electric wheel loader to Habitat for Humanity

Published

4 hours ago

November 6, 2025

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Good news: Volvo donates L25 Electric wheel loader to Habitat for Humanity

Nors Donates Volvo Electric Wheel Loader to Toronto Habitat for Humanity to Support Sustainable Homebuilding

Canadian heavy equipment dealer Nors and Volvo CE are kicking off the season of giving early, handing over the keys to a brand-new Volvo L25 Electric compact wheel loader to Habitat for Humanity!

Volvo CE’s donation to Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (Habitat GTA) marks the nonprofit’s first-ever electric construction machine. The asset will be put to work immediately on a 30-home affordable housing project in Brampton as a quiet, zero-emission alternative to diesel for the site’s preparation.

For the volunteers and staff at Habitat GTA, that fantasy of a quiet, fume-free job site is now a reality. “Much of our equipment is older than some of our volunteers” admitted Ene Underwood, CEO of Habitat GTA. This makes the electric Volvo loader a massive leap forward for the volunteers, proving that electric machines are ready to do real work right now, even for organizations operating on tight budgets — but you shouldn’t mistake the decision as pure charity.

The L25 Electric donation is just an opening salvo for Nors’ new “Compact Solutions, Community Impact” marketing campaign, and the company has already committed to donating two more Volvo CE electric machines to worthy organizations across Canada. “We’re … helping build a better world for future generations,” said Paul George of Nors.

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It’s a smart PR play, for sure, but it’s also a powerful, real-world demonstration program that puts its money where its mouth is and directly tackles the, “but I’ve never seen one!” barrier to battery electric equipment adoption.

As far as equipment goes, the Volvo L25 Electric is perfect for the infill development and residential lots where Habitat builds. As Agako Nouch of Volvo CE pointed out, the loader eliminates the noise and air quality issues that are major headaches when building in existing neighborhoods. It’s an example of how electrification can fundamentally improve the relationship between construction sites and the communities they serve.

Nors is inviting Canadians to nominate other nonprofits or municipalities that could benefit from an electric excavator or wheel loader. It’s a public consultation, not a contest, and the final two recipients will be announced on December 16th. It’s a genuine chance to put more electric iron to work where it can do the most good.