Fisker Karma

Fisker Karma
Manufacturer Fisker Automotive
Production 2011
Assembly Uusikaupunki, Finland by Valmet Automotive
Class subcompact luxury sports sedan
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout front engine, rear wheel drive
Combustion engine 2.0 litres (120 cu in) Turbocharged Ecotec VVT DI LNF
Electric motor 2 motors, each with 150 kW power and 650 N·m torque [1]
Drivetrain Series hybrid. The two electric motors drive the rear wheels through a limited slip differential, with a final drive ratio of 4:1.[2]
Battery 22 kWh lithium-ion battery[3]
Range 230 mi (370 km)[4]
Electric Range 32 mi (51 km)[4] (EPA)
83 km (52 mi)[5] (TUV)
Length 195.67 in (4,970 mm)
Width 78.11 in (1,984 mm)
Height 51.57 in (1,310 mm)
Curb weight 5,300 lb (2,400 kg)
Designer Henrik Fisker

The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive and manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland.[6] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated the Karma's combined city/highway fuel economy at 52 mpg-US (4.5 L/100 km; 62 mpg-imp) equivalent (MPG-e) in all-electric mode, and at 20 mpg-US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg-imp) in gasoline-only mode. EPA's official all-electric range is 32 mi (51 km).[4][7]. Due to the very small cabin interior volume, the EPA rated the Fisker Karma as a subcompact.[8]

After missing its initial late 2009 launch, and after the launch was re-scheduled several times, the first deliveries took place in the U.S. in late July 2011,[9][10][11] and deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011.[7] Since December 2011 pricing in the U.S. starts at US$102,000 for the basic model, and US$116,000 for the top model.[12]

Contents

History

The Fisker Karma was revealed at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.[13] It is the first car from Fisker Automotive, a new auto maker based in Anaheim, California, founded on 5 September 2007.[14]

Production began in July 2011,[6] and the first two deliveries took place in the United States on July 26, 2011.[9][15] In October 2011 the first Karma delivered in the UK was auctioned to benefit Pratham UK and raised a bid of GB£140,000 (around US$220,000.[16]

Specifications

The Karma is technically a series hybrid, driven by a pair of electric motors totaling 403hp that get their power from a 22 kWh lithium ion battery supplied by A123 Systems, or a 175 kW generator spun by an efficient, 2.2L gasoline engine.[3] The engine is mated with a generator to provide an electrical connection to the motors and also recharge the batteries and as such the electric motors are the only mechanical driving force connected to the wheels. The proprietary Q-Drive hybrid drive train is supplied by Quantum Technologies, which operates in a joint venture with Fisker Coachbuild known as Fisker Automotive.[17]

The Karma includes as standard[18] a solar paneled roof manufactured by Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH, a Quantum Technologies affiliate,[19] not only to aid in the recharging of its Lithium-Ion batteries but also to aid the cabin climate control system. The solar roof is capable of generating a half kilowatt-hour a day[20] and is estimated to provide up to 4 to 5 miles (6.4–8.0 km) of additional range a week assuming continuously sunny days.[21] Additionally, the car will offer a set of solar panels for the garage/house which may charge the Karma entirely 'off the grid'.

The Karma's two 201 brake horsepower (204 PS) motors produce 1,300 newton metres (960 ft·lbf) of torque, more than the Bugatti Veyron at 1,250 N·m (920 ft·lbf).[22][23] The Karma features a 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds.[24]

The base model features an "eco-friendly interior", including salvaged lumber from fires or even from lake bottoms. Optional leather seating is available, but it will use much more of the cow hide than would customarily be found on luxury models—hides with scratches and other mars (which should not affect functionality) will be used.[25]

Fuel economy and range

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official all-electric range for the Fisker Karma is 32 mi (51 km) under the agency's five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls. EPA's estimated energy consumption is 65 kWh per 100 miles (1462 kJ/km). The total range with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery is 230 miles (370 km). EPA's official rating for combined city/highway fuel economy in all-electric mode is 52 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPG-e) (4.5 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 62 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent). The EPA rating in gasoline-only mode is 20 mpg-US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg-imp).[26] Regarding EPA's rating Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of Fisker Automotive commented that "...as with all electric vehicles, range varies greatly on the conditions of the road and how you drive the car. We firmly believe that most owners will get up to 50 miles of driving range on a single charge."[4][26]

The German Technical Inspection Association (TUV) found through independent tests that the Fisker Karma has an all-electric range of 83 km (52 mi) in stealth mode. TUV found that in charge-sustaining sport mode the Karma achieves a fuel economy of 26 mpg (9.2 l/100km). The combined fuel economy was rated at 112 MPG-e (2.1 l/100km equivalent) and the emissions level is 51 g/km CO2.[5][27]

Production and delivery

The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported[28] that Fisker Automotive and Valmet Automotive reached an early agreement to manufacture the cars in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The Valmet factory located there currently produces Porsche Boxster and Cayman models (until 2012), and has previously produced various Saab models as well as some other cars. On November 13, 2008, the final assembly contract was signed by both parties.[29]

In 2008 Fisker Automotive began accepting pre-orders in the US, and Europe and initially scheduled sales of its Karma PHEV by the fourth quarter of 2009 in the US, and starting in 2010 in Europe.[30] In 2009 Henrik Fisker reported 1,300 orders for the Karma.[31] Henrik Fisker showed the first production model Karma at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.[32]

After re-scheduling the Karma launch to September 2010, and missing its target to build 70 to 100 test cars in 2010,[33] production began in July 2011,[6] and the two first deliveries took place in the United States during the same month.[9] The Valmet plant in Finland began production with five cars a week. By December 2011 the production rate was 25 per week.[34] As of July 2011, Fisker claims it has received 3,000 pre-orders and that the plug-in hybrid is sold out until early 2012.[6] Deliveries to retail customers began in November 2011. The first production batch of 39 units was allocated for dealerships as demonstration vehicles.[7]

In the United States the first vehicles were sold for US$95,900 for the basic model, and US$109,850 for the top model.[35] In December 2011 prices were raised to US$102,000 for the basic model, and US$116,000 for the top model.[12]

Recall

In December 2011, Fisker recalled the first 239 Karmas delivered to the USA due to a risk of battery fire caused by coolant leak. Of the 239 cars, less than fifty have been delivered to customers, the rest were in dealerships, and no cars have caught fire. In the report filed by Fisker Automotive with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the carmaker said some hose clamps were not properly positioned, which could allow a coolant leak. “If coolant enters the battery compartment an electrical short could possibly occur, causing a thermal event within the battery, including a possible fire in the [worst] case.” The problem was discovered on December 16 at the Valmet Automotive assembly plant in Finland when workers noticed coolant dripping.[36][37]

Tesla lawsuit

On 14 April 2008 Tesla Motors filed a lawsuit against Fisker Automotive, alleging that Henrik Fisker stole Tesla's Model S hybrid technology and is using it to develop the Karma. Tesla's suit claimed that the design work done for the Model S sedan by Fisker Coachbuild was substandard, and that Fisker Automotive diverted its best ideas to the Karma.[38] On 4 November 2008 CNET News reported that Tesla Motors would discontinue its suit after an interim ruling in favor of Fisker et al.[39] A news release on the Fisker Automotive website stated that Tesla was ordered to pay $1,144,285 in costs.[40]

Related models

Convertible model

In January 2009 Fisker previewed the Karma S "Sunset" at the North American International Auto Show, the world's first plug-in hybrid convertible, with a folding hardtop.[41]

Fisker Surf

The Fisker Surf was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show — described by Automobile as a shooting-brake or a hatchback.[42] Sales of the four-door plug-in hybrid, which has the same range as the Karma, are scheduled to begin in 2013.[43] The Surf's entire powertrain, chassis, and interior are identical to the Karma sedan, with the only major cabin change being the additional room in back for a couple of adults, and expandable room in the back is up from 7.1 cu ft (0.20 m3) to anywhere from 12.7 cu ft (0.36 m3) to 29.0 cu ft (0.82 m3). Overall weight on the Surf versus the Karma increases by just 77 pounds (35 kg).[44]

Awards and recognition

2009 marked the first time that an electric vehicle was named a North American Production Preview Vehicle of the Year by the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. The award went to Fisker Automotive for the Fisker Karma Sunset.[45][46]

The Fisker Karma was listed among the "Green Design 100" of 2009 by Time Magazine.[47] Also, Time listed the Karma among the "The 50 Best Inventions" of 2011.[48] In November 2011 the Fisker Karma won Automobile magazine's 2012 Design of the Year Award.[49]

In December 2011, Karma was chosen as "Luxury Car of The Year" by Top Gear Magazine, and "Car of The Year" by James May of TopGear.[50][51]

Producers of the TV show "Two and a half men" chose the Karma as the vehicle for Walden Schmidt.[52]

References

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