REPORT: Fisker planning third Karma variant, low-cost hybrid
Fisker Karma sedan - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker feels like the automotive world is at the beginning of a renaissance, and he believes now is the first time in 40 years that start-up automakers can compete and even thrive against the established OEMs. Fisker has already began to rage against the machine with the Karma. It looks great, promises terrific performance, and it plugs into a standard socket. The tree-hugging, tarmac-punishing Karma won't even be on the road until 2010, but that isn't stopping Fisker from dreaming big.
According to The Oakland Press, Fisker is looking to produce a lower cost, high volume plug-in that would likely thrust the Fisker brand into the mainstream. Fisker has already applied for federal loans with the Department of Energy, and if the request goes through, the vehicle could be on the road in 29 months. If the high volume Fisker sees the light of day, it could well be developed at the company's new technical center in Pontiac, Michigan, an area in desperate need of new jobs.
Gallery: Fisker Karma
[Source: The Oakland Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 11:17AM (5/14/2009)
Ask 100 people to define "low cost" and you will get 100 different answers.
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Throwback 1:23PM (5/14/2009)
Exactly, a low cost BMW still costs 29K for example. Considering the Karma is 80K plus, low cost probably means 50K plus. Having said that, if I could afford a Karma Sunset, I would buy one.
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Carlos 7:12PM (5/14/2009)
Low cost it´s cheaper that the current model...
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Rck Badman 8:23PM (6/02/2009)
I have designed hybrid cars that use flywheels to store kinetic energy and plasma igniters to turn water into fuel that have a range of over 1000 miles. With twin-500 horse motors, a LeMans racer could beat any car in the race. The range even at an average speed of 200 mph per lap would still be over 200 miles with the flywheel rack being able to be changed in the pits in less than 30 seconds. Why Fisker doesn't want to build a superior hybrid car is beyond me.
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Chris M 10:08PM (6/02/2009)
Because you haven't actually done the engineering needed to turn your wild ideas into an actual functioning vehicle. If you ever actually attempt to make your dream a reality, you will find several major obstacles to overcome:
Even the strongest flywheels have limited energy storage, no flywheel now in existence could possibly give you a 200 mile range at 200 mph, and that includes exotic carbon fiber flywheels.
"Plasma ignitors" require power, far more than the "fuel" produced that way could provide, especially if you use internal combustion engines. Using your flywheels to power your "plasma ignitors" to fuel an internal combustion engine would reduce the already pitifully short range down to 7% Your "racer" wouldn't even make it out of the pit stop.
No, Fisker already has a superior hybrid design, because it actually works.