Fisker Karma now production ready
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15th November, 2010
The first factory-built Fisker Karma will make its North
American debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show on Friday 19th November, 2010.
Designed and engineered by southern California car maker Fisker Automotive, the four-door Karma is
the embodiment of the company’s firm belief that environmentally conscious cars need not sacrifice
passion, style or performance.
By combining world-class style and performance with industry leading efficiency and a low emission
level, the Fisker Karma is a responsible option for luxury car buyers.
Driven only by electric motors, at all times the Karma delivers the zero-tailpipe-emissions of an
all-electric vehicle and eliminates Range Anxiety with the 480 kilometre (300 mile) range of a
traditional petrol-powered car.
“The Fisker Karma represents our goal of bringing an eco-friendly vehicle founded on the
principals of ‘Pure Driving Passion’ to consumers around the world,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO.
“As a centre for style and culture made up of people who are proud to express their personalities
and their concern for the environment, Los Angeles is the perfect place for the Karma to make its
North American debut.”
Responsible Luxury™
Fisker Automotive’s commitment to purity throughout the Karma reflects its dedication to introducing
sustainability and accountability to luxury automotive design - Responsible Luxury™. To date, Fisker
Automotive has 70 patents for the Karma.
The company’s message has always been clear: Designing a beautiful vehicle with innovative technology
provides drivers the ultimate freedom, fusing eco-friendly technology with energy independence. It also
involves an unwavering commitment to purity.
For example, when sourcing environmentally conscious and sustainable materials, if Fisker designers
and engineers felt existing technologies did not meet their exacting standards, they developed new,
superior approaches that resulted in several proprietary designs.
One of these unique technologies is the world’s largest continuous solar panel roof for an automobile.
This beautiful, sculptural form captures the power of the sun to help power the Karma.
The pursuit of pure design also led Fisker to provide one of the most sustainable and accountable
interiors in automotive history.
To process the leather for the Karma’s Eco-Sport™interior a 100% sustainable manufacturing strategy
is used, resulting in one of the highest yields in the industry. This process is conducted at the world’s
first energy self-sufficient, closed loop leather manufacturing plant where both gas and electricity are
generated on-site from by-products of the leather making process.
The Karma’s interior wood wings and accents are also unique and sustainable, sourced from certified
Fallen, Sunken and Rescued Wood™to make a luxurious sensory experience inspired by nature.
Fisker sees beauty in giving new life to wood sourced from trees damaged during the 2007 southern
California wildfires by featuring it in one of the most sustainable interiors in automotive history.
Fisker searched its own back yard to source the Karma’s Rescued Wood™wings and accents. These highly
sought after old growth woods were salvaged from over 230,000 acres of scorched land and are available
as part of the Karma’s animal-free Eco-Chic™package option.
From Concept to Reality, Unchanged
Designed by Fisker Automotive co-founder, CEO and executive design director Henrik Fisker, the
four-door, four-occupant Karma combines world-class style and performance with industry leading
efficiency and low emissions resulting in an uncompromised, premium vehicle that sets the tone for the
future of driving.
Mr. Fisker is responsible for designing some of the most desirable and iconic luxury sports cars of
the modern era, including the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin DB9, BMW Z8 and others.
With exotic car looks, sports car performance, an achievable annual average economy of 2.4 L/100 km
and emissions of just 83g/km, the 300 kW (403 hp/408 PS) Fisker Karma is a responsible alternative to
traditionally powered luxury cars.
True to Fisker’s goal of bringing the Karma concept to reality in its original form, the production
car retains, and even adds to, all of the original concept’s elegant design, dramatic proportion and
unique features.
“Too often concept cars are just that – concepts,” Henrik Fisker said. “As car enthusiasts
we wanted to see all that excitement and imagination make it to production. It’s what keeps us in love
with cars. I feel our team has succeeded in every way.”
Most notable is the Karma’s appearance. At 4.99 metres (196.7 in) long, 1.98 metres (78.1 in) wide
and just 1.33 metres (52.4 in) high, the Fisker Karma’s final production dimensions remain virtually
the same as the concept car’s.
A long bonnet - accentuated by a large dash-to-axle ratio - and short boot lid give the Karma a
timeless silhouette. Its expansive 3.16 metre (124.4 in) wheelbase, short front/rear overhangs and
wide 1.69/1.7 metre (66.6/67.0 inch) front/rear track reinforce the Karma’s performance orientation
even when standing still.
Also retained from the concept are the 22-inch aluminium-alloy Circuit Blade™wheels and the world’s
largest solar panel roof for an automobile, which, along with other details, communicate the car’s
advanced technology and environmental purpose.
The Fisker Karma is the first car to be equipped with 22-inch wheels as standard equipment.
In addition, the production Karma keeps the concept’s complex parting lines around front and rear
fascias, along with the industry’s tightest tyre-to-wheel arch relationship. These details enhance the
Karma’s overall design and set it further apart from its competitors.
The most significant visible exterior change from the concept is the addition of B-pillars, which
increase the Karma’s structural rigidity and help it meet global crash protection requirements.
Unique to the segment is the Karma’s absence of external window frames between rear door-glass panes,
which improves aesthetics and reduces wind noise.
Also improving aesthetics is the Karma Command Centre™ - the industry’s first and, at 25 cm (10.2
in), largest haptic feedback touch screen – which consolidates into a single location controls for
automatic dual-zone climate, audio/infotainment, phone, navigation and vehicle systems.
Like the concept, the production Karma has a four-seat cockpit with a large centre console running
from the dashboard to the rear seatback, which houses the rechargeable Lithium ion battery.
This console incorporates intuitive gear selector buttons in place of the concept’s original shifter,
as well as electric window controls, rear seat-heater switches, storage and a convenient cup holder for
each occupant.
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Q-Drive® Advanced Technology Power
With no mechanical link between petrol engine and drive wheels, Fisker’s exclusive Q-Drive® powertrain
frees the internal combustion engine to work at its highest efficiency by turning only the attached 175
kW generator, which sends power directly to its two electric traction motors.
With 300 kW (403 hp) and 1,330 NM (981 lb-ft) of torque at zero rpm the Karma can quickly reach
Autobahn speeds, yet achieve better annual average fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions than nearly any
other production car.
With a total range of 300 miles Karma drivers will not be concerned about Range Anxiety. By leveraging
the world’s existing petrol infrastructure to power its range extending generator as needed, the Fisker
Karma retains the full freedom drivers expect from their cars.
Fifty miles (80 km) are electric-only and tailpipe-emission free when powered only by its 20 kWh
Lithium ion battery, which can be recharged in as little as six hours on standard 240-volt current.
When the battery is depleted, or when the driver engages Sport mode, the Karma’s 2.0L, turbocharged
four-cylinder Ecotec petrol engine automatically turns a 175 kW generator that sends electricity to two
150 kW (201.5 hp/204 PS) electric traction motors mounted directly to the rear differential.
This single speed gearbox ensures a smooth, constant delivery of power to the wheels without hesitation,
all the way to the Karma’s top speed of 200 km/h (125 mph).
World Class Manufacturing
While Fisker Automotive is globally headquartered in Southern California, the Karma will be built by
Valmet Automotive at its state-of-the-art flexible assembly plant in Finland.
Fisker partnered with Valmet because the 41-year-old company was able to meet Fisker’s requirements of
cost-effectively building 15,000 high quality, advanced technology vehicles per year for international
markets.
Since 1969 Valmet has built more than 1.1 million vehicles for demanding customers all over the world,
and currently builds Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman sports cars for Porsche AG.
About Fisker Automotive, Inc.
Fisker Automotive is an American plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer with a mission to
redefine the luxury automobile with an unwavering dedication to sustainability. Global headquarters are
in Irvine, California. Acclaimed car designer Henrik Fisker and industry veteran Bernhard Koehler
established the company in 2007 to address the need for environmentally conscious vehicles that deliver
passion, style and performance.
Previously, Fisker was design director and a board member for Aston Martin, as well as president and
CEO of DesignworksUSA, BMW’s North American design arm. Koehler led operations for Ford’s Global Advanced
Design Studio in London and designed concept cars for Aston Martin, Mini and BMW.
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