Fisker Automotive Unveils the Karma Luxury Plug-in Series Hybrid
http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/01/fisker-automoti.html#more16 JANUARY 2008
The Fisker Karma.
Fisker Automotive, Inc., the joint venture between Fisker Coachbuild and Quantum Techologies (earlier post) unveiled its first production car, the Fisker Karma plug-in series hybrid, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The Karma features a drive system—“Q Drive”—developed by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive. The Karma’s Q Drive configuration consists of a small gasoline engine driving a generator as a range-extender for the lithium-ion battery pack. The rear-wheel drive Karma has a battery-only range of up to 50 miles, according to the company.
The Karma accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds, and has a top speed of 125 mph. The company is not yet releasing additional details on the powertrain.
The car offers two user-selectable driving modes. The first mode is Stealth Drive, which is the quiet economy mode for optimal relaxed and efficient driving. Sport Drive will access the full power of the vehicle.
The Fisker Karma will offer partly self-contained climate control, as consumers will have the option to purchase a full length solar roof that will help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin while the car is parked. Additionally, Fisker Automotive will offer consumers an option to purchase a set of solar panels for their roofs or garages where they can generate electricity during the day to charge the car overnight.
Fisker Automotive says that the Q Drive technology will provide a base for all future derivatives from Fisker Automotive.
The four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars.
Concurrent with the unveiling of the Karma, Fisker Automotive announced that venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers made a “multi-million dollar” investment in the company, building on the original venture capital funding from Palo Alto Investors.
Also:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/01/quantum-and-fis.html
