Fisker Karma: Review (videos)
In just four short years, former Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker, raised $1.1 Billion dollars and established California-based Fisker Automotive to design and build the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid car. Impressive that Fisker managed to beat every major luxury manufacturer to market and match or trump them on price with a rather stunning production car.
How is it possible for a new car company to build a better, more innovative car in less time than the competition? Like most startups, Fisker is not encumbered by rules. Because Fisker is the chief designer and CEO, design decisions that can get tangled up in bureaucracy and take months at other automakers get made in weeks at Fisker. Despite (or because of) its rapid incubation, the Karma is something to behold.
The same freethink culture helped them dream up the idea of using a powertrain inspired by gas-electric stealth vehicles used by the U.S. military that allow troops to travel large distances and switches to an electric mode for operating silently behind enemy lines. Henrik Fisker and business partner Bernhard Koehler saw its potential beyond the battlefield and paired electric motors with an efficient four-cylinder-biturbo motor that put out 403 HP but deliver 98 MPG (combined) and releases only 0.29 LBS of CO2 emissions per mile.
The environmental responsibilities run deep on the Karma. In addition to the drivetrain technologies that make it so efficient, sustainability extends to the interior and exterior finishes. The Scottish leather makes use of 85% of every hide and there’s an EcoChic model with animal-free synthetic suede upholstery. The trim is made from reclaimed wood from Californian bush fires and the bottom of Lake Michigan and the patented Diamond Dust Paint uses 55 percent recycled glass flakes. The roof is fitted with solar panels that powers the climate control unit and provides an additional 200 miles per year. Everything down to the solar-powered signage at Fisker Dealers is a reflection of the company’s sustainability focus.
It’s easy to see why ecologically-minded celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio and Al Gore were among the first few to take delivery of the Karma when the car hit dealers last month. Fisker has already pre-sold 3,000 Karmas and with a second, more cost-effective model in the works and plans to build 100,000 cars per year, it won’t take long before you see more Karmas on the road. The future looks beautiful and eco-friendly.
Watch the Karma in action now….
