The debate over whether Fisker's $80,000 Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan will come to market may rage on, but they've now found their first dealer willing to support the dream.
The Ron Tonkin dealership network is considered one of the largest dealers in the Pacific Northwest with franchises selling Honda, Acura, Chevrolet, Dodge, Kia, Hyundai, Lotus and even Ferrari and Maserati. It's also Oregon's 17th largest private employer and they've been voted "One of the Best 100 Companies in Oregon to Work For." Sounds like the perfect place for some hot plug-in-plug hybrid action.
It is. They've recently announced that they'll become the world's first Fisker dealership and will be ready in 2010 for the first (scheduled) deliveries of the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sports sedan.
Dealership owner, Ron Tonkin says this of their new venture:
"We have taken the changing role of the automobile and our environment very seriously. We were one of the very first dealership groups in America to form an alternate fuel division. Until now our product line was electric bicycles, and in the last few years a growing number of hybrid propulsion vehicles of various makes and models."
According to Tonkin, they are now accepting pre-orders for the Karma. Although they don't mention how much of a hit your wallet will take to get your name on the list, we're guessing it's close to the $5,000 fee that Fisker themselves are asking for. At this point they haven't announced that they'll be accepting pre-orders for the Karma S convertible, but we're sure that they'd gladly hold on to your $25,000 if you want them to. We'll be sending them our check ... oh wait, we don't have any money since we gave it all in forced support of the government bailout.
Press Release:
The Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships is appointed as one of the first Fisker Dealers in America
The Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships continues their innovative retail strategy as one of the first Fisker Automotive Dealers
Portland, OR
February 17, 2009The Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships continues their innovative retail strategy as one of the first Fisker Automotive Dealers appointed in America. Fisker Automotive, the new American manufacturer of premium green automobiles, is building a worldwide retail network to support initial deliveries of the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sedan in the fourth quarter of 2009.
"We have taken the changing role of the automobile and our environment very seriously. We were one of the very first dealership groups in America to form an alternate fuel division. Until now our product line was electric bicycles, and in the last few years a growing number of hybrid propulsion vehicles of various makes and models" states Ron Tonkin.
With a top speed of 125 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, the Fisker Karma is the world's first true premium plug-in hybrid sports sedan. The four-door, four-seat Karma fuses the traditional and timeless styling of veteran auto designer and Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker, with Quantum Technologies' clean Q-DRIVE® plug-in hybrid powertrain to become the world's first luxury plug-in hybrid car. Karma buyers will choose from three trim levels: EcoBaseTM, EcoSportTM and EcoChicTM. The most advanced sustainable material series, EcoChicTM, is based on an animal-free approach that still offers a luxurious environment. Leather is replaced by 100% Bamboo Viscose, a soft hand textile, while EcoGlassTM trim frames authentic fossilized leaves. Karma's EcoSportTM series incorporates hand-wrapped premium leather using a 100% sustainable manufacturing strategy, which minimizes the number of hides required and highlights natural markings using non-branded hides from cows allowed to live a full life expectancy and fed a special diet of grain and grass.
Ron Tonkin is accepting preorders for the Fisker four-door plug-in hybrid sports sedan - the FISKER KARMA to be delivered in 2010.
The Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships is Oregon's 17th largest private employer and was voted "One of the Best 100 companies in Oregon to Work For". The family-owned business is a Portland icon and has been outfitting the Pacific Northwest in automobiles for nearly 50 years.
To learn more visit www.Tonkin.com.
[via rontonkin]