Production Fisker Karma gets revealed, shakes that sexy thang

Unlike another automaker out there, Fisker Automotive's eco-friendly vehicle looks a whole lot like the concept, and while the Tesla Roadster is certainly a sexy beast, we're having an exceptionally difficult time taming our fondness for this ride. The $80,000 $87,000 plug-in hybrid has been officially revealed ahead of its "debut" at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but sadly, it seems that the '09 ship date has already slipped to "late 2010." We can't say looking at the gorgeous pictures make that fact any less depressing, but they're all there in the read link if you care to indulge.

[Via CNET]

[Giga @ Dec 4th 2008 10:14PM]

That is incredibly sexy.

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 4th 2008 11:39PM]

Warning - To avoid inconsistency, you should only use a phone this sexy if you purchase car this sexy:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7010/nokiae71dl8.jpg

[OneLove @ Dec 5th 2008 12:00PM]

I'll take 2.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Dec 5th 2008 1:04PM]

Reminds me of a Aston Martin...

[waterwagen @ Dec 4th 2008 10:14PM]

That truly is a spectacular looking car. Some cues from Aston Martin there I think - certainly not a bad thing.

[andy @ Dec 4th 2008 10:35PM]

The guy that designed astons designed this car.
On the car itself, it looks really nice, but the performance is a joke. The tesla 4 door blows this car away on the road.

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 4th 2008 10:38PM]

@ Andy

The Karma is supposed to do 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds, and achieve around 100mpg. I haven't seen any stats on the Tesla sedan. Can you post a link?

[adam @ Dec 4th 2008 11:55PM]

well yeah it looks like an aston martin, just not nearly as good.

i think it looks kind of dumb with the quasi-4 doors. i think they shouldve either made it a true coupe or changed the look alltogether

[Huy @ Dec 4th 2008 11:58PM]

Those rims take from the BMW M6 http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2009/M/M6Coupe/default.aspx. They do look classy on that Fisker though.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 5th 2008 12:24AM]

It is dead sexy, but it wouldn't be engadget if someone didn't complain.. Can I be that guy?

The body just looks awfully large for the interior capacity. Nothing against large cars with lots of space, or compact cars with tidy packaging, but a huge body with a small interior seems... not so good. Waterwagen, eh? I used to have a Corrado. That was a model of packaging efficiency. Tons of space for 4 passengers, huge trunk, 18.5 gallon tank, but a really small body.

[Juaquin @ Dec 5th 2008 12:48AM]

5.8s 0-60 isn't that impressive for a car with electric motos (huge torque). I'm sure that will be improved in later versions. Anyone have a curb weight for the car? Looks a little heavy, which could be hurting it.

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 5th 2008 2:13AM]

@ Juaquin

Since there's no official interior yet, there's no official weight. But this is a luxury car, and leather is heavy baby.

[Centinall @ Dec 5th 2008 3:42AM]

Huy,

the two existing Fisker cars are based on the Mercedes SL (Tramonto) and BMW 6 series (Latigo) platforms, so it's no surprise that it might share some parts with these cars. For those of you that didn't know, Fisker was a coachbuilder after Aston Martin before the Karma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisker_Coachbuild

http://www.netcarshow.com/fisker/2006-tramonto/800x600/wallpaper_01.htm
http://www.netcarshow.com/fisker/2006-latigo_cs/800x600/wallpaper_01.htm

[7egend @ Dec 5th 2008 7:54AM]

Like previously state the wheels look a lot like the 6 Series BMW's and the design itself looks like a cross between the 6 Series and the Front end of a Z4 BMW, or for those of you that have seen a Z8 it looks somewhat like a 4 door version of it.

When I first saw the picture I thought "Wow a 4 door Z4"

But no denying it, the car is beautiful and if it runs like it looks it's bound to be a great car. And yes, i like that the car has 4 doors, too many cars are considered "sedans" and get that same sedan look. Who ever said a 4 door car couldn't be a beautiful and elegant sports car?

[Marc @ Dec 5th 2008 10:29AM]

It looks more like a Maserati.

[iEye @ Dec 4th 2008 10:17PM]

Tesla who?

and +1 on the 2010 delay, hopefully I can scrap up the extra $100K by finding a second job and reducing my daily diet to tap water and no-name bread...

[chansthename @ Dec 4th 2008 10:27PM]

Money saving hints:

1. PCs are cheaper and better than Macs

that should get you enough money to buy this thing

[-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 4th 2008 10:29PM]

ever try selling your iphone(s) and stop paying those outrageous hi speed internet fees and your computer? 99% of engadget users would agree that's a good idea. :D

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 4th 2008 10:38PM]

Oh come on, you know Apple would totally invest in Tesla if they were looking to start putting OS X in cars... :P

[Oneybm @ Dec 4th 2008 11:18PM]

I knew there was a reason why I come here.

1. Click on link expecting something relevant to the title of an article. - Damn fine car (check)
2. Expect comparison of this product to another similar product. - Tesla Roadster (check)
3. Duck at the completely irrelevant Apple/Microsoft/Linux/PC/Windows/OS X/iPhone/iPod/Zune/MP3... post - Yep it's there. (check)

Bless the internet for the global exchange of ideas and thoughts as it is great to see but, please please please please can we do it without the senseless bashing?

*walks away feeling a little like Huey from The Boondocks in the R. Kelly Season 1 episode*

[lowdef @ Dec 4th 2008 11:29PM]

4. person bitching about the people on this site. check

[Danbert @ Dec 5th 2008 8:16AM]

5. Off topic threads having more posts than on topic ones... Check.

[smoketheherb @ Dec 4th 2008 10:18PM]

Incredibly beautiful car. Its wavy. And I love the bonnet.

[GenoMalice @ Dec 4th 2008 11:23PM]

hehehe...bonnet, I laugh every time I hear or read that word. Don't you Brits know how ridiculous you sound saying such things?

[steven @ Dec 4th 2008 11:25PM]

It sure does look nice. It looks like it has 50 layers of clear coat.

[Matthew C @ Dec 5th 2008 1:47AM]

I believe its actually polishied aluminum. I've never actually seen an example of this, but from what ive heard theyre really shiny. Really really shiny.

[Jakob @ Dec 5th 2008 2:01AM]

Oh I agree, the Danes are just incredible designers. (although the company is based in California ):

[Mike @ Dec 7th 2008 5:17PM]

@Genomalice
And you call liquid petroleum GAS! Which sounds pretty stupid to us in the old world. We'll have our language back now, please ;)

[Teddy-G @ Dec 4th 2008 10:20PM]

Is it just me or does that car's front grill look like BMWs?

[smoketheherb @ Dec 4th 2008 10:23PM]

Yes, and the rims look derived from the BMW M6.

[Shinigami @ Dec 4th 2008 10:22PM]

Eco-friendlyness and sexyness are great things, and if these vehicles were also a bit more bugdet-friendly...

[Walter @ Dec 4th 2008 10:24PM]

@waterwagen: Probably, the designer of this car is the same guy who did the most recent Aston Martins

[gonintendo @ Dec 4th 2008 10:27PM]

Walter, there is this wonderful little tool at the bottom right corner of every comment. It's square and says 'Reply.' When you hit this button, the comment that you submit will be put under the comment of the person that you are replying to. Amazing what technology can do, huh.

[Mike @ Dec 4th 2008 10:25PM]

I wont mind leasing this baby! Right when I become 18, late 2008! Horah

[Matthew @ Dec 4th 2008 10:30PM]

Looks like a cross between a C6 Vette, an RX8, and an Enzo. In other words, PURE SEX.

DO WANT.

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 4th 2008 10:30PM]

Late 2010? I'm not doubting you AB, but this morning's PR still says November 2009. What I think is most exciting is who's building the Karma: Valmet Automotive, also home to Porsche Boxters and Caymans. I'd love to take that factory tour! Mr. Fisker seems pretty stoked, too; he's saying production is already sold-out through mid-2010. Can anyone sort this out?

"The Fisker KARMA will be assembled by Valmet Automotive in a highly automized assembly facility. Valmet Automotive is currently producing the Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman. The first Fisker KARMA will be delivered to customers in November 2009. Yearly volume is anticipated to reach 15,000 cars per year.

A total of 40 retailers for the U.S. will be established by October 2009. Fisker Automotive will announce 20 of their Retailers in January 2009. European pricing will be announced at the International Geneva Motor Show in March, 2009.

Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive, stated, "We are very excited to be bringing the Fisker KARMA back to NAIAS. In the year since we debuted the KARMA, the reception we've received has been tremendous. I'm proud to announce at this time that we are already sold out on the car until mid-2010."

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081203/law512.html?.v=33

[ropeburn @ Dec 4th 2008 10:53PM]

I think those were figures from the middle of last month.
autoblog reported the same info
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/15/fisker-sends-finland-good-karma/
the way the auto industry has been going lately
I'm not surprised to see delays reported...
they'll be here before we know it if Valmet can
stay on schedule.

if it delivers performance as reported in earlier autoblog articles
I'd be very excited for the future of EVs.

Are they plannine a coupe?

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 4th 2008 11:04PM]

Well, the press release I linked to is from yesterday (not this morning, sorry); and I'm not finding where AB is sourcing the "late 2010" date from. I didn't see it in the CNET article...

From what I understand, this is just the first vehicle. There are plans for more, especially since the Q-Drive architecture is very similar to the GM Volt's (Fisker's parent company is Quantum Fuel Systems - a GM Tier-1 supplier).

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 4th 2008 11:08PM]

"Quantum will supply its Q Drive plug-in hybrid electric drive system for all Fisker Automotive models. Quantum's Q-Drive system will be integrated into a unique chassis that will enable optimizing the performance and vehicle dynamics for each of the models in Fisker's line of premium luxury green cars."

From Quantum's site. Gives the impression they've got something else cooking, amirite?

http://www.qtww.com/products/Q-Drive/Q-Drive.php

[Sachin @ Dec 4th 2008 10:31PM]

Engadget, there's a simple reason the Volt doesn't look much like its concept. Have you actually LOOKED at the concept picture? The glass all around the car is like half a foot tall. Try seeing traffic through that.

[rita hainsworth @ Dec 4th 2008 10:32PM]

Bought.

[aznofazns @ Dec 4th 2008 10:56PM]

0-60mph in 5.8 seconds is very impressive for such a green vehicle. And DAMN it looks sexy.

[trappy @ Dec 4th 2008 11:01PM]

This thing is so sexy, I'd even buy it if it had no engine at all and would require me to push it around town.

[dvsbstrd @ Dec 4th 2008 11:06PM]

At first glance, I thought "Woah. Flight of the Navigator".

[Fernando @ Dec 4th 2008 11:16PM]

http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-10895_7-10000054-11.html

razr rip-off (in b4 low rank, I was joking)

[IT-Accountant @ Dec 4th 2008 11:34PM]

I can has?

[drewgaren @ Dec 4th 2008 11:47PM]

I saw this at the Auto Show last year in Detroit, I have plenty of pictures, so what Debut are you talking of?

[letstakeawalk @ Dec 5th 2008 1:13AM]

Last year was the concept. This year is the production model, complete with not-before-seen interior (save for the photos here).

Can you post links to your pics? Kudos for being there...

[Vishal @ Dec 5th 2008 12:41AM]

Its like a beamer, corvette, and ferrari all in one, PLUS the electrified coolness!
no my christmas list for SURE!
(Umm santa, if ur listening: u know how i've been good ALL year long...._

[Abuzar Baloach @ Dec 5th 2008 1:13AM]

But you're Hindu...