Production Fisker Karma Caught Testing

Production Fisker Karma Spy Photo

By Clinton Deacon
May 10, 2008 10:02 PM
Filed Under: American, Fisker, Hybrid, Specialty Marques, Spy Photos

The Fisker Karma was no doubt an awesome concept when it made its debut back in January at the Detroit Motor Show and it drummed up a huge amount of publicity not only by its hybrid technology but also its innovative elegant design.

Publicity has dropped off since then ( apart from a lawsuit with Tesla Motors), therefore Fisker has released a few images of what appears to be a prototype of the production version to try re-ignite that public reaction and judging by these photos, should be nothing but positive.

In many cases, the production version of a concept loses the finesse which created the buzz in the first place, but this prototype appears to have kept an almost identical design with the black and white disguising doing little to hide any design elements from public view.

There is little known about the powertrain for the production version as Fisker continue to keep the technology under wraps but what we do know is the Karma will feature a new technology called Q-Drive which has been developed exclusively for Fisker by Quantum Technologies. The new technology uses a small gasoline engine that turns the generator, which charges the lithium ion battery pack - this engine is rumoured to be a 1.4-liter engine sourced from Volkswagen.

The production version of the Fisker Karma will be launched by the end of next year with a price on the region of $80,000.

Source: wired.com

Comments

ceven
May 10, 2008 10:25 PM
This looks brilliant even in disguise.

"Caught" may be a little much though, this looks like a wanted picture.

foose1397
May 11, 2008 3:01 AM
Wow...Way to go fisker for not changing there concept to much...this thing is a great looking car

desiathate
May 11, 2008 6:22 AM
wow a new car maker ~~~ in such a long time... i know i know its not really knew and it has not been that long since a new car brand launched still i gives ppl like me (wannna be car designer a little hope) lol :D

Bristol411S3
May 11, 2008 11:30 AM
It will be ahard task selling a 1.4 litre luxury car with an unproven badge, even if it does look this good.

ceven
May 11, 2008 2:57 PM
The point is in not selling a 1.4 litre car but a car with a 1.4 litre gasoline engine that delivers its power to an electric motor.

Quite futuresque.

I can still see your point then, power has to come from somewhere and a 1.4 litre gasoline thingy might just not be enough.

BabyMilo
May 11, 2008 1:35 PM
meh i dont really like it...

foose1397
May 11, 2008 8:43 PM
I don't see how selling this car will ever be a problem...Fisker is a well respected name (even though this is his first ground up car) and the format for this car makes perfect sense...almost all luxury car buyers don't need a v12 (main reason is for comfort and smoothness). A electric motor is even better and if done properly, it will be liquid smooth

Bremen_Koenigsegg
May 11, 2008 11:00 PM
Although the idea of a gasoline engine-powered electric drivetrain is nothing new, I am glad to see the first production example of it in a car as beautifully sculpted as the Karma. I wish they'd do a version sans the gasoline engine -- a plug-in EV or removable, rechargeable battery variant.

carcrazy1234
May 12, 2008 6:13 AM
looks like a preying mantis lol

Turkle
May 12, 2008 8:28 PM
GM, Pay attention. This could be a similar formula that could be used to make a Corvette Sedan. That would be interesting, but too daring for the General.

eddie
May 13, 2008 7:43 PM
It is amazing to me how fast a private company with limited resources can produce a car like this(tesla, fisker) and the Big 3 can not.

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