Fisker Surf

In a design masterstroke, Fisker Automotive has created a completely original vehicle: the first electric luxury/sports automobile for an active and eco-friendly lifestyle. The Fisker Surf builds on the success of the ground-breaking Karma Electric Vehicle with extended range (EVer™) by adding additional, flexible load-carrying capability, along with a spirited new attitude all its own.
Fisker Surf combines performance, luxury, style, utility, and economy with an enduring concern for the sustainable use of resources and respect for our natural environment.

As a global company Fisker Automotive will offer the Surf in all its markets around the world for the 2013 model year. The Fisker Surf will create a new niche and open new customer markets for Fisker, by appealing to those looking for this unique blend of advanced technology, innovative design and environmental sensitivity, with added versatility. Europe, in particular, has demonstrated a historic fondness for sport-wagon design, and it is there where Fisker anticipates strong demand.
The Fisker Surf is the first vehicle of its kind and a radical departure from traditional vehicles offered by other manufacturers. It brings added energy to Fisker's focus on Uncompromised Responsible LuxuryTM and Pure Driving PassionTM.
Exterior Design
Very early in the development of the original Karma sedan, company CEO and Executive Design Director, Henrik Fisker decided a more versatile variant would be part of the model lineup. So when the time came for the evolution from Karma to Surf the path had already been defined for combining utility with bold and striking design.

Car And Bike Insurance Groups

by: Rob Laird - RPL Driving

When getting prices for insurance, one of the things the company looks at the the vehicle you're insuring.

This is a sliding scale from 1 to 20, with a car like a 998cc Vauxhall Corsa at the lowest group; insurance group 1, a mini cooper convertible higher at group 9, and pretty much every Ferrari up the top at group 20. Bikes have a very similar system.

There are several things need to be taken into consideration when assigning a group:

1. The price of parts, as if there is an accident, it will affect how much the company needs to pay out to repair your vehicle. Also if a vehicle is difficult to work on, making repair times longer, this will also tend to increase the group.

2. The security fitted to the vehicle. More security, less likely to be stolen, less likely for the insurance to need to be used, so therefore a lower group.

3. The cost, quite simply because if the car is written off, and it needs to be replaced, the higher costing vehicle, will have a higher group.

4. Look at a 1 litre car to a 3 litre, obviously the larger engined car would have a more expensive group. Overall acceleration and top speed are also taken into account.

5. Desirability, 2 very similar cars, might have 2 completely different groups if one of them has a history of being more attractive to car thieves.

So before you jump in and buy your car, do some research on the costs of insuring it first, and look at similar cars that might save you hundreds of pounds.

Auto Gap Insurance: Can You Afford To Pay For The Same Car Twice?

by: Sam Streubel

I’ve been preaching the gospel of GAP auto insurance ever since my son’s SUV got stuck on a boat ramp and was swallowed up by the incoming tide.

It’s one thing to kiss your car goodbye, but quite another to find out you still owe the bank $6,400, as in the case of my son, even after the insurance company payout.

Now if you’re reasonably well off you could afford to take the hit and move on. But if you’re just starting out on your own, or in a precarious financial position, it could set you back for years to come.

Can you imagine how you’d feel struggling to make payments for 2 or 3 years on a car you’ll never see again while at the same time trying to pay for its replacement?

Just to drive the point home, I would like you to read this comment appearing in InjuryClaimGuide.org from a young lady who just lost her car.

“Hello again. I was involved in an auto accident on Monday. The other driver was found at 100% fault. My insurance is helping me claim uninsured motorist expenses and are filing a lawsuit for time missed off work and medical injuries.

They’re paying me what my car is worth, but unfortunately, it’s not enough to cover all of my loan (it’s off by about $2000 or so).

This is not good. It means I have to pay that off before I can buy another car. Which will take, quite possibly, another year to do!

I need a car! It’s how I work…it’s how I live! Is there anything I can do? Can I sue for the rest of the money? My car is how I work (Delivery driver for papa johns) so without it, I’m not making nearly as much money as before. There’s got to be something I can do to help me buy a new car and get back on my feet!!!!!

Thanks in advance.”

Unfortunately, the chances of her collecting the $2,000 she so desperately needs are practically nil.

The real tragedy here is that she was probably unaware her car loan was upside down in the first place. And even if she did know, I doubt she was aware that an inexpensive Gap insurance rider on her policy would have paid the $2,000 difference for her.

And she’s not alone. Another vulnerable group of car owners are those who put less than 20% down on a new car purchase. Since just about every new car loses 30% of its value during the first year of ownership, the amount owed to the bank or finance company would exceed the actual cash value of the car for at least the first 3½ years of a 5 year car loan.

In this era of 0 down car loans, many unsuspecting new car owners are leaving themselves wide open for a real, but avoidable, financial calamity.

The solution to this problem is easy and affordable. The best, and least expensive, way to purchase a Gap policy is through your existing auto insurance carrier. If they don’t offer it find an insurance company that does - especially now when every auto insurance provider known to man is offering to save you hundreds of dollars if you switch companies.

Typically, adding gap insurance to a policy costs only 5 or 6 percent of comprehensive coverage, or $20 - $30 a year. This is a far cry from the $500 – $700 that dealerships and finance companies are asking for the same product.

Fast And Cheap Car Insurance Is Available Online

by: Nick Messe

Everybody needs auto insurance because it is unlawful to drive a car without it. However, not everyone, especially in these troubled economic times, has the same amount of money to spend on auto insurance. Therefore finding inexpensive solutions is vital. Fortunately, some reasonably priced insurance companies do exist, and there are agencies that can help you find them. Many of these can be found online.

These are reputable and competent insurance agencies that have in-depth knowledge about how to find the best rates for your particular vehicle insurance needs. If you're looking for cheap insurance, and you're tired of the hassle of shopping for auto insurance, there are some facts you should know about looking for insurance and how online agencies can help.

There are a number of different types of automobile insurance and auto related services that go with them. For instance, you might need ordinary vehicle insurance, motorcycle insurance, commercial vehicle insurance, and so on. You might also be interested in extra services like roadside assistance. With a good online agency you can find these insurance types and services at prices you can afford.

With these policies you have a choice of paying monthly premiums or paying the entire premium balance off at one time. The better an your driving record, generally speaking, the lower your premiums will be. There are some variations in insurance rates that are based solely on demographic information such as age group and the type of vehicle being driven as well. A competent online insurance agency takes all of this information into account in trying to find an inexpensive and comprehensive insurance policy for its customers.

More specialized situations that require competent online professionals to help you find the insurance you need. For instance, certain drivers are required to purchase what is called SR22 auto insurance. This type of insurance is usually assigned by judges after cases involving accidents in which one of the parties was not insured.

The uninsured party is then required to purchase SR22 insurance. This insurance type has special requirements and restrictions that allow the state to verify that an individual's insurance stays in effect without any lapses. There is some variability in SR22 policy by state, but the overall purpose is the same. The company the insured buys the policy from files a form with the Department of Motor Vehicles assuring that this type of insurance is indeed in effect.

There are some advantages to getting your insurance through an online agency rather than through an ordinary broker. Often you have to wait on the phone or for a call back while insurance agencies check their own online systems for the cheapest insurance companies and give you a quote. With online insurance this process is faster and more convenient. You can enter your information and get a quote quickly and easily.

You don't need to take a trip to an office somewhere, you can do the whole thing at home on your computer. This saves on gas and time. These agencies have fast and easy online forms that you can fill out rather than having to mail them to insurance companies.

If you are currently uninsured, you don't have to illegally drive to an insurance agency. This may not seem like too much of a risk, but there are plenty of stories about people who have been stopped on their way to an insurance agency to get their vehicle insured. This will result at least in a costly ticket and at most in getting your car towed, license suspended, and even in some cases incarceration.

Imagine not having to wait in line or in a waiting room for a representative to help and explain things to you. You can look over all the information yourself online and make a decision about what types of insurance are best. If you do get into an accident, you can file your claim with online claim forms. These are also much easier to deal with than trying to get agents on the phone and send them claims forms through the mail.

How To Find The Best Car Insurance Quotes

by: Wendy Moyer

There are quite a few things that anyone can do to get the best car insurance quotes and pay the lowest monthly premiums for their automobile insurance. This article takes a look at some of the easiest things you can do to lower your monthly auto insurance premiums.

How Much Is Your Car Worth?

First, you should not over insure an inexpensive car. If you own an old inexpensive car and your monthly insurance premiums are more than 10% of your car's value then you are paying too much for your insurance. You should consider changing your coverage to "liability only" because doing that will lower your rates.

How Good Is Your Credit?

Next, check your credit rating. If there are any mistakes on your credit report it could be one of the main reasons why your insurance premiums are higher than they need to be. When you find a mistake fix it as soon as you can.

Are There Discounts Available?

When you speak to your auto insurance agent find out if there are any discounts or promotions available. Often there are unadvertised discounts available that you will have to ask about before signing up for a plan.

For example, if you have taken a defensive driving course you might be eligible for a discount. Or, if you have children who have GPAs of at least 3.0 then you could be eligible for a good student discount.

Make Your Deductibles Higher

Your deductible is the amount of money you will have to pay if you submit an insurance claim. One of the ways you can make your monthly insurance premiums much lower is by raising your deductibles.

For example, by raising your collision and comprehensive deductible from $200 to $500 you can potentially lower that part of your insurance premium by up to 30%. And, if your raise the deductible to $1,000 you could lower that component of your premium by as much as 40%.

Get a Number of Car Insurance Quotes Online

You can save a lot of money by shopping around. And, since the advent of the Internet, it is very easy to get car insurance quotes from several companies in a very short amount of time. You should probably get quotes from at least four different insurance providers to make sure that you are getting the best coverage with the lowest rates from the highest quality company.

So, in addition to checking for the cost of the premiums, also look for a dependable insurance provider who has a high standing and good, strong history. You want to be assured that they will be there for you if you need them. A.M. Best provides ratings of a lot of different insurance providers, as does the Standard & Poor's website.

Getting Online Vintage Car Insurance

by: Adam Rise
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Although some people are involved in the restoration of vintage cars as a means of business, the greater driving force behind many of those involved in this industry is their great passion. Their primary source of joy is to see a vintage car come back to life.

Many people strive to own a vintage car as a sign of some unique kind of prestige, particularly when you consider how involving it is to maintain such a vehicle. However, owning such a car is not just a matter of having the necessary funds. You need to be passionate about vintage cars in the first place.

The restoration of a vintage car requires a great deal of patience. It requires delicate skill and a lot of determination. Although restored cars are usually displayed at car shows, some owners will drive them occasionally. However, some people will just keep them carefully in wait for the appropriate shows. This should not take you with surprise as we have already said that restoring such cars is quite an involving undertaking. It requires a lot of money and time in order to be done successfully. Risking its destruction or theft is hence quite a high price to pay. Which is why it is important for you to take an insurance when you have such a prized possession.

Vintage car insurance is not the same as that of the ordinary cars. Contrary to what you may think, it is actually cheaper to take a insurance than the normal one. This is due to the limited mileage covered in addition to such considerations as parking garages. Another factor that determines the price of vintage car insurance is the type of car itself. If it is a rare model that is costly, the price of the insurance too will be higher.

There are some things you should bear in mind before you take your the insurance. For instance, you need to determine whether the provider guarantees your car's valuation first. Otherwise you may discover that your claim will not be accepted when the time comes. Of course you will foot additional bills for such a valuation, but it is still a worthwhile undertaking.

You will not find difficulties in getting a suitable vintage car insurance, as they are readily listed in vintage car magazines or yellow pages. You can then get in touch with the relevant providers either by visiting their offices or placing a call.

However, these two options have their respective drawbacks. You may need to make several phone calls and then comparing the quotes will be difficult. And speaking to an agent may make you make a commitment before you do enough research. So, you can instead do your search online more conveniently and quickly.