DETROIT, MI. Jan. 14, 2008: The first green American premium sports car was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The elegant and sleek Karma is the brainchild of Henrik Fisker whose design talents helped to resurrect Aston Martin.
He’s now turned his considerable skills to the world of eco-conscious cars that will be marketed to those who want to go green without sacrificing style, performance or comfort.
His four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000 with deliveries set to start in the 4th quarter of 2009. Annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars.
The first 99 cars off the assembly line will be individually numbered and signed by Fisker and will be produced in the color and trim of the show car seen at NAIAS.
In Buddhism/Hinduism, Karma is defined as the force generated by a person's good or evil actions which determines the nature of the person's next existence. Tapping into the chic admiration for all things Buddhist, the company implies that the Karma will help consumers enjoy their current existence while earning some credits for the next by driving a car that is environmentally friendly. All without sacrificing the extreme comfort and style found in a luxury automobile.
"In creating Fisker Automotive, Inc. we sought to develop a range of beautiful, environmentally friendly cars that make environmental sense without compromise," said CEO Henrik Fisker. "Our hope is that the Fisker Karma will be the start of a new trend in the automotive business – less concession with more efficiency."
The car’s cutting-edge plug-in hybrid technology, dubbed Q DRIVE, was developed by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive. Quantum’s president and CEO, Alan Niedzwiecki, is also an enthusiastic board member of Fisker’s company. He liked the idea of the Toyota Prius but wanted something with a little more élan. He can’t wait to get behind the wheel.
"Our goal here is to deliver the advancement that Quantum Technologies has made in the area of plug-in hybrid technology. By combining our efforts with the renowned design talent of Henrik Fisker, we can produce cars that make a difference to the environment – without sacrificing the luxury that accompanies the finest automobiles OEM,” said Niedzwiecki.
Quantum appears to be a perfect partner for Fisker. It’s already a world leader in the development and manufacturing of clean car technology state-of-the-art clean propulsion technologies, fuel and energy storage technologies and services including propulsion systems for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, compressed natural gas vehicles, liquid petroleum vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.
More importantly it’s already involved in the plug-in hybrid world that use technology based on advanced electronic control systems and Lithium Ion batteries developed by Quantum's strategic alliance partner Advanced Lithium Power Ltd. Building a limited production vehicle also requires other know how that Quantum appears to bring to the party since it also provides engineering services including vehicle development and homologation and second stage vehicle manufacturing through its subsidiary Tecstar.
These green machines will require another kind of green – money. The stars seemed to be aligning here too. Fisker announced that the company has received a second round of venture capital funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. This multi-million dollar investment from the fund that recently brought Former Vice President Al Gore on board as a partner gives the company a heady endorsement from both the investment community and one of the leading luminaries of the environmental community.
“Kleiner Perkins is a leader at indentifying businesses that make sense for both the environment and investors, said Henrik Fisker, CEO, Fisker Automotive, Inc. “We are thrilled to have them as a partner as we look to lead the future of the automotive industry."
Can’t hurt to have a Nobel Prize winner tooling around in your car. But it begs the question – what would Mother Teresa drive?
If she chose one of these environmentally friendly premium cars she’d be dazzled by its luxury, style and technology.
The heart of the Karma is the Q DRIVE. It consists of a small gasoline engine that turns the generator, which charges the lithium ion battery pack, powering the electric motor and turning the rear wheels. This proprietary design allows consumers to drive the car emission free for up to 50 miles a day provided the car is charged every evening. It's conceivable that if consumers follow this daily routine, they will only need to fuel the car once a year. The company says that its Q DRIVE technology will provide a base for a future line up of environmentally friendly vehicles from Fisker Automotive.
Fisker Karma Design
The sleek design of the Fisker Karma, which accentuates the long hood, is a direct result of the breakthrough all-new from the ground up chassis design with powertrain development. This unique design places the battery pack at the center of the vehicle between the two axles, providing optimal vehicle driving dynamics, maximum safety, and proportionate design. Both the interior and exterior of the car will be go to market as seen at the NAIAS.
Fisker Karma Interior
The Karma's luxurious interior boasts four individual first class seats, a modern and sophisticated interior design and a spacious luggage capacity that can fit two golf bags and luggage in the trunk.
Other interior optional features to include:
Electronic Aides: Navigation system, DVD system incorporated into seat backs and state-of-the art push button controls
Seating Comfort: Four individual “first class” seats
Driving Modes: The driver will be able to select between two modes of driving. The first mode is "Stealth Drive", which is the quiet economy mode for optimal relaxed and efficient driving. By flipping the second paddle behind the steering wheel, the car will switch to "Sport Drive", which will access the full power of the vehicle.
Fisker Karma Exterior
The all new from the ground up exterior design features a continual flow of sculpture and dramatic proportion. Similar in height to the Porsche 911, the length of the Mercedes Benz CLS, and the width of a BMW 7-series, the Fisker Karma's structure and body panels will make extensive use of aluminum to keep the overall vehicle weight as low as possible. Additionally, a new drive train configuration will provide optimal weight distribution. The vehicle's low and wide stance offers the driver a unique view of the fenders from the inside of the car.
The Fisker Karma will offer partly self-contained climate control, as consumers will have the option to purchase a full length solar roof that will help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin while the car is parked.
Additionally, Fisker Automotive will offer consumers an option to purchase a set of solar panels for their roofs or garages where they can generate electricity during the day to charge the car overnight…again cost and emission free.
Going green just got a whole lot better.
For More information: www.fiskerautomotive.com
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