Fisker Tramonto Reviewed by eMercedesBenz.com

Posted by eMercedesBenz on September 26, 2005 at 11:02 AM CST

A few weeks ago, we brought you a story about Fisker unveiling the  
Tramonto, a custom coach-build based on the Mercedes-Benz SL55.  At  
the time, I didn't say too much about it; I was hoping it would  
magically disappear and I would never have to hear its name mentioned  
again.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Countless numbers of publications  
and websites have been praising the Tramonto, inviting their readers  
on a magical journey full of whimsical bullsh*t that they describe  
as, "The Art of Custom Coachbuilding."

Enough is enough.  Today, I witnessed yet another publication  
prostitute themselves, I mean review the Tramonto. This time, the  
winner is Autoweek, who dedicated an entire article to Fisker, aka  
the coachbuilding god, with only one line actually giving their  
opinion of the test car.

But that' neither here nor there, because we already know what the  
car drives like.  It is, after all, based on the SL55 AMG, the  
roadster that all other roadster aspire to.  Add to that a Kleemann  
tuning package, and you have a car that most would sacrifice their  
firstborn child for.  That is, if it was a Kleemann SL.

But it's not. Fisker, the master artisan, has converted a work of art  
into a two-headed lion, or a five-legged tiger.  In other words, he  
has turned a masterpiece into an awkard, unnatural creature that,  
although unique, still lacks any identity of its own. If you don't  
understand what I mean, look at the pictures.  You can probably think  
of at least three different cars that the Tramonto takes elements  
from.  But Fisker has missed one key element - a true masterpiece is  
incomparable, it's special, as though it draws it's inspiration from  
a higher power.  A true masterpiece does not emulate its competitors,  
it sets a new standard by which all others will then be judged.  The  
Tramonto, quite simply, comes nowhere near to achieving this precedent.

So this begs the question, if I was on Fisker's payroll, would I  
speak kindly of his beloved Tramonto?  Of course I would.  He can  
send me my very own Aston Martin clone any times he wants. I'll then  
feed you, my beloved readers, countless lines about how this vehicle  
is so unique, and how it's so fast, and explain why custom  
coachbuilding is so amazing...

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