RideLust

The 2012 Fisker Karma. Image: Fisker Automotive

The Fisker Karma, like the Chevrolet Volt, is best described as an “extended range electric vehicle.” During the car’s development and launch, Fisker had claimed a battery-only range of 50 miles and an “mpg equivalent” rating of 67.2 mpge. The mpge rating factors in both a car’s battery range and its fuel consumption in series hybrid mode to come up with a value that can be equated to a conventional, internal combustion engine automobile. Read More…

The Fisker Karma. Image: Fisker Automobile

The long awaited Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is now in production, at least according to Britain’s Autocar webzine. The first car in America is set to be delivered at the end of this month, and the lucky owner is… Leonardo di Caprio. Next up on the delivery list are former presidential candidate and global warming town crier Al Gore and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Sometime after the celebrity deliveries are through, Fisker dealers will likely start to get demonstrator vehicles, too. Read More…

A few years ago SpeedTV used to air a show called Dream Car Garage. It was sponsored by Legendary Motorcars of Ontario, Canada and catered to everything from high end exotics, to big block muscle cars. One of the best segments they ever put together was a match up of the baddest muscle cars from the 1960′s and 1970′s. What you have to remember before you press play on these videos though, is that the American muscle car was and is, a mythical beast. Names like Cuda, Chevelle SS, The Judge and Boss made European sport sedans of that era quake in their boots. Not because of how fast, or how well they did (or did not) handle, but because of their in-your-face, take no prisoners, power house attitudes. I own two muscle cars and while I love them with all my heart and soul, I’m always amazed at how fast people think they are. Like I said, these old sleds are mythical beasts, and while other cars out there may out perform them, there will never, ever be anything as cool as an old school American Muscle Car. Click through for a whole bunch of awesome!
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When it comes to auto shows in the United States, the Detroit Auto Show (also known as the North American International Auto Show) is arguably the biggest event of the year. It’s held each January, and automakers from around the globe scramble to show the world what’s coming to dealer showrooms in the coming year. According to Autoevolution, Fisker Automotive, maker of the plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma sedan, will be suspiciously absent from the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. That doesn’t bode well for a boutique automaker set to launch a $90,000 car in April of 2011.

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Not long ago I was asked as to whether or not I would actually pony up the cash and purchase an electric car. My knee jerk reaction was HELL NO! Then after thinking about it for awhile I started to rethink the question in terms of; what would an electric car have to become in order for me to purchase it? So much of what I love about the automobile is visceral. The looks, feel, sounds and smells are all part of what make an automobile attractive to me. For me to like a car you can better believe that it needs to have one hell of a presence to it. Today’s cookie cutter jelly bean rides are crap, and although they do serve a purpose, they have no place in my garage. Seriously, my version of hell would be having to drive a Toyota Camry everyday for the rest of my life… dear God that would suck.
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The Fisker Karma. Photo: Fisker Automotive

Fisker Automotive has reached another milestone that doubters never thought they would: the first factory built (though not production) Karma will be on display at the upcoming Paris Auto Show. Fisker will also be announcing details on their global importer network, which bodes well for their ability to get vehicles to market once the Karma reaches production. Their stated goal is production of 100,000 cars per year.

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The problem with taking that shiny new pick-up, Jeep or SUV off-road is that you’re almost assured that that shiny paint job is going to get screwed all to hell. It’s a double edged sword really. You see on one hand you’ve just gone out and spent some big coin on a vehicle that will cross just about any landscape. On the other hand, that big coin vehicles value will go right in the toilet if you scratch the crap out of it whilst trying to get down those hardcore trails. The owner of this hot Ford F150 seems to have found a way to get around this problem by doing a little thinking outside the box.
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There are two things in the latest Fisker Karma ad that I’d really like to take for a long, hard ride. Ironically, my chances of taking a test drive with either are exactly the same, which would be “zero”. At least the model in the Fisker ads is real, because to date the car has been little more than a rolling design study.

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It’s often said that with today’s safety standards, it’s impossible to design a car with the stunning and savage grace of the Lamborghini Miura. Henrik Fisker would say otherwise. This is the Artega GT, the designer’s compact, mid-engined supercar. The thing exudes brutal beauty. Its muscular form terrifies asphalt, threatens twisty roads. Sure, it’s not as graceful and sleek as the Miura, but I think it’s as close as we’re gonna get in this era of hyper safety standards. Performance wise, the Artega GT would give the Miura a run for its money. The 2,400-pound sports car can hit 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds and reach a 170 mph terminal velocity—without achieving liftoff. It’s powered by a 300-horsepower, 3.6-liter VW V6, which isn’t the sexiest power plant around, but it gets the job done. Price? A steal at less than $90,000. The Artega GT is supposed to be available late this year. Hit the jump for more pics. Read More…

Okay, so it’s not breathtaking news, but it is an excuse to post a photo of the Fisker Karma, just in case you forgot how damn sexy it is. Fisker says it’ll reveal the Karma’s “advanced aluminum space frame” at the Geneva Auto Show. Essentially, Fisker wants you to know that there’s some bad-ass engineering to back up the Karma’s gorgeous looks. The aluminum space frame reportedly gives the Karma “new levels of strength and rigidity.” Indeed. Hit the jump for some more Fisker porn and a shot of the stunning Karma Sunset convertible.

Source: Autoblog

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