Fisker Karma - Pure Exotic & Efficient Style

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - We spoke with Fisker Automotive's CEO and Chief Designer, Heinrick Fisker, at the Geneva Motor Show last week and photographed the culmination of his design effort, the 2010 Karma. Heinrick Fisker is the heart and soul behind the new Karma and it's great to see his masterpiece become sophisticated as it nears production status. The new Karma is expected to be released to showrooms in early 2010, and is a four-door luxury plug-in hybrid that achieves 2L/100 km, with a fuel consumption rating that lets you enjoy driving fast - yet efficiently as well.

Plug the Karma in at night and you are charging a 200 kW peak power lithium ion battery that is used to power two 375 kW (403 hp) electric motors with a whopping 1,300 Nm (959 ft-lbs) of available maximum torque. Fisker calls the Karma's hybrid powertrain Q-DRIVE, and says it is derived from military technology. The company says the Karma can run up to 50 miles (80.5 km) on an electric charge without using the petrol (gasoline) supplementary power. Once battery power diminishes on the Karma, the 2.0 L - 260 hp direct injection petrol (gasoline) engine powers up to act as a generator to provide the two electric powertrain motors with electricity.

The Karma has very large distinctive 22" aluminium wheels and it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in six seconds, and has a top speed of 201 km/h (125 mph). The Karma has two driving modes - 'Stealth' and 'Sport'. In 'Stealth' mode, the Karma will drive entirely on its battery power until depleted (about 50 miles or 80.5 km) and produce zero emissions. In 'Sport' mode, the Karma has a range of 300 miles (480 km) on a full tank of fuel and a full charge. The Karma can be charged off any household outlet from voltages of 110, 220, or 240 volts.

Fisker Automotive is a privately owned American car company headquartered in Irvine, California, with financial backing from Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers. The Fisker Karma will be sold in both the United States and Europe and will have an M.S.R.P. of EUR 78,780 (excl. V.A.T.) in Europe and $87,900, ($80,400 after the application of the available environmental tax credits) in the United States. The company already has over 1000 confirmed orders for the 2010 Karma on its order books. In 2011 Fisker will release the Karma 'S' for 'Sunset', a two door hard top convertible built on the Karma 4-door platform.