Fisker says that its 403-horsepower Karma high-performance luxury hybrid will average an impressive 67 mpg in the combined cycle and it will emit just 83 g/km of CO2. The automaker says that the extra-green sedan will cost about $0.03 per mile to operate.
Fisker had a production-ready version of its Karma high-performance hybrid-electric sedan on display at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Though not quite a series production model, the Karma on display was significantly closer to production than the concept car shown previously. Ultra-luxurious inside and out, the Karma is aimed at well-heeled enthusiasts looking to use a little less fuel.
The Karma’s styling is modestly tweaked from the concept car and the interior is considerably better finished. Every surface is covered in hides with a rubbery finish – good for cornering, bad for entry/exit. Fisker showed the Karma with two sets of golf clubs in the trunk, further illustrating its no-compromises intent.
Production is expected to begin in mid- to late-2009. The company says it is sold out of the $87,900 (base price) through mid-2010.
“We are very excited to be bringing the Fisker Karma back to NAIAS,” said Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker. “In the year since we debuted the Karma, the reception we’ve received has been tremendous. I’m proud to announce at this time that we are already sold out on the car until mid-2010.”
Fisker recently disclosed plans for a convertible version of the Karma, expected to hit the market around the same time. According to Vic Doolan, Fisker’s director of retail development, metro Detroit could be the ideal location to produce the Karma because of its available capacity, experienced workforce and proximity to suppliers.
Developed in cooperation with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies, the project is a first for the independent automaker. Most hybrids either look identical to their gasoline counterparts (think Chevy Tahoe) or they have decidedly quirky designs (think Toyota Prius). But the Karma is different — it was designed from the ground up as a sexy performance sedan. It should come as no surprise that Fisker’s founder, Henrik Fisker, designed the Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8.
Normally known for building rebodied Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars, Fisker says the new “eco-chic” vehicles will not be built on an existing platform, but rather a brand new architecture. Fisker hopes to sell 15,000 vehicles at $88,000 to $100,000 apiece.
The Q-DRIVE powertrain technology uses lithium-ion batteries sourced from Advanced Lithium Power. The car can travel 50 miles on battery power alone, before the four-cylinder engine kicks in to turn the generator and thus make more electricity. An optional sport mode allows the gas engine and electric motors to operate at the same time, increasing performance. Specific horsepower figures have not been disclosed, but Fisker claims the car is powerful enough to hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 125 mph. The car is expected to get 100 miles to the gallon and deliver a top range of 620 miles on a single tank.
The Karma will feature speakers — both inside and out — that will simulate a sound “like something between a Formula One car and a jet plane.” The feature is being implemented for pedestrian safety and added novelty.
Fisker currently makes the Tramonto–a restyled Mercedes-Benz SL55 coupe–and the Latigo–a rebodied BMW 6-series coupe. So far the company has delivered 14 Tramontos and is about to deliver its first Latigo, well short of the 150 unit target for each model.
09/08, 10:30 AM
posted by:
A4
Well since the Volt apparently gets 230 mpg this just seems disappointing.
09/08, 10:36 AM
posted by:
A4
Let’s hope they sell more than 5% of their target goal with this one as well.
09/08, 10:42 AM
posted by:
krautninja
It doesnt seem so disappointing when you look at it and realize how much sexier this is than the volt, and the performance figures…worth the coinage they are askin for it thats for sure.
09/08, 10:49 AM
posted by:
A4
I was being sarcastic, no worries
09/08, 10:54 AM
posted by:
05Z88Path
I want to hate this car b/c of the annoying jack***es who will buy it. “Look at me I’m rich, but I bought a hybrid even though gas prices don’t affect me!” But I simply can’t hate it. FIsker designs have always been beautiful, and the Karma is no exception. Plus with 400-hp, it’s a real performance sedan. The only thing that I can actually rationally dislike about the car are the speakers emitting F1 type engine noises. LAME. I wonder how long it will take for that idea to filter down to the ricer-crowd….
09/08, 11:07 AM
posted by:
Sector_15504
ill believe it when it see it
09/08, 11:30 AM
posted by:
scratchy
05Z88Path , cars like this make the technology evolve and move to mainstream cars. we have to thank those “jacka**es” for that.
09/08, 11:52 AM
posted by:
A4
05Z88, it already has, you can buy speakers that make the spooling and blow off sound of a turbocharger.
09/08, 12:15 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
Even with the pedestrian safety excuse, the speakers producing fake engine noises is stupid…
Cool car otherwise.
09/08, 12:47 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
what sound should a car make, then? quack like a duck?
09/08, 12:55 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Me too Sector.
09/08, 1:11 PM
posted by:
worst 3
would love to have this car as a daily driver. love to see more cars like this on the road in the future that are hybrids. cars that are not small and have power behind them and have respectable mpg just not the price. some day
09/08, 1:19 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
^^it should make the sound it’s engine makes…smartass.
09/08, 2:14 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
A4 @ 09/08, 10:30a
I am determined to believe that the VOLT’s 230mpg rating is not a real estimate of actual fuel economy. It’s more like a cost per mile rating put to terms that are supposed to be easily understood but are put in easily misinterpreted F/econ terms.
I think the VOLT will pull anywhere from 75-115mpg in real world driving. Still awesome but more believable as well. I will stand by this until the VOLT comes out and I am proven in error.
Still the GEVs are looking to be the real deal.
09/08, 2:15 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
…and the Fisker goes moo.
09/08, 2:16 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Why do they need speakers making engine noises? Isn’t the loud thumping from rap, heavy metal and banda music emanating from the 500 Watt stereo inside the car enough to warn people?
09/08, 2:45 PM
posted by:
Cardemon04
$0.03 per mile to operate?!?! what is Fisker gonna pay their customers to drive them? the gas alone will cost almost $0.04 per mile(@ $2.50/gal and 67 mpg). and that doesn’t even include service fees. wonder what other tid bits are stretched from the truth here
09/08, 3:26 PM
posted by:
volo
all their engineers have an Art or psychology diploma or what? How in the world can you do 600miles with 100mpg with a car developping 403 hp? You at 30mph on the highway with braking as much as possible to regenerate the battery? Hybrid is ****ing useless outside city, you only need to carry the extra useless load for nothing. I really think that marketing guys should be hanged.
09/08, 3:37 PM
posted by:
volo
never mind i got confused with the beginning of the article which is extremely misleading.
“Fisker says that its 403-horsepower Karma high-performance luxury hybrid will average an impressive 67 mpg ”
[...]
“Specific horsepower figures have not been disclosed”
so it’s basically a an electric vehicle with a range extender, so it begins to be more realistic.
09/08, 3:59 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
quack, quack!
09/08, 4:00 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Blam! Blam!
Sorry. I thought it was hunting season.
09/08, 4:53 PM
posted by:
scratchy
i wonder what the range of this thing is when you use the Stereo and the AC at the same time.
09/08, 6:21 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
uh oh, beatus opens up the gun control debate…look out!
09/08, 7:47 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I love Thanksgiving for that reason. There’s nothing like shooting your own turkey. You hunker down quietly, sneaking up on a group of turkeys, and then you pop up and fire away. The shotgun goes, “BLAM!” It’s great. And then the look of horror on everyone’s face as they stare at you while they hide behind the end caps in the freezer section of the grocery store…
09/08, 9:33 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
Why should the car make any noise at all if it’s electric? Just do what Beatus said and turn up your music of choice if you’re THAT worried about pedestrians.
09/09, 8:32 AM
posted by:
F50
I like it, I really like the design.
09/09, 10:17 AM
posted by:
FiskerAutomotive
Thanks for the post! It’s important to note that the big news here, just before the Frankfurt Motor Show, is the CO2 output, which at 83g CO2/km is lower than currently available hybrids. That’s super important to the European market, where Fisker will be selling half its cars. It’s also important here in the US, but doesn’t get as much publicity. Also note the mileage figures are combined city/highway, and very conservative. And it was Fisker Coachbuild that was building the Latigo and Tramonto, which are no longer in production. While Fisker Coachbuild is still an active automotive design house, Fisker Automotive is a separate company creating automobiles based on proprietary chassis and plug-in powertrain technology.
09/11, 4:47 PM
posted by:
JPizzzle
The reason for the noise is safety for pedestrians. I believe it is a regulation that vehicles must make certain amounts of sound so people can hear them. They complain when car enthusiasts are too loud and when they are too quiet! Stupid rules! ha