Jalopnik: Fisker hybrid

Fisker Lines Up $65 Million Investment For Developing Plug-In Sports Car, Legal Fees

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EDT

After "spy photos" of the Fisker Karma were handed out cataloging its "testing" earlier this summer, it seems Fisker Automotive has managed to secure $65 million in funding towards production of its mega-hyped super-hybrid saloon. Not only has Fisker gotten a hot moolah injection, but venture capital mega-house Kleiner Perkins, among others, has tossed some dough behind the effort. According to Automotive News the Karma also gets a name for it's hybrid drive — the Q-drive, based on tech from Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide; not at all from Tesla, who is suing the pants off of Fisker for infringement. Fisker says the first Karma will be ready for production by the end of 2009, and we say we'll eat the hat of your choosing should that come to pass.

AutoNews Sub. Req.]

Fisker Karma Gets Approval To Go Finnish

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Valmet Automotive, based in Finland, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Fisker Automotive to build the Fisker Karma. With this announcement, we also get further details surrounding the hybrid luxury sports car: According to Valmet CEO, Ilpo Korhonen, the Karma, which we have seen testing before, will be capable of traveling 50 MPH before the engine kicks in to charge the batteries. It has a maximum all-electric range of 62 miles, and the starting price tag for the US may be bumped up an extra five grand to $85,000.

Production is to start next year with exports bound for the USA, and sales in Europe will begin the year after. Maximum volume is targeted at 15,000 cars a year, which means demand from smug, wealthy motorists will be happily met. Yep, 2010 is shaping up to be one hell of a fuel-mileage battle royale. (Thanks for the tip manic-cynic) [Taloussanomat (translated)]

Fisker Karma Hybrid Testing In Southern California

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:20:00 EDT

Despite whispers of vaporware and only a little more than four months since the original concept was debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Fisker has handed out a set of six images of the Fisker Karma testing in Southern California. The prototype looks shockingly similar to the show car and is wearing only the lightest of camouflage, just vinyl stickers which do little to obscure the cars handsome body work.

We can't promise this is anything other than a body and chassis mule, there could be no hybrid power train under that sleek sheetmetal, but we can't help but drool over the idea this thing might actually become reality. Check out Wired for the whole photo set.

PopMech Analyzes The Tesla Lawsuit Shenanigans

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EDT

This week we heard about a couple of lawsuits mythical electric sports car almost-manufacturer Tesla has managed to get tied up in. The first one saw Magna suing Tesla for breach of contract over its transmission design, the other was Tesla going medieval on Fisker for allegedly stealing designs associated with the Tesla Whitestar Hybrid for its Fisker Karma Hybrid. Well Popular Mechanics has gone out and consulted a lawyer-type about the guts of these lawsuits and what the likely outcomes of the twin tussles might be. We just want the slap fights to be over. [Popular Mechanics]