The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan, and was also the subject of controversy because Tesla accused Fisker Coachbuild of not doing a good job with the work it was contracted to do with the upcoming (and postponed) Tesla Model S sports sedan. Tesla has since dropped the lawsuit.
The Karma is an extended-range plug-in electric vehicle, which means its sole method of drive is its electric motor, which can take it up to 0 to 100km/h in a rapid-enough 5.8 seconds. But it also has a combustion engine, which was just recently announced this week to be GM’s inline-4 turbocharged direct injection Ecotec engine from the Pontiac Solstice GXP that can produce 260hp.
This engine’s sole purpose is to generate electricity to recharge the Karma’s batteries to extend the car’s 80km battery range. I’m not sure why such a high-powered engine is necessary for this, instead of a small displacement engine like GM’s own extended range plug-in, the Chevrolet Volt. Perhaps its because the li-ion batteries need to be recharged more rapidly because of the high power requirements of the electric motor.
“GM is proud that Fisker has selected one of the world’s best powertrains for installation into the new Karma. The advanced design of this engine offers a superior performance-to-weight ratio that makes it the right choice for the Fisker Karma,” said Tom Stephens, Executive VP of GM Powertrain & Global Quality.
Look after the jump for a gallery of the Fisker Karma.
PHOTO GALLERY: Fisker Karma
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
First….like new porche..
nice buttons,remind me of motorola razor series, i wonder if all future cars buttons are like that hmmmm….
2nd..abit like Nissan 370z also
3rd a bit like mesarrati to(back light)
4th…. much better than Panamera…… can compete with Estoque and Rapide
The grill looks like “The Joker” (batman movie) smile.
5th! gothic kind of car… my style!! nice!!
More like Maserati. Love the meter cluster looks. Not sure about the centre console and the ‘Motorola Razr’ button type thou…
SExy is what this car is.
Love the rear lights.
crazy looking car… i wonder those who own this car will have karma…
weirdo… the front grill looks just… ouch!
i dunno why nowadays car’s interior looks like alien’s car interior…. Oh god !!!! full of electronic and graphical stuff !!!!!!!!!
looks better than the panamera
nothing special, just odd