Fisker Karma hybrid sports car spotted on test track complete with stripes and video

Despite all the lawsuit hoopla over who-stole-what, Fisker Automotive is trudging along with its $80,000 Karma plug-in performance hybrid. New, stripey pictures of the actual vehicle in test runs popped up this week telling us that the Karma could actually hit dealers by 2009 as promised. The pictures are nice -- so nice, in fact, that it turns out they were "leaked" by Fisker's own PR agency along with a video. For review, the Fisker Karma will do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and top out at 150MPH via an electric / internal-combustion hybrid engine. Latest word is that the combustion engine portion is of Volkswagen build. Fisker is only saying that the engine is of German build, and we say, "gut!" -- let those external speakers roar! The "leaked" video is after the break.

[George A. Romero @ May 11th 2008 7:52AM]

I admire the fact that it's a hybrid....and 150mph. It just goes to show that all hybrids don't have to look like Crap! The price on the other hand...well, since it's for the environment, I'll let it slide. What I want to know is how well the non-hybrid part will do on gas. If it's only a measly 5% improvement...I'm sure that the price will justify getting this vs a corvette which has better 0-60 time.

[Ty @ May 12th 2008 11:57AM]

It's the same speed as my Volkswagen GTI - and four times as expensive.

FAIL.

[toxicpiano @ May 11th 2008 8:28AM]

It's smiling!

[Beastage @ May 11th 2008 8:43AM]

Someone made the mistake and posted this here and not on autoblog?

I dont find this car attractive at all.

[Sean @ May 11th 2008 8:45AM]

it was on autoblog couple of days ago.

[Benga @ May 11th 2008 8:59AM]

Neither does anyone your comment!

[kev @ May 11th 2008 8:59AM]

Lol...once again, these poor companies keep creating concept SPORTS cars instead of actually useful ones. Then again, morons in this country want 500hp cars instead of vehicles that will just get them and their friends from A to B with the least amount of fuel possible, or even walking.

I wonder why the rest of the country (as in urban areas without decent transit infrastructure) is so much fatter on average...

[kev @ May 11th 2008 9:02AM]

And before anyone says anything stupid in response--the tiny concept vehicles built lately that are meant for super high fuel economy have been all 3-wheel, so they fall in the Mr. Bean roadkill/motorcycle category, and not that of cars.

Furthermore, all the other cars already out there are so hopelessly bad, that if you were to try driving those things, and get into an accident...you better hope the frame is made of carbon fiber because you are in for a ton of pain. Momentum, anybody?

[r3loaded @ May 11th 2008 10:17AM]

How can you expect Americans to demand smaller cars when a Hummer H3 in the states sells for the same price as a family hatchback in the UK? Even if you ignore the weak dollar and adjust for purchasing power parity, big cars in North America are ridiculously cheap. Everything there is exactly half the price over here.

[Tom @ May 11th 2008 10:17AM]

I hope no car frame is made of carbon fiber. It may be stronger than steel, but heck if it absorbs any of that impact in case of an accident. Most likely it'll just shatter, and you'll be left with the brunt of the impact.

On another note, new auto technology is almost always put out to the top-tier performance cars first, straight from the company-sponsored racers. Then when that successful technology is ported a second time to consumer vehicles. What better way to prove that electrics/hybrids can be fun and quick than to put the technology in a sports car?

[paul34 @ May 11th 2008 12:51PM]

Just because you hate driving doesn't mean everyone else does.

[Bman21212 @ May 11th 2008 9:53PM]

The reason they are sports cars is because that is what electric motors currently excel at. Amazing torque, though pricey. Most sports car people don't mind paying money, as that is what they are used to so who better sell technology that is new but has great acceleration.

[94 taurus owner @ May 11th 2008 9:10AM]

I'll take this over a Chevy Volt anyday.That thing is SMOKIN, even with the stripes.

[94 taurus owner @ May 11th 2008 9:12AM]

OH SWEET!!!! it sounds like something out of Star Wars.

[doomswitch @ May 12th 2008 5:25AM]

It can sound like anything you want, it uses External Speakers. Otherwise it would be excessively quiet and unexciting.. It's set to "Jet Engine" in the video.

[wickedpheonix @ May 11th 2008 9:41AM]

Can I just say 2 words? Tesla Roadster.

[roman.kim @ May 11th 2008 10:26AM]

that's 8...

[bjorn_ahlm @ May 11th 2008 10:00AM]

Mmm, I can sense a drastic increase in car accidents when/if electric cars take off.

-Mind that car!
-What car?

WHAP!!!

[pundit @ May 11th 2008 1:06PM]

That reminds me of the "Silent Death", trolley buses in the UK, since they were quite quiet and tourists would look the wrong way, then SMACK! Teaches people a lesson pretty quick.

[doomswitch @ May 12th 2008 5:44AM]

Eternal SPEAKERS! for Safety and Entertainment! (It has them , you can hear it in the video, its set to "Jet Engine")

[Aaron @ May 11th 2008 10:42AM]

The Tesla is NOT a hybrid. It is 100% electric. Big difference. The Karma is >$20,000 less expensive and has a hybrid (gas/electric) power system.

[JJV @ May 11th 2008 2:21PM]

Your sign doesnt make sense. >20000 less
that makes no sense if its greater than it cant be less

[Aaron @ May 11th 2008 3:09PM]

Read: "more than" $20000 less. Is this explanation really necessary? Geeez! Get a grip. This is not a fine English class.

[jake @ May 11th 2008 3:15PM]

@Aaron
By Tesla, I assume you mean the Roadster. The Roadster isn't competition for this car anyways, b/c it's a lighter electric sports car with 0-60 under 4 seconds. The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid sedan with 0-60 near 6 seconds. As a hybrid, it should be much cheaper to make, mostly due to the fact they don't need such a large battery pack, since electric only range is expected to be only around 50 miles, while the Roadster gets 221 miles EPA combined.

The Tesla Whitestar, on the other hand, (subject of the lawsuit with Fisker) is going to be direct competition with the Karma since it is also an electrically driven sports sedan costing a little less than the Karma ($50-70k range vs $80k), with a plug-in hybrid option also coming along following the EV version. Tesla announced it a long time ago and was working on it since then (in fact the final single speed drivetrain of the Roadster is inspired by work on the Whitestar), but they haven't shown any of details of the design yet.

Seems like Fisker decided to sacrifice acceleration for top speed if the specs are true. The 0-60 is now closer to 6 seconds instead of 5 seconds, so it is less on par with sports sedans. If top speed is 150mph then that is on par with most sports sedans. Makes me want to really see how the Whitestar turned out, Tesla said they would release details in the first half of this year.

[Mobius_1 @ May 11th 2008 10:56AM]

I like this car, and it's a really good intention as well, let's hope the hybrid (or hyrbid) actually takes up the bulk of the work to really lower emissions and improve fuel economy

And while we are on the subject of saving the planet, what exactly is so difficult about planting heck of a lot more trees? Wouldn't that improve the global warming situation a lot? (Well, as soon as the trees grow, at least)

[John M @ May 11th 2008 11:56AM]

That 0-60 time really isn't that great, it's about pretty average. For comparison a Mercedes CLK550 coupe that looks about the same size wise as far as I can tell from the photo does it 5.1 seconds at $56,000. I'm sure the gas millage isn't as great but $14,000 buys a whole lot of gas and/or carbon credits.

[LarryLarryLarry @ May 11th 2008 12:00PM]

Why is the car in this video SO MUCH more ugly than the car pictured on their web page?

http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/

It's really unattractive in the video.

[paul34 @ May 11th 2008 12:50PM]

I'm guessing this is your first experience with pre-production automobile prototypes. It's called camo and is customary for all pre-production prototypes.

[Doug @ May 11th 2008 1:07PM]

Except in this case we've already seen the car. The only purpose of the camouflage here is a publicity stunt... to give the impression that these are actually spy shots.

[paul34 @ May 11th 2008 1:11PM]

Well, there is no guarantee that what they displayed is the final production form. Otherwise why would they continue to test it? It was probably very much a concept, which often change a lot before it comes to market.

It's common practice in the automotive world.

[ugg.tryptophan @ May 12th 2008 12:56AM]

Thats a concept of the production version of the Karma. Once it goes through safety and other tests it gets bulkier with 'stuff' to improve reliabilty.

[Jake @ May 11th 2008 5:31PM]

anyone else hear the turbo? I think if the engine is going to be of German build it could possibly be a small turbo'd gas engine, being that its main purpose is to charge the l-ion batteries?... I think this car is sexy as hell man i would definitely consider this one over the tesla (which i am a huge tesla fan) if the price is right. I am still waiting for some spy shots of the "whitestar" from tesla. It is supposed to be in the ballpark of half the price of the roadster....lets cross our fingers. Go Fisker!!!! Go Tesla!!!

[Doug @ May 12th 2008 3:18AM]

I know it sounds like a turbo, but that's most likely the electric drive.

[Edgeaholic @ May 11th 2008 6:31PM]

Quantum Technologies or QTWW is making the powertrain for it.

The gas mileage is supposed to be around 100mpg. So, look for a 100mpg sports car in the near future.

[zindrome @ May 11th 2008 6:46PM]

is it just me
or does that car look very eerily similar to the new maserati gt
maybe not too much
but that front end kinda really does
oh well

[Jack Walker @ May 11th 2008 6:51PM]

FINALLY! A hybrid that doesn't look ridiculously stupid!

[ugg.tryptophan @ May 12th 2008 12:50AM]

what?, you didn't like the toyota mantee?