Fisker may or may not be a household name anytime soon. The Danish designer Henrik Fisker and co-founder, designer Bernhard Koehler, are doing their best to get the attention of world's luxury cognoscenti. In 2005, the two designers, whose work includes the current generation of Aston-Martin sportscars, started building special bodies for Mercedes SLs and BMW M6s. This art harks back to the European luxury automotive market of the early 20th Century when a customer would choose their prefered 'rolling' chassis from an auto-maker and then commission one of many coachbuilders to fashion bespoke bodywork. I saw a Fisker Tramanto (Mercedes-Benz SL) in an empty stand on the accessories floor at the '06 Paris Auto Show and thought it was beautiful, and a bit of a passing novelty.Well now, Fisker has unveiled the Karma, a gasoline-electric hybrid with a collective 400-hp, and it's beautifully designed. It's a Trussardi shoe to the Prius's Easy Spirit, with the same difference in price. Unlike the Prius, which was launched with impeccable timing making it an instant 'brand name,' the Fisker is a very pretty and expensive new hybrid, a luxury option. Also, Fisker joined with Quantum Technologies which specializes in alternative energies, and partnered with GM to develop the Karma's plug-in powertrain that is similar to the one already in development for the Chevy Volt.
The bodywork will be manufactured in Uusikaupunki, Finland alongside the Porsche Boxter and Cayman. The Karma is priced and powered to be an eco-chic alternative to a Maserati Quattroporte or BMW 7-series, as well as Tesla's much anticipated new sedan. From any angle the Fisker Karma is a very fast (0-62 in 5.8 sec.), and very economical (est. 100mpg and 300 mi. range) luxury sedan. Fisker estimates that a daily 50 mi. commute will require only one tank of gasoline per year. The Karma can go 50 mi. under electric power alone with a 10 year lithium-ion battery-pack life expectancy. Fisker hopes to sell around 15,000 cars annually worldwide, and has already secured over 1300 pre-recession orders for the Karma at $87,900. Fisker is also taking orders for the Karma S, a retractable-hard-top, two-seat luxury sportscar aimed directly at the Mercedes SL market. Those who placed an order upon the Karma's unveiling at Geneva in March of last year are expecting delivery in November which is not bad considering a factory-ordered Ferrari may not arrive for 24-36 months.
