Karma -- Engadget

karma posts

Department of Energy lends Fisker $528.7 million for Karma and Project Nina

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 7:39AM

Well, it seems like that sex-on-wheels advert has done its job. Fisker's development of the oh so desirable Karma PHEV and its lower-cost sibling, now known as Project Nina (inspired by Christopher Columbus' escape from the Old World, no less), has been given a significant boost by the US government. Henrik Fisker himself has been quoted as saying that once the conditional loan is in, "it wouldn't take long to get the lower-cost plug-in hybrid on the road." If the company carries over the aggressive styling from the luxury model, it might have a real winner on its hands, though -- we know -- it's got to be cheap enough first. While waiting for that $528.7 million to work its magic, you can gawk at the solar paneled roof on the Karma, to be found after the break.

Continue reading Department of Energy lends Fisker $528.7 million for Karma and Project Nina

Fisker already working on lower-cost vehicle to rival Volt, Model S

by Darren Murph posted Apr 9th 2009 at 4:28PM

While Fisker Automotive isn't making too much of a stir at the New York Auto Show this week, it is scheming to deliver a vehicle that will purportedly compete with Chevrolet's Volt and Tesla's Model S. 'Course, it should probably look to get its Karma onto US streets before it starts looking too far ahead, but you won't find us kvetching about the promise of a lower cost plug-in hybrid. Company spokesman Russell Datz insinuated that the outfit was jonesing to release a model that would be priced somewhere below its Karma ($87,900) and above the Volt (around $40,000) and Model S (somewhere in the $50,000s), though it wasn't close enough to production to hit the show floor of any expos in 2009. Oh, what a tease.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

Fisker Karma TV ads hit the LA airwaves

by Nilay Patel posted Mar 14th 2009 at 9:01AM

Uh oh, Tesla -- it looks Fisker's joining the battle for the hearts of Californian electric sports-car buyers in style. The carmaker has started running ads for the Karma on LA TV stations, and while the first one out the gate is certainly effective in showing off the coupe's sexy lines, it's not exactly mindblowing -- we're pretty certain this would be equally effective in advertising a local technical college with just a few tweaks. Check it after the break.

Continue reading Fisker Karma TV ads hit the LA airwaves

Production Fisker Karma gets revealed, shakes that sexy thang

by Darren Murph posted Dec 4th 2008 at 10:10PM

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]

Fisker Karma hybrid sports car to generate motor noise through external speakers

by Nilay Patel posted Mar 14th 2008 at 4:02AM

You know how we love the electric cars around here, but internal combustion sure does sound sexy -- a big V-8 literally brings the noise in a way the nearly-silent whir of an electric motor can't hope to match. Well, it looks like the mad geniuses behind the $80,000 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid have hit upon an appropriately high-tech solution: speakers placed inside and out that allow drivers to give their rides any sound they want, including one described as "like something between a Formula One car and a jet plane." Interesting, to be sure -- but seeing as the Karma can hit 125mph and go from 0-60 in six seconds, we'd be happier if that rig just screamed at people to get out of the left lane.

[Via Autoblog]

The "eco-chic" Fisker Karma and 150mpg XH-150 hybrids revealed

by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 14th 2008 at 6:03AM

Hybrids are the rage at this year's Detroit Auto Show. Center stage then is the ~~$100,000~~ $80,000 Fisker Automotive plug-in hybrid set for delivery in 2009. California-based Fisker is the namesake of Danish-born Henrik Fisker, CEO and former BMW and Aston Martin designer. The Fisker Karma (pictured), can go up to 50 miles before the gas engine kicks in to charge the lithium-ion batteries. It features a 150mph top speed capable of reaching 60mph from a standstill in 5.8 seconds. Sharing the stage with Fisker is AFS Trinity Power Corporation and their 150mpg plug-in hybrid XH-150 SUV -- that "XH" stands for Extreme Hybrid. Unlike traditional hybrids, the XH-150's powertrain uses ultra-capacitors, not gas, for "fast" acceleration. The XH-150 goes from 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds with a top highway speed of just 87mph. Instead of bringing the XH-150 to market, however, AFS Trinity is more focused on licensing their ultra-capacitor technology. Good idea too, after checking the ho-hum XH-150 just beyond the break.

[Via c|net News]

Read -- Fisker Karma
Read -- AFT Trinity unveils 150 MG XH SUV

Continue reading The "eco-chic" Fisker Karma and 150mpg XH-150 hybrids revealed