Inhabitat » HOT NEW HYBRID CAR: The Fisker Karma

May 13, 2008

HOT NEW HYBRID CAR: The Fisker Karma

by Jorge Chapa

fisker automotive, hot new electric car, electric vehicle, EV, electric car, green car, green vehicles, hybrid, hybrid car, eco car, green hybrid, fisker karma, green karma, tesla competitor, tesla killer

We love our green sports cars here at Inhabitat, and we have plenty of room on our favorites list for more than one. While we’ve been raving for the last two years about the Tesla Roadster, the Fisker Karma has been doing the one thing Tesla has yet to do: bring a hybrid sports car to market. Created by noted car designer Henrik Fisker, the ultra cool Karma is a sleek, power packed eco-luxury ride.

fisker automotive, green vehicles, hybrid, green hybrid, fisker karma, green karma, tesla competitor, fisker1.jpg

The Karma’s performance specs rev out at 0-60 mph in 6 seconds, and a top speed of 125 mph. At $80,000 USD, The car is a plug-in hybrid based on technology of Quantum Technologies. The Q DRIVE consists of a small gasoline engine which in turn charges the lithium battery packs in the car. According to Fisker, if charged properly, the hybrid would need to use no more than a fuel tank per year, quite a claim!

Now before you think that the Fisker is just a concept vehicle, Wired managed to get some pics of the Fisker Karma in action. Here’s hoping that soon we can have two really cool sports cars that show that being green can be done at maximum speed.

+ Fisker Automotive

14 Responses to “HOT NEW HYBRID CAR: The Fisker Karma”

ac1dfl3sh Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Very sexy.

tomw85 Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

The problem with this car is that it only goes 50 miles while the Tesla car can travel a little over 200 miles on one charge. Also, this car is not a true electric car as the Tesla one is. I like the idea behind this but saying that this is “better” than the Tesla Roadster is off base.

ZeroLux Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

I agree. I would rather have the Tesla. Granted that is a nice looking car. But whatever happened to the Lightning GT that was under development? The first model of it admittedly was kind of in need of help visually, but last I saw it had a more Aston looking appearance to it and massive performance for a pure-electric like the Tesla. Really makes me wish I had that kind of disposable income to afford either of them right now. I love the concept and being the type of person that enjoys driving on more than just a “getting from A to B” level, and NOT enjoying the cost of gas at the moment, an electric would work out well for me. Honestly what I am not sold on yet is the longevity of something like the Tesla. I drive. A lot. And not always short distances. I am curious to see how well one could suit my needs with keeping my current driving habits. I understand the limitations of the distance and could manage around that fairly easy. Oh well, guess I’ll never know (or maybe i’ll find out in 10 years or so).

cristina718 Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

I\\\’ve been keeping tabs on both th Fisker Karma and the Tesla Roadster for quite a while. I have to admit, both are beautiful cars but I\\\’ve only gotten a chance to see the Tesla in the flesh (you can see those pictures here: http://greenhome.huddler.com/forum/thread/329/up-close-and-personal-with-the-tesla-roadster?replies=5). And given the fact that Tesla is suing Fisker…I have to say, if I had $100,000 to spend on a car, I\\\’d pick the Tesla, hands down.

gavin310 Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

tomw85, the “problem” you mention is the reason why the Fisker Karma is practical, and the Tesla is impractical. The Tesla goes 200 miles, and then you’re done. No more driving. The Karma will switch to a fuel-powered generator after the charge runs out. If you’ve never driven 200 miles in a day, or never needed the option, get the Tesla. Or get the Tesla and a 2nd fuel-powered car. Or get the more practical Karma.

phrancis Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

I’ve been designing “green” cars way back before hybrids were a status symbol and way before the Volt was even conceived. The pure EV is simple and clean, but even now the batteries weight, cost, and range makes them still impractical for mass use. A niche eco sports car like the Tesla is nice, but the practical range of the Fiskar is much better. It\’s like the sexy performance version of the Volt.

Here’s my series hybrid sports car that I designed back in 02
http://phrancis.com/CataVidPlayer.html

metro hiippie Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Agree with gavin… everyone screams it’s not as ‘green’ as the Tesla, but not many consider daily operations and functionality of the Fisker… about 80% of our commutes are less than 50 miles round trip, so we in theory could go months without a stop at the gas station, just like the Tesla. The Fisker is a sedan, can seat 4 comfortably, and can be used on long distance trips where recharging is not an option… and nobody mentioned that the Fisker has optional solar panels on the rooftop that automatically cool the interior of the car when left sitting in the parking lot on a hot summer day… that’s just too cool for escuela!

I’d still take a Tesla.

clairseach Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

As usual EEStor is the answer and will be in the cityZENN car next year, according to their website that is.

GAh Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Fisker has stolen alot of Tesla\’s electric technology, that\’s why they are being sued and the lighting car being developed in England is still under way check out there site: http://www.lightningcarcompany.com/ their design of the car has changed from what orginally was posted. Tesla has also been working on White Star which was basiclly this (infact they hired Fisker to make the car design wanting something like this, but they feel what he presented was very poor and just wanted to take their technology).

Green Patent Blog » 2008 » May » 13 Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 11:38 pm

[…] to secretly design their own directly competing sedan, the Karma (shown above and in this Inhabit.com piece), which Fisker recently launched. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the defendants […]

nicanor Says:

May 14th, 2008 at 2:22 am

The creator of Fisker was commissioned by Tesla to design (aesthetics) Tesla’s next car (a 4 door sedan), previously not knowing any EV technology. In turn he gave Tesla a sub-par design and started his own company to put out a 4 door EV sedan with a better design. So yes, Tesla will be taking him to court for that.

day1dan Says:

May 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

Seriously? Why is everyone on this car’s jock? It plugs into a wall socket and runs on gasoline. Guess where the electricity from our wall socket comes from….anyone….???? Oh yeah, coal power…the number one reason for global warming. It does nothing to help our current situation and should be removed from inhabitat. Also, if you watch the video on the car website, you’ll see that the CEO has no clue what he is talking about when it comes to being green (or he’s obscenely nervous…which is odd for a CEO).

Graiggy.S Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 1:09 am

FINALLY A LEGITIMATE “ELECTRIC”CAR THAT IS NOT ONE STEP REMOVE FROM A GOLF CART OR SOME NEVER TO BE BUILT CONCEPT PROJECT.
THE KARMA HIS ROOMY,COMFORTABLE AND AS ENOUGH STORAGE SPACE TO MAKE IT A PRACTICAL EVERYDAY FAMILY CAR THAT IS BEAUTIFULLY DESIGN AND STYLISH ,SO EVEN A RABID CAR NUT LIKE MYSELF GIVEN A CHANCE WOULD SURELY BUY.
IF I WAS TO NITPICK AND FIND SOMETHING TO BITCH ABOUT I WOULD WISH FOR MORE HORSE POWER BECAUSE 125MPH IS A BIT WEAK FOR A SPORTS COUPE IN THE CAR NUT WORLD.(i own a 07 mustang bullit)
THE PROBLEM WITH THE MAJORITY OF ELECTRIC CARS LIKE THETESLAS IS THAT THEY ARE TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL FOR EVERY DAY USE.THEY ONLY HAVE 2SEATS -NO TRUNK & STORAGE SPACE AND THEIR TOP SPEED ARE INADEQUATE FOR HIGHWAY USE.THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SHOWBOATING TOYS FOR THE CAFE SOCIETY

greeentech Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 10:13 am

Only read one comment that thinks “Green” through. Electric cars need a clean power source just like gasoline engined cars need oil production and refineries. A solar, wind or hydronic power infrastructure needs to exist to supply the electricity for these plug-in vehicles. A transistion period from petroleum production to this would require battery or fuel cell electric cars or gas/electric hybrids. None of these electric cars will ever succeed without a federal directive of tax incentives and funding on par with tax breaks to oil companies and fuel mpg requirements for auto mfg.

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