We finally managed to snag a couple days in a 2012 Fisker Karma engineering prototype. There's no time in the schedule to take this plug-in series hybrid to the track -- plug-in testing requires a trailer or overnight parking at the track to make sure we start with a full battery. We have no time to arrange any of that.
Besides, we'll soon get a production car to do a full workup and write a detailed story. In lieu of that we've been taking this opportunity to play with the electric range and fuel economy of this unique plug-in series hybrid. We're almost done collecting our numbers and we'll have more to report on that tomorrow.
We have but 24 hours left with the car. What else would you like to know about it? I have some ideas, but I'd like to hear yours.
While you're mulling that over, here's a couple more pictures.
So far we've plugged the Karma in at home and at the office. It took over 14 hours to get a full charge on 120V at my place, whereas John O'dell needed about 6 on his home 240V charger. Fisker cites a battery capacity of 21 kWh, but as with all battery capacities, the usable amount usually comes in somewhat lower. So far we're seeing something like 19 kWh on our charge meters when it's full.
Those odd diamond-shaped ports in the rear bumper are speakers that emit eerie warning sounds to alert pedstrians when the car is running in EV mode (they call it "Stealth" mode.) You can hear the sounds quite cleary inside the car, too, even with the windows rolled up. They shut off at speeds over 25 mph and any time the engine is on. These rear-mounted ones are embossed with "Hybrid Hz." There may be fronts as well, but they're not so-labelled.
The sound they make could be described as an electronically synthesized squadron of P-51 Mustangs mixed with some Tron Lightcycle and a smidge of the 2001: A Space Odyssey monolith. As the car slows to a stop the sound fades as if the squadron banked away. Funky. Cool. Silly, maybe. Better sounding than a Prius looks, though. The Fisker car company may be the only car manufacturer with a sound designer on staff.
Everyplace I've taken it people stare. A half dozen different people gave me the "roll your window down" sign and wanted to know what it was. They all dug it. If nothing else, Karma is good for the ego. And that's before you tell them it's a plug-in hybrid that has a useful amount of EV range. Before they notice the solar roof panel that looks way cool in its own right whether it does much of anything or not.
CaptainChaos says:
07:46 PM, 12/ 1/11
Finally, a hybrid that I can get behind without risking my life. Literally, I can get behind it without fear of being hit because I can hear it. Figuratively, I can get behind it because it isn't ugly as sin. Not a bad looking car.
How about a video (please, no camera-phone videos) of the sound?
litewerk says:
01:02 AM, 12/ 2/11
You know, from both the front view and the side view, this really looks like a 4-door sports car! Pretty awesome-looking. I like it.
lostboyz says:
03:29 AM, 12/ 2/11
Obviously they spent too much time engineering the outside and not much on the powertrain. They barely got half of their fuel economy projection. What a waste of government funding.
As for what to do with it, find a nice twisty road and at least see how well it handles using your butt meter.
stoppre75 says:
06:30 AM, 12/ 2/11
In 'mostly spirited' driving how much EV range can you get?
What's the driving distance on a full tank + full charge?
What is the interior quality most remind you of...Audi, MB, Lincoln, etc....(or do you feel that being a prototype leaves somethings unfinished?)
wjtinatl says:
06:33 AM, 12/ 2/11
WOW. Great looking in the flesh. Would be even nicer with Audi's Supercharged 3.0 and 8-speed automatic at about 65k!
sandcountry360 says:
06:35 AM, 12/ 2/11
I really hope that these catch on (and think they probably will) because they are just so beautiful. We could use more cars that are good to look at on the roads. I was in LA in July, and was driving down one of the Interstates (maybe 'the' 10?) and a testing fleet of Karmas pulled up beside us. Wow. Just gorgeous. But I want to know- how is the space on the inside? And is it really hard to see out of in traffic? And, does it have a 'gas' pedal like the Mini E? I think that would be really useful on a mostly electric car.
throwback says:
07:24 AM, 12/ 2/11
2 things, How comfortable is the back seat? How refined is the 2.0 turbo? I have a HHR-SS with the DI turbo engine and while it is powerful and torquey, it is also loud and a little rough. Not what I would expect if I'm paying 100 large on a luxury sedan.
blindzendriver says:
07:29 AM, 12/ 2/11
@lostboyz
Mileage - guess it depends who you listen to. The Germans thinks it does well and as with all hybrids the numbers are very much influenced on how the testing matches or mismatches with how far the car goes without starting to burn gas.
Government funding: Seems every time the Fisker Karma gets mentioned someone gets this wrong. The government has provided a loan not just given away money so the money isn't gone and the loan is helping to fund the family car that Fisker has coming not the Karma.
nimisys says:
07:44 AM, 12/ 2/11
@ stoppre75:
from a full charge, the worst i have seen is 20mi of hard driving on battery alone. The Demo unit at work is averaging 29.0mpg with over 800miles of test drives on it.
Interior materials i can not compare to any current GM vehicle, they are far an away better. Micro-swede and leather on everything, real metal trim, decently thick wood coverings. your hard pressed to find anything plastic to touch besides the steering wheel buttons. it is damn quite going down rough rouds
rear seats are a little tight in the hip and shoulder, but foot/legroom is about on par with an STS. ok for a night out, not the best for cross country travel
legacygt says:
08:08 AM, 12/ 2/11
The Karma has been stunning in every picture I've seen of the car until I saw the first one in this post. I think you found the Karma's worst angle.
lostboyz says:
08:15 AM, 12/ 2/11
@blindzendriver, I don't care what the drive cycle is, I know most aren't realistic, but none of them will have you hit half of what it normally gets.
Have source on the funding? Everyone got DoE grants towards production of EVs. I'm sure they have loans as well, but they most definitely got money.
I see it on the same level as the tesla roadster, tax money going towards building a vehicle only rich people can afford that neither saves on gas usage or energy in general.
It is a drop dead gorgeous car, but it's a failure everywhere else.
addicted2sp33d says:
08:30 AM, 12/ 2/11
I think these will sell pretty well. I'd take one.
As shallow as it may sound, most people would be willing to buy a beautiful but slightly under-engineered vehicle (Look at Astons and Jags before the current portfolio). However people will never buy a car they consider to be ugly even if it is universally known to be the best engineered vehicle in history.
Corollas/Camry's/Civics/Accords make a living on this mantra: make a well engineered car that's not necessarily beautiful, just NOT ugly; dull is OK.
bodyblue says:
09:26 AM, 12/ 2/11
"Obviously they spent too much time engineering the outside and not much on the powertrain. They barely got half of their fuel economy projection. What a waste of government funding. "
Lost+ a bazillion!
The government will never see a dime of money back nor will Fisker ever make a dime before the go belly up. A stunning to look at car that I bet nobody but kids can fit in the back seat. I predict a Solyndra-like outcome for this company.
audisport says:
11:20 AM, 12/ 2/11
The Fisker Karma is a joke. It's for DBag Hollywood types who want to seem both edgy and environmentally savvy.
Dude, I'm bad ass and I don't have to drive a Prius anymore. Look at me.
SO much money wasted on developing this car with a joke of a range.
windsor5 says:
11:52 AM, 12/ 2/11
Yes they have a gov. Loan but as much as I loathe this vehicle it will probably sell out in low volumes over 5years will pay off the loan and provide r&d for more affordable cars. Same goes for tesla(except I likes me a model s).
cjasis says:
01:34 PM, 12/ 2/11
I live in Dana Point and commute to Irvine for work. I'm not sure if it's luck or if one of the employees takes a similar route but I've seen the same guy driving several of these on my morning commutes in black, blue, silver, and red.... STUNNING in person.
ktinsd says:
04:25 PM, 12/ 2/11
I guess the obvious caption to the second photo is "My Karma ran over your Dogma"
ktinsd says:
04:26 PM, 12/ 2/11
I guess the obvious caption to the second photo is "My Karma ran over your Dogma"