Fisker Karma
The Karma has 403 total horsepower coming from two 201.5-horsepower (150 kW) AC motors, mounted just above the rear wheels. Torque is in the neighborhood of monstrous, with 981 pound-feet available at 0 RPM. While that figure sounds like enough to collapse a lung from the driver’s seat, consider this car weighs 5,300 pounds, or about as much as a Chevy Tahoe SUV. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
The Fisker Karma will do 0-60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds in ‘Sport’ mode using the gas engine to power the generator, battery and electric motors, or 7.5 seconds in purely electric mode. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
On electric power alone, the battery gives the Karma a range of 30-50 miles. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
Also charging that battery is a generator powered by a four cylinder engine.The gas engine/generator combination gives you another 250 miles of range, for a total range of 280-300 miles. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
Inside, the Karma favors minimalism, with physical buttons only where regulated by law (turn-signal stalks, power mirror switches, hazard lights, door locks). The center console is dominated by a 10.2-inch touchscreen that controls nearly everything else on the car. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
The screen features haptic feedback (it will buzz slightly when and where you touch the screen) and learning your way through the car’s functions takes more than a little time. The system was also slow to respond to commands (something Fisker says its addressing) and the screen put off a lot of glare in the L.A. sun. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
The Karma’s solar roof panel will charge the battery ever so slightly, but Fisker says it could add up, and potential add 200 miles of range per year for drivers in sunny climates (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
