Following a series of funding setbacks that has seen the launch of Fisker Automotive's Karma four-door saloon plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) sports car pushed back from the initial late 2009 launch date a number of times, there's finally some good news. According to Gigaom, the company has surpassed its US$1 billion funding goal and plans to have vehicles in dealer showrooms in May or June and will begin fulfilling its 3,000-some pre-orders from June or July.
The funding comes courtesy of backing from investors including venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, battery manufacturer A123 Systems – which also supplies battery systems to Chrysler – and Fisker Automotive securing a load award totaling 528.7 million from the Department of Energy for green car manufacturing.
The extended-range Karma was first revealed to the public at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit with a projected US$80,000 price tag. That has now increased to $95,900, with the car also going from the originally predicted 2,086 kg (4,599 lb) to around 2,495 kg (5,500 lb).
But despite the weight increase, little else, including the performance figures, has changed. Fisker is still touting a sub-six second 0-60 mph and top speed of 125 mph for the Karma in a Sport Mode that combines power from the vehicle's electric and internal combustion engine, as well as a range of 50 miles (80 km) in electric mode.
The car draws on the design and engineering expertise of people responsible for vehicles such as the Rolls Royce Phantom, Ford GT and BMW 5-Series, not to mention that Henrik Fisker is the man behind the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage and BMW Z8.
Source: Gigaom
Still want one, though...
The loan has not been spend to fund the Karma model but to fund development of the Nina-project which is about cars in the normal family car price range and to fund the restarting/retooling of the factory in Dellaware (a former GM facility).
In other words it may be the Karma is being assembled by Valmet in Finland (they also assembles Porches) but the government loan is helping create jobs in the US and not making cars for the rich. In fact Fisker is hoping to eventually sell manufacturing to Valmet so it could the money will help bring in jobs making other cars than just Fisker\'s own models.
The niche market of luxury sports car, to which it belongs, is ideal for development of systems for hybrid and electric drive, because there is no restriction on costs and one can use what is best in the market.
Certainly, it will be a reliable , sporty and luxurious car. All that this market can offer to those who can pay.