If there was ever an automotive equivalent to the admittedly annoying song "99 Bottles of Beer", this is it. Well, it may not be 99 cars, but 53 exotic models (or so that's the number quoted by the person who filmed the clip, but who is counting?) passing full throttle under a pair of bridges is something you don't get to see or hear very often.
Make the leap over the break to check out the video, which includes a great exotic supercar selection ranging from various Porsches, to Aston Martins and Ferraris.
Making yet another pun with Fisker and its Karma is easy. After all, the California based carmaker has faced several problems with its extended-range hybrid luxury sedan over the past couple of years. However, its latest issue is quite serious.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has frozen Fisker’s access to the federal loan it was awarded for engineering of the Karma (US$169 million) and production of the midsize Nina sedan (US$359 million), which will be priced much lower than the $100K Karma.
After the discovery of a coolant leak problem in the A123-supplied battery pack that posed a fire risk in its Karma hybrid luxury sedan, Fisker recalled all 239 cars that it sold since deliveries began on November 3.
On Tuesday, the California-based maker of the Karma announced that the majority of the cars affected by the recall have either had their battery packs replaced or the faulty clamp that caused the leak repaired and are already back on the streets.
After it was revealed that A123 Systems Inc. discovered a "potential safety issue" in the batteries it supplies to Fisker Automotive, it was only a matter of time before the California-based automaker would issue a recall on the Karma, the first since the car launched onto the market this summer.
The maker of the extended-range plug-in hybrid model said the safety recall concerns a total of 239 2012MY Karma sedans built from July 1, 2011, through November 3, 2011.
It may be little consolation to LG Chem, which manufactures the Chevy Volt lithium-ion pack that is currently under investigation by NHTSA, but GM’s hybrid isn’t the only one facing a battery-related fire risk.
Another maker of batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles, A123 Systems, announced that it has discovered a “potential safety issue” in batteries supplied to Fisker Automotive.
Just yesterday, Fisker sold the first example of its Karma extended-range hybrid sedan after receiving the necessary EPA certification - though the mpg numbers weren't exactly what the company hoped for…
Despite the delay, Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of the company, insists that the Karma will reach its sales target for 2011, which is a rather optimistic 7,000 units.
Even though Fisker delivered the first examples of its new Karma sedan last month, these were used purely as demo vehicles since Fisker’s extended-range plug-in hybrid hadn’t received the required Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification.
With this final hurdle now behind, Fisker announced today that it sold its first $97,000 Karma. “With receipt of EPA certification in hand, we have achieved a major milestone by recording the first sales of our groundbreaking Karma sedan”, said an exuberant Henrik Fisker who is the CEO and founder of the company.
The first example of the Fisker Karma to be available for sale in the UK was auctioned off at a charity event held at Camden’s Round House. The highest bidder paid £140,000 ($220,689 US) – or more than double the car’s sticker price. The model in question will get a unique plaque signed by the company’s CEO, Henrik Fisker.Read more »
As it turns out, Fisker's shadowy teaser sketch of its Frankfurt Motor Show debut was somewhat deceiving as the Surf turned out to be five-door version of the Karma sedan with a shape that is more shooting break than it is station wagon.
Nevertheless, the California based automaker that is headed by former BMW and Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker, says that the Surf combines the performance, luxury, economy and style of the sedan model with increased space and practicality.
The teaser sketch you are looking at previews the new Fisker Surf concept that's scheduled to make its first public appearance at next week's 64th IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.
The company of former BMW designer Henrik Fisker reveals very little about the Surf study expect that it is an electric vehicle with extended range (EVer) capability, much like it’s stable mate the four-door Karma sports saloon.
The man behind the design of BMW's Z8 roadster and now the owner of the brand that bears his name, Henrik Fisker, has announced a new deal with BMW that covers the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models.
Under the agreement, BMW will supply its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to enter production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale the following year.
The man behind the Karma extended-range electric sports sedan, company boss Henrik Fisker, revealed some ambitious new plans to develop the brand's lineup during the European launch of the saloon model.
According to one report from British magazine What Car?, Fisker confirmed the development of a new crossover that will combine elements from sporty estate and SUV models, and which will be revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show in September before it allegedly reaches showrooms in 2012.
You have to admit that the Karma, Henrik Fisker’s extended-range electric sports sedan with a celebrity clientele and 3,000 firm orders, has already had its fair share of coverage on this site. And that’s before it even goes on sale.
However, Fisker’s $100,000 sedan is an intriguing car. Not just for its sensual lines, the gorgeous interior or the way it is promoted, but because it promises to deliver a supercar experience the “green way”.
Fisker’s environment-friendly hybrid sports sedan, the Karma, can hardly be called a slouch but if someone were to tell you that it could reach “Bugatti Veyron levels of performance” you'd probably look at them a little askance. But that's exactly what Henrik Fisker recently supported during an interview with British weekly magazine Autocar.
More specifically, the founder of the company said that the development of a reliable multi-speed gearbox could offer electric-powered vehicles a huge boost in performance.
Fisker is finally starting deliveries of its Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sedan later this month –and the lucky person to get the first car will be none other than Hollywood star Leonardo di Caprio (....the spicy female model featured in the firm's print advert is not included with the car).
The company says it has already received 3,000 pre-orders with the waiting list reaching until early 2012. Other famous customers for the $100,000 hybrid sports sedan are former US Vice President Al Gore and former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Fisker Automotive kicked-off production of its Karma plug-in hybrid sedan in Finland this week, with the company planning to sell the first cars in the United States and Europe from April. The California-based automaker assembles the Karma at Valmet Automotive's plant located in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The same factory also builds Cayman and Boxster models for Porsche.
"We're going to be ramping up very slowly, very carefully to ensure quality. This year we want to get over 7,000 deliveries," said Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher. Priced at $88,000 in the U.S. (€62,000 at current exchange rates), the Karma can run on electric power alone for about 50 miles (80 km) before the gasoline engine kicks in.
For those that find the current generation BMW M6 aesthetically displeasing and/or a far too common sight on the roads, you may want to take a look at this second-hand Fisker Latigo CS V10 that's offered for sale on eBay.
Designed by CEO of Fisker Automotive, Henrik Fisker, who worked in the past for Ford, BMW and Aston Martin, the Latigo CS is a coachbuilt version of the BMW 6-Series that was first introduced in 2006 having received a minor redesigned in 2007.
The Fisker Automotive, the new American manufacturer of premium green automobiles. The four-seat, plug-in hybrid hardtop convertible furthers the company’s belief that driving style and performance need not be compromised for environmental friendliness.
The open-air Fisker Karma S concept shares its aluminum spaceframe architecture and clean Q-DRIVE powertrain with the Fisker Karma sedan. Designed and engineered by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive, Q-DRIVE provides 50 emission-free miles on a single charge to its lithium-ion battery pack, and up to 403hp from two electric motors. The power retractable hard top, a first for Fisker, glides neatly into the trunk and a unique design language sets the Karma S concept apart.
The Karma S is an extension of the Fisker Automotive product range of eco-conscious automobiles and sets the tone for the future.“ The four-door, four-seat Karma fuses the traditional and timeless styling of veteran auto designer, with Quantum Technologies’ clean Q-DRIVE plug-in hybrid powertrain to become the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid car.
The Exclusive to Fisker Automotive, Q-DRIVE provides the best combination of power, efficiency and low emissions. The system is comprised of two 201hp electric motors powered by an advanced lithium-ion technology battery pack. The generator attached to a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec direct injection (D1) gasoline engine provides extended range capabilities.
The features two operating modes: Stealth Mode and Sport Mode. In electric-only Stealth Mode, drivers can travel emission free for up to 50 miles on a full charge from any 110-, 220- or 240-volt electric outlet. A total range of up to 300 miles is estimated in Sport Mode, which utilizes the efficient Ecotec gasoline engine to turn a generator that powers two electric motors on the rear differential.
The style and luxury The Karma’s exterior design features the continual flow of sculpture and dramatic proportion that is signature Fisker style. Wiide stance and raised front fenders offer the driver a unique view of the car’s design. Modest changes from the original Karma prototype include an enhanced upper grill and an enlarged lower intake for improved airflow. The a new aerodynamic diffuser under the rear bumper helps cool the electric drivetrain. Instantly recognizable, the Karma also benefits from having the world’s largest continuously formed glass solar panel roof on a car – an industry first and a standard feature on all Karma sedans.
A desirable car of any kind requires an inviting cockpit. Fisker’s interior design team focused on sustainable design held accountable to the environment. The inspiration from nature’s timeless beauty and the quality of classic design composition provided immense inspiration. Karma’s Sustainable and Accountable Design is reflected in the use of reusable materials enhanced with modern technology.
The Karma’s instrumentation and controls focus on ease of use. Embedded in the layered EcoGlass center console is a 10.2-inch touch sensitive screen controlling HVAC, audio and other vehicle systems. The LCD gauges behind the steerint wheel provide display critical information like battery charge and vehicle speed.
The Karma S is an extension of the Fisker Automotive product range of eco-conscious automobiles and sets the tone for our future.
Plug-in hybrid hardtop convertible furthers the company's belief that driving style and performance need not be compromised for environmental friendliness.
The open-air Fisker Karma S concept shares its aluminum spaceframe architecture and clean Q-DRIVE® powertrain with the Fisker Karma sedan. Designed and engineered by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive, Q-DRIVE® provides 50 emission-free miles on a single charge to its lithium-ion battery pack, and up to 403hp from two electric motors. The power retractable hard top, a first for Fisker, glides neatly into the trunk and a unique design language sets the Fisker Karma S concept apart.
A few months before Fisker begins delivery of the Karma, the California-based automaker has began running ads for its all-electric sedan on LA TV stations. The first commercial for the 100mpg luxury plug-in hybrid isn't anything special but at least it gets the word out. See it after the jump.
