The Fisker Karma- It's Italian Bravado, Minus the Price, Sound, Consumption, and Italian
Look at recent economic history, and karma begins to make sense. Here's the cycle: increased oil demand; record crude prices; record gas prices; consumer panic; a slew of new vehicles poised to solve our oil dependency dilemma. It could be argued that this series of actions were led by karma. Translated from Sanskrit, the word "karma" means "work, action, the law of cause and effect." Then Fisker introduced its own take on Karma. Irvine-based Fisker Automotive offers its four-door Karma electric hybrid as a premium-oriented, environmentally friendly sports sedan. On styling alone, the $87,900 Karma seems a steal. It looks like an Italian GT design study; the headlights are pure Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, while the rest could double for a Maserati GranTurismo or an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, depending on the angle. The proportions fall in line too; the Karma is 1.4-in. longer and 1.0-in. taller than the GranTurismo, and is wider than the 599 by 0.9-in. Unlike a car like the 599, however, with its ferocious V-12 and flat-plane crank, the Karma will be feature a turbocharged 2.0L engine sourced from General Motors. The Ecotec four-banger produces 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque -- an insulting figure to modern Maranello standards. But the engine doesn't send its power directly to the wheels. Instead, much like the E-REV system on GM's coming Volt, it merely serves to charge the lithium-ion battery pack of the Karma's electric drivetrain, one with two electric motors that Fisker says produces a peak output 408 horsepower and an incredulous 959 ft-lb. of torque. Now that's more like it. Fisker calls the powertrain "Q-Drive" -- and it seems to harbor a distinct two-mode split personality. In friendly, eco-conscious "Stealth" mode, the Karma moves under electric-only power and can travel 50 miles without using the engine. To conserve energy, acceleration and top speed are limited (the latter to 95 mph). When shenanigans are desired, the driver can select "Sport" mode for the full array of power. Here, the Karma can accelerate from zero to 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. All this while the car behaves like a normal hybrid vehicle complete with regenerative braking, and engine start/stop technology. Fisker estimates the total range at 300 miles. Also aiding Q-Drive is a solar roof. Made of formed glass, partitioned into four zones each with 20 cells in series, the roof converts radiated sunlight into electrical energy. This energy can be sent to the electric motors, assist climate controls, or remain stored. A convenient way to add more juice, but this solar roof panel comes at a cost. While no exact specs are mentioned, a solid piece of glass stretching from hood to trunk loaded with solar cells can not be described as feathery in weight. In total, the Karma weighs 4,650 lbs. despite the use of aluminum materials in the chassis and bodywork. The standard 22-in. wheels can't help, nor can the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, at 245/35R22 in the front, with the rears sized up to 265-mm. Those wheels are attached to a "short long arm" suspension setup with mono-tube shock absorbers. Steering is hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion. As for the interior and how the car drives, both remain a mystery. The former will be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in early January. The latter we'll find out as the Karma nears production in a year; scheduled deliveries start November 2009 and Fisker expects an impressive annual volume of 15,000 units following the model's freshman year on the market. But, by then will it be too late? At the time of this writing, Malibu residents are filling their Astons and Alfas with $2.20/gallon premium. Oil cartels have now realized the dangers of being greedy; oil now trades below $60 a barrel and fuel prices have been cut at a staggering rate across the nation. Perhaps the omniscient cause-and-effect-law of karma kicked in before Fisker's own interpretation could arrive.
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