Fisker Karma

The Car Of The Future: The Fisker Karma

Very few cars can say they've had these kinds of expectations or money behind them, and the result does not disappoint. A beautiful, luxury sedan, with a next-generation power plant that delivers high-level efficiency and range in both pure electric and pure sport mode, a car that does not sacrifice style for efficiency, or the reverse.

Models and Features

The car itself is the only model of its line. Since it's still in mostly developmental and experimental stages, the only Fisker Karma is what you see at face value. It features two electric motors, a large battery rack, four seats and four doors, with optional leather seats. The car itself is a study in environmental consciousness, with recycled lumber, electric power, and other such green parts.

The car features two modes- pure electric, where it runs off of its two motors and its string of batteries. This mode is generally suited for shorter trips. The other mode is 'sport' mode. Here the four cylinder motor kicks in and overcharges the motors, accompanied with the thrum of a gas engine and the cough of exhaust.

A solar cell roof and brakes that- hopefully without effecting performance- convert the wasted energy of stopping into more juice for the batteries. The plastic and composite structure and smooth lines make it quite the beautiful car, and you won't tire of looking at it- the designer is well respected in his community for a reason.

How can you customize this car?

The options are pretty small. You can pick your paint job, anything from a red sunset, to a racing job used for shows and the like, to silvers and blues. The only other option currently available, or known about on the market, is optional leather seats. The rest- solar panels on the roof, the materials it's made from, and the way that its engine functions are all standard. Your ability to customize the car is pretty limited, as was stated earlier.

How does it operate?

The Fisker Karma runs off of a lithium ion battery that runs down the length of the car in the center. Two 161 horsepower electric motors that both collectively have 959 foot-pounds of torque. Only one gear speed, however, a transmission which will displease many. It is convenient for people who don't know what they are losing, but in general it effects performance in a quite negative way.

One 2 liter 4 cylinder engine powers a generator that funnels powers directly to the motors, rather than to the car. That engine runs at 260 horsepower, and is the only part of the car that operates off of gasoline. The rest is entirely electric. Even the auxiliary battery is not powered by that motor; it is powered by energy gathered from the solar panels, and that battery runs the car's internal workings, like the radio and the internal lights.

It's worthy to note here that despite all its power its top speed is low for its cost and classification and size. Weighing in at over 5000 pounds it becomes easy to understand why. On the road, the car doesn't sway or lean as you drive- the battery seems to prevent that rather handily. On the other hand, it's a bit fitful at lower speeds and when trying to stop or get going. So a bit of good, a bit of bad. Overall the driving experience has been described as smooth, and comfortable, so more positive than negative- but do remember there are some downsides to this car's weight and the way it's designed.

So she has the parts- How's she do on gas?

The short answer to that question is something like an estimated 52 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent, when in 'stealth,' or full electric mode. A shorter answer, when it's in 'sport' mode- or when it's focusing on using that four cylinder engine over just the batteries- is it runs at about 20 mpg. It's designed to be fuel efficient, and in that corner it runs perfectly.

Technology and Safety

Starting from the most important features, this car has comprehensive airbags. Not only are the now-standard front and side airbags present, but the Fisker Karma also has knee airbags and overhead airbags both to protect your legs and to protect you in the case of more extreme crashes or accidents.

It also features stability control- to keep you from losing control of the car by modifying the amount of power going to the wheels, or changing tension on the brakes. Anti-lock brakes are standard as well, and a modern anti-theft system come standard with the car. Power locks, child safety locks, and a wide variety of other basic features come standard on every car.

Technologically speaking it has both the aforementioned solar panels and backlit dashboard displays, as well as several other features not yet covered. It has a central entertainment system on which a touchscreen replaces the normal random assortment of buttons. It also has modern amenities such as air conditioning, lights, and motorized windows and mirrors.

Some parting words on the Green Luxury Sedan

A beautiful car, for sure, and definitely worth keeping an eye on. Moving forward, the Fisker Karma will without a doubt be one of the names to keep in mind when thinking on green cars and electric alternatives to current fuel and propulsion methods. Even with all the bumps the company has had, the car itself is still a feat of engineering and admirable in its own right.

All things considered, it's definitely a car worth more than just a passing glance. Even if going 'green' isn't what you're looking for, the car is sleek, comfortable, luxurious, and will generally have pretty low upkeep in terms of gas and short term maintenance. Talk all you want about why you want to switch to a hybrid- at the end of the day, they save a lot of money on gas and the like. Final verdict here: Give it a look. Can't hurt.