Well, Someone's Coming: Fisker To Reveal Production Plug-In at Detroit Auto Show
Fisker Automotive, the nascent Southern California luxury automaker with big plans for an exotic plug-in hybrid, made a splash at the 2008 North American International Auto Show 11 months ago when it unveiled the concept model of the four-seat Fisker Karma hybrid.
Now, with the mainstream U.S. auto industry in disarray and a number of import automakers withdrawing from the 2009 show, which opens its doors in Detroit early next month, Fisker is hoping to generate new buzz with the official production version of the exotic sports sedan.
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Fisker Karma production model (top) is fairly faithful to the concept (bottom) introduced 11 months ago. Major changes appear to include taller roof line and elimination of rear end's "cycle fender" look.
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It may be one of the few upbeat things at the show, where business writers charting the industry's travails may well outnumber auto enthusiast writers during the four-day press preview that begins Jan. 11.
As far as the Karma goes, not much has changed, except for the price, now set at $87,900 instead of the $80,000 "range" the company's been using, and the production date, now set for November 2009 instead of the softer "fourth quarter" that had been tossed around.
Designer and company president Henrik Fisker says the principal difference between concept and production version is a slate of "minor design enhancements made to the exterior."
In addition to an apparent flattening of the rear fender lines and a slight raising of the roof line, those enhancements include an enlarged grill and lower air intake, Fisker said.
He also said the price hike hasn't dimmed enthusiasm for the car (in those circles the $87,900 is likely to be plunked down in cash). More than 1,000 orders have been taken, Fisker said in an interview last month, and production - admittedly low-volume in year one as things ramp-up - is sold out through mid-2010.
Technology-wise, nothing's changed.
Fisker says the Karma, which he calls an extended-range electric vehicle, still will provide up to 50 miles of all-electric drive on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries before an internal combustion engine will kick on to generate power to keep the dual electric drive motors running.
The company just last month announced that General Motors Corp. would supply the 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter direct-injection gas engine-generators.
Overall range with a full tank of fuel is about 300 miles, according to just-released Fisker specs.
Top speed is listed as an electronically limited 125 miles an hour, with zero-to-60 acceleration pegged at 5.8 seconds in the car's full-performance "sport" mode.
The published specifications call for the car to operate in any of three modes: sport, for full-power and performance; stealth, in which only the batteries are used to supply power to the electric drive motors and in which acceleration and top speed are damped down to extend the all-electric range, and "HEV," in which the car operates as a standard series hybrid with the engine/generator providing power but shutting down when the car comes to a full stop.
Fisker said the electric motors are capable of delivering 408 peak horsepower and a staggering 959 pound-feet of torque at the rear differential intake (no word yet on how much of that is delivered to the rear wheels).
The gasoline engine-generator is rated at 260 horsepower, sufficient to deliver the juice needed for the car's quick acceleration and "continuous top speed" of 125 mph, the company said.
The battery pack - vendor not yet disclosed - has maximum storage capacity of 22.6 kilowatt-hours, the company said, and can deliver peak power of 200 kilowatts.
Other features include regenerative braking to help recharge the battery pack and a one-piece formed-glass solar roof panel that can generate power to run various accessories including cabin air conditioning or can be used to help boost the battery's state of charge.
The company says the car will utilize a hydro-formed aluminum space frame with aluminum and composite body panels, aluminum suspension components and an interior made of sustainable materials.
Despite the lightweight components, the car - with an overall length of 16.4 feet, width of 6.5 feet and height of 4.4 feet - will weigh in at an imposing 4,650 pounds. That's about 1,000 pounds lighter than a Rolls Royce Phantom and 1,000 pounds heavier than a Toyota Camry.
Fisker has signed a contract with Finland's Valmet Automotive for production of the car and says volume is expected to hit 15,000 vehicles a year at peak output.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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- John O'Dell December 2, 2008, 2:45 AM
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- Auto Shows, Fisker, Plug-ins and Electric
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- Detroit Auto Show, Fisker Karma Production Model, Plug In Hybrid
I think I smell a future acquisition by GM. They'll let Fisker break open the new market for production PHEVs, wait to see how they catch on and whet consumers' appetites for the cheaper Volt a year later.
Why else would GM be willing to supply Fisker, who is the Volt's main competition, with a world-class engine generator (presumably full of Chevy Volt technology). I'm surprised GM didn't "force" Fisker into using the Volt's 1400cc engine/generator since it wouldn't hurt performance a bit (only improve it by dropping weight). So what if you can't cruise at 120mph all day (that's the only reason you'd need 200kW of generator)? It would lower GM's cost to produce the same components for the Volt, common spare parts supply, etc. Otherwise, if they are really collaborating; Hats off to both companies! GM stock anyone? (Gag! Choke! OMG NO!)
Dr Mark