Fisker Karma is a hybrid sports car

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The Fisker Karma is a rear-wheel drive, hybrid, four-seat sedan sports car with an individual, bright appearance, a comfortable premium interior and high environmental performance. Read more about it in this article.

Sustainable sports car

The Fisker Karma business class sports car was first presented at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. A feature of the new sedan was the hybrid performance of the power unit. At the same time, a traditional gasoline engine and two electric motors were used, which were provided with energy from a lithium-ion battery. Another feature of the Fisker Karma car was considered to be a large solar panel that covered almost the entire roof. Such solutions used made the car highly environmentally friendly.

The new business sedan was developed by designer Henrik Fisker, who previously led the creation of design for premium BMW and Aston Martin cars. Sports car production began in 2011 and wasdiscontinued due to financial difficulties in 2013.

Fisker Company

In 2005, Henrik Fisker opens his own body shop Fisker Coachbuild in the USA (California). Initially, the new company planned to produce unique bodies for premium cars. But this direction was quickly closed due to the need to obtain a large number of regulatory approvals and expert opinions. And economically justified in the production of more than 150 copies. Such a number of bodies can no longer be considered unique.

In the future, after a temporary cooperation with Tesla, it was decided to start creating our own electric car, which was manufactured in 2008 under the name Fisker Karma. After showing at the Detroit Auto Show, Tesla accused H. Fisker of stealing the car's design, but lost subsequent lawsuits and paid a large settlement.

Despite the fact that the Fisker Karma was manufactured by Fisker Coachbuild, the model was assembled at the Finnish car assembly plant Valmet. In total, about 2,000 hybrid sedans were produced, costing over $100,000. But this did not allow to recoup the loan investments in the new car, and in 2013 Fisker Coachbuild was declared bankrupt. At the auction, the company was bought by a Chinese company. Currently, a company from China called "Carma Cars" and manufactures the same sports sedan called "Karma Rivera", the cost of whichis 130 thousand dollars.

Sports sedan exterior

The Fisker Karma has a unique, very beautiful appearance with pronounced sporty features. H. Fisker created this image thanks to the following solutions:

• large radiator grille with chrome trim and two light vertical inserts;
• large head optics actually installed above the front wheels;
• powerful hood ribs;
• huge wheel arches for 22-inch wheels;
• front stamping lines;
• slanted B-pillar;
• narrow side windows;
• low ground clearance;
• sloping roofline;
• wide rear bumper;
• large exhaust diffuser;
• narrow rear combination lights.

Premium sedan interior

The interior of the four-seater Fisker Karma is as unique as the exterior. It has a high-quality finish, ergonomics and is fully consistent with the premium class of the car. Such qualities were formed due to:

• multi-function steering wheel of an unusual design;
• original instrument panel, which reproduces the classic design with round instrument dials due to the color electronic display;
• large central touch monitor;
• anatomic chairs;
• high tunnel with compartment for things.

In interior design, exceptbrushed aluminum panels and chrome inserts, suede made from soy and polished wood from storm-tossed trees. Such unusual materials are used to emphasize the environmental friendliness of the new car.

Technical parameters

Technical characteristics of the Fisker Karma confirm that the car belongs to the class of sports cars and are:

• length - 4.99 m;
• height - 1.33 m;
• width – 1.98m;
• trunk size - 200 l;
• wheelbase - 3, 13 m;
• clearance - 14.2 cm;
• front track - 1.69 m;
• rear track - 1.70 m;
• engine - turbocharged hybrid;
• fuel - gasoline;
• number of cylinders/valves – 4/16;
• arrangement - row;
• volume – 2.0 l,
• power - 408 hp p.;
• number of electric motors - 2;
• electric motor power - 148 hp p.;
• electric travel 80km;
• wheel drive - rear;
• transmission - automatic with CVT;
• maximum speed - 202 km/h;
• acceleration time - 5.8 sec (100 km/h);
• fuel consumption (combined cycle) - 2.4 l;
• fuel tank capacity - 35.0 l;
• wheel size - 255/35R22.

Despite the fact that the production of Fisker Karma sports cars was discontinued in 2013, individual design, high comfort and technical parameters still make the model popular in the secondary sports car market.cars.