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Fisker unveils production version of Karma electric sedan

Wednesday 3 Dec, 2008

Designers are known to carp about their ideas being blunted when cars go from concept to reality. For Fisker Automotive's first production car, the plug-in hybrid Karma, that wasn't a problem.

With a design guy in charge of the company--former Aston Martin and BMW guru Henrik Fisker--the production car is nearly identical to the eye-catching concept unveiled at the Detroit auto show in 2008. The company has released shots of the final work and the only significant changes are to the upper grille, which is slightly larger at the corners, a bigger lower air intake and an aerodynamic diffuser that adds a cooling cover for the electric powertrain.

Aside from that, all of the other traffic-stopping curb-appeal elements are present. The exotic bixenon headlight modules with LEDs are in front, complemented by LEDs in the rear. The sleek, low-lying body is made of aluminum and composite panels. With a wide track and long wheelbase, the car gives off an exotic European vibe.

On top of the striking design, there's a glass solar panel in the roof.

Power comes from a technology called Q-Drive, and the Karma is expected to have a range of 50 miles on electricity. The car also employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec engine from General Motors rated at 260 hp that will kick, in turn, a generator to supply energy after the battery range is exceeded. Fisker expects a top speed of 125 mph and a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.8 seconds.

The Karma will have a base price of $87,900, and we'll see the production car at the Detroit show in January.