Who says that expensive luxury cars can't be environmentally friendly?
Certainly not Fisker.
The United States-based premium car manufacturer featured their two models at the Chicago Auto Show: the Fisker Karma and the Fisker Karma Sunset.
The auto show marked the first time the Fisker Karma Sunset was on public display. This long-anticipated roadster is the first plug-in hybrid convertible. And it’s already an award winner, having wrapped up the “2009 North American Production Preview Vehicle of the Year” award last summer.
One look at the Sunset and it’s obvious that no plug-in hybrid is more attractive or sexy than Fisker’s latest ride.
The 2010 Fisker Karma hybrid is almost production ready, and Fisker plans to start selling the car later this year. The company says it has 1,600 pre-orders for the car. The price for the Fisker Karma: it starts at $87,900 and comes with a whooping 403 horsepower punch from two electric motors.
The Plug-in Hybrid’s Power Plant
The power plant in the Karma is the company’s unique Q Drive plug-in hybrid system. It is very similar to the upcoming Chevy Volt in that a small displacement engine is used to charge the lithium-ion battery pack (when not charged from a wall outlet), which powers two electric motors that in turn power the wheels.
And just like the Chevy Volt, the Karma can be charged at the owner’s charging station (read: garage) for up to 50-miles of electric-only propulsion. When the battery runs out of juice, the small gas engine kicks in and delivers a typical driving range of about 300 miles. At that point, you either fill the car with gas or plug it into the wall outlet to recharge the battery.
With 403 horsepower on tap, Fisker claims the Karma will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about six seconds.
And just like the Toyota Prius (view photos), the Karma also features regenerative braking to recharge the battery on the go, as well as an optional solar roof panel that will power a fan to cool the car on hot days.
Both of these technologies are available on the 2010 Prius. So what makes the Karma so unique in the latest crop of new hybrid technology cars? Simply look at the design.
Henrik Fisker, the company’s founder and former Aston Martin, BMW and Ford designer, points to the fact that the Karma is one of the first eco-friendly Premium plug-in hybrids.
In other words, he’s betting his company’s future that potential sports luxury car buyers are willing to pay a premium for premium, beautifully designed green cars.
While some may question that logic, most industry observers likely agree that the Karma’s svelte and sexy design is its strongest selling point.
High-end Interior Features
Another unique and potential selling point: the Karma’s interior features reclaimed wood trim from partially burned, sunken or otherwise deceased trees. That’s about as green as green gets with this literal recycling of natural materials.
Inside the Karma you’ll also find a massive 10.2-inch touch screen control interface, very similar to the one in the upcoming Tesla Model S, and leather or (if you desire) animal-free upholstery.
The trunk is on the small side, but has enough room for his and her sets of golf clubs. Owners could realistically drive their electric car to the golf course and transfer to the electric golf cart without catching a whiff of nasty gasoline odor or emitting a single greenhouse gas emission.
To help spur potential buyers to choose a plug-in electric vehicle, the Federal government is offering a $7,500 credit on top of local state tax incentives.
Will the Karma be a success story or a footnote in the automotive race to switch from internal combustion engines to electric motors? Time will tell. But if the keen interest in the Karma at the Chicago Auto Show is any indication, Fisker stands to make a lot of green from the “green” Karma.
See the Fisker Karma and Karma Sunset at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show (video courtesy of TFLcar.com)