The Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid Car: Driving Green

There is new competition on the block. Fisker Automotive unveiled it's new environmentally friendly Fisker Karma at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The big three auto manufacturers were busy trying to show they can think green by showing off fuel cell (Ford AirStream), hybrid (GM's Buick Riviera) or electric (Dodge ZEO) concept vehicles. Meanwhile, Fisker Automotive took the wraps off of their production model plug-in hybrid.

"We're focused on changing the face of the automobile industry by creating a new segment of eco-friendly transportation," said Fisker Automotive, Inc. CEO Henrik Fisker. in a recent press release "We like to think that with this car, we're doing our small part to help protect the environment. Allowing consumers the ability to drive emission free not only cuts down on pollution, but conceivably could reduce America's dependence on foreign oil as well."

The Karma is certainly stunning to look at, underneath its stylish looks is a high performance 4-door sports sedan. With a top speed in excess of 125mph and a 0 to 60 time of under 6 seconds, the Karma boasts some pretty formidable specs. Perhaps most impressive is the promise of a zero emission, all electric 50 mile commute distance before using a single drop of gasoline. The Karma utilizes a Lithium Ion battery pack and a 4 cylinder combustion engine married to a generator to charge the batteries and drive the rear wheel motors in a system dubbed the Q-drive, designed exclusively for Fisker by Quantum Technologies.

"Our goal here is to deliver the advancement that Quantum Technologies has made in the area of plug-in hybrid technology. By combining our efforts with the renowned design talent of Henrik Fisker, we can produce cars that make a difference to the environment - without sacrificing the luxury that accompanies the finest automobiles," stated Alan Niedzwiecki, CEO Quantum Technologies.

Fisker says they are on schedule to begin deliveries in the 4^th quarter of 2009, with an estimated annual production volume of 15,000 cars. The first 99 off the production line will be in the style of the model shown in Detroit and will be numbered and signed by their designer, Henrik Fisker.

"In creating Fisker Automotive, Inc. we sought to develop a range of beautiful, environmentally friendly cars that make environmental sense without compromise," said CEO Henrik Fisker. As long as you can afford it, you may just compromise your bank account with the estimated MSRP of $80,000.

Sources:
Fisker Automotive, a new American car company specializing in environmentally friendly, premium cars featuring plug-in hybrid technology. http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/
2008 North American International Auto Show http://www.naias.com/
YouTube - Fisker Karma Reveal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5M9AZUNo2s