2008 Detroit Auto Show: Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid
- Looks like: A swoopier Maserati Quattroporte
- Defining characteristics: First plug-in lithium hybrid, $80,000 price tag
- Ridiculous features: Idea that these could be crowding the streets of L.A. in 2010
- Chance of being mass-produced: Fisker says it’s ready to build this car, but we’ve heard that story before *cough*Tesla*cough*
Last year, a little Silicon Valley carmaker called Tesla promised an all-electric sports car for the low price of $100,000. No sign of that yet, but today Fisker automotive, which has built custom sports cars before — though we’ve never heard of any actual sales — unveiled the Karma plug-in hybrid in Detroit.
The company says it has extensively tested the lithium-ion battery pack that the Karma concept is said to be packing. Fisker is so confident in the technology and the design that it’s announcing production will commence at the end of 2009, with sales starting in 2010. The press release even has a form you can fill out and send in with $1,000 for a down payment on the estimated $80,000 base price. There’s a luxury version that will go for an estimated $100,000 that requires $5,000 down.
The four-door promises a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, which is respectable for its weight, with a top speed of 125 mph. It would go up to 50 miles on electric power alone before a gasoline engine/generator kicks in to charge the batteries. Yes, this is exactly the setup GM is working on for the Volt and other plug-ins.
We’ll remain skeptical – very, very skeptical — until we see one of these in a celebrity’s hands, knowing they paid their hard-earned dollars for it. At least it looks cool in the photos below.
