Jalopnik: Fisker Karma Hybrid

Tesla Motors Loses Arbitration Hearing To Fisker Over Stolen Model S Designs

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST

According to Fisker Automotive, the company has emerged the victor in a lawsuit that pitted the niche hybrid automaker against Tesla Motors, the niche electric car automaker. The original lawsuit, brought by Tesla, alleged that Henrik Fisker stole designs for the Tesla Model S for his Fisker Karma Hybrid. Fisker claimed this was false and, using a clause in his contract with Tesla, sought arbitration. The arbitrator agreed with Fisker, essentially piling on more bad news for Tesla, which has had to cut staff, close an office and panhandle from investors. Fisker's statement below the jump.

Fisker Statement On Arbitration
Fisker Automotive Inc, and Fisker Coachbuild, LLC today announced that a JAMS Arbitrator has issued an interim award finding in favor of Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, Fisker Automotive, Inc., Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler and against Tesla Motors Inc. on all claims.

The Arbitrator selected by the parties to decide Tesla's allegations ruled in favor of Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, Fisker Automotive Inc., Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler. In so doing, the Arbitrator expressly found that "the evidence is overwhelming that Fisker did nothing wrong" and that "Tesla's assertion of violations of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act by Fisker were baseless and neither brought nor pursued in good faith."

"The finding by the Arbitrator says it all," said Thomas Newmeyer of Newmeyer & Dillion, Fisker's lawyers in the case. "My clients have been completely vindicated of any wrongdoing."

"We are very pleased with the ruling in favor of Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, Fisker Automotive, Inc., Bernhard Koehler and myself," said Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive Inc. "Despite the burden and expense of Tesla's lawsuit, Fisker Automotive, Inc. has been able to continue with its business plan and production schedule. We are still on schedule to deliver our first production vehicle, the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, 4 door luxury sports sedan by 4th Quarter 2009. Today's world needs new alternative energy vehicles and the focus should be to build and deliver these vehicles as soon as possible."

[Source: Fisker]

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.

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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]

Detroit Auto Show: Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid, Only $80,000

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:45:00 EST

The big news today is the Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid, which is going to come at $80,000 and deliver luxury style, GT performance and eco-friendliness. And this isn't a flight of fancy. This is a production model that will be produced in the fourth quarter of 2009 with venture capital funding by Kleiner Perkins, who made big investments in Netscape and Google at the right time that later turned into big victories. A true lithium-ion plug-in hybrid, the electrical system is good for 50 miles of electric-only driving in stealth mode. Otherwise, the second mode of the hybrid system involves a performance-oriented four cylinder engine. The company currently puts the performance at 5.8 seconds 0-60 mph with a top speed of 125 mph (continuous). Interestingly, we also got photos of Mark Fields chatting it up at the Fisker display before the reveal. Old friend, new partner — or maybe a ~~mullet~~ potential curious onlooker attempting to find out more about what's going on under the hood?

According to the handout passed around by Fisker, the company is ready to start taking pre orders at only $1,000 (they take Visa). If you want the "premium version," which was shown on the floor of the DAS in the exclusive color with signed plaques you're going to have to put down $5,000. But whether this is a resounding success or a huge failure, that $100,000 plaque could help you earn back the value.

Detroit Auto Show: Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid

Matt Hardigree — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:13:00 EST

The embargo for the Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid from coachbuilder Fisker (responsible for questionably revised european luxury models) was broken two days ago and then unbroken by some concerned PR people and now it appears that AutoBlog.it has broken the embargo again! Molto Bene! The Karma Hybrid will be powered by the Quantum Technologies-sourced Q-DRIVE System (a series hybrid with a small gas engine running to generate power for lithium ion battery packs). This is good for a claimed 0-60 mph time of six seconds and a top speed of 125 mph and a range of 50 miles on batteries alone.

[AutoBlog.it]