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Fisker Karma  (Source: Motor Authority)

The Fisker Karma makes an appearance in California.   (Source: Ethermax)
Apparently Fisker has several new models planned...

Fox News' previous commentary about Fisker Automotive may have been a bit skewed and inaccurate (Fox show hosts tried to claim Fisker was not a U.S. firm -- blatantly wrong), but Fox's latest take of Fisker is not only much more accurate, but also caught a humorous and significant gaff.  Apparently Vice President Joe Biden accidentally revealed Fisker's entire upcoming lineup -- including unannounced vehicles that Fisker indicates it wasn't exactly planning to reveal quite yet.

VP Biden tipped Fisker's hand at the official announcement ceremony for Fisker's new Delaware plant, an old GM factory which was shut down and sold through GM's bankruptcy holding.  Speaking to reporters, Fox News notes that Biden said, "Imagine when this factory, when the floor we’re standing on right now is making 100,000 plug-in hybrid sedans, coupes and crossovers every single year."

The only problem was that the coupes and crossovers were supposed to be a surprise announcement for a later date.  However, good secrets seldom seem to be able to be kept and the Vice President unwittingly let the cat out of the bag.  Interviewed after the announcement, company founder and CEO Henrik Fisker commented, "[Laughter] He definitely told what our product plans are."

Aside from the leak, plenty more juicy details were revealed officially in the interview session following the announcements.  Fisker revealed that the first vehicles to come from the plant will be the previously announced sedan, which is dubbed Nina.  Fisker is targeting a price of
$40,000 for the vehicle after state and federal tax credits are taken into account, similar to the expected sticker for the 2011 Chevy Volt.  Production will start in 2012, and the vehicle will recycle the sporty powertrain from Fisker's flagship electric sports sedan, Karma.

Reportedly, the stylings of the Nina, named after the ship Christopher Columbus used in his triumphant return to Europe, are very attractive for a mass-market EV.  Government officials were briefed on the design and apparently were impressed, something that helped them reach the decision to grant the company a $528.7M USD DOE loan to buy and retool the shuttered plant.

Describes Mr. Fisker, "
It’s going to have a very exciting radical design.  We actually just showed it to the vice president of the United States of America and he said ‘it looks like a four-door Ferrari, I can’t believe it’s only going to be $40,000.’" 

The Karma will begin production next year at Valmet in Finland and will be imported into the U.S. and sold for approximately $80,000 after tax credits.  Then in 2016 a second generation Karma will be launched, and production will shift to the retooled Delaware plant, according to Mr. Fisker.  Mr. Fisker confirmed that the first generation Karma will get 67 mpg and travel 50 miles in all-electric mode.  He says some drivers will be able to reach 100 mpg or more, depending on how they drive.

Mr. Fisker also revealed that the Karma will feature "stealth" and "sport" modes which allow the user to manually switch on or off the gas engine for more performance, something not known to be offered in the Chevy Volt.  Even once the battery is depleted, Mr. Fisker states that the gas engine is almost equally efficient at delivering power to the electric motors as the battery system.

A prototype Karma was glimpsed at the
California's Laguna Seca raceway, running laps.  That has been the vehicle's only live appearance so far, outside of auto shows.  No journalist has yet taken the intriguing electric sports sedan out for a spin -- yet.

Comments     Threshold


RE: Interesting...
By deeznuts on 10/30/2009 4:07:36 PM , Rating: -1
Do you have any idea how many US corporations rip off the taxpayer by diverting profits to sham entities located in offshore tax havens?
What does that have to do with Obama appointees have a large number of tax problems?

The entity doing the "ripping" off is the government itself that magically makes itself bigger, each and every year. Well it isn't that magical, just tragic.

Do you know when taxes are lowered companies send less money overseas to shelters thereby resulting in higher revenue capture, and higher revenue? Yeah.

RE: Interesting...
By knutjb on 10/30/2009 9:49:18 PM , Rating: 2
Very true look at the rich tax in NY. They are moving out, it doesn't come any simpler than that. Lower taxes, simple tax code things become less convoluted=jobs. Yes it is that simple.

BTW What's up with the cheap shot at FOX starting off this story? FOX really had nothing to do with the content of the story.

RE: Interesting...
By Reclaimer77 on 10/30/2009 9:56:59 PM , Rating: 2

It's Jason Mick. It's what he does...

