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Fisker Automotive will unveil the production version of its Karma plug-in hybrid sports car at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the company has announced. The car has only "minor design enhancements" from the concept that made its debut one year ago.
This is the first production vehicle from the California-based company. Fisker has already said that its initial production run has been sold out and new orders can't be taken until mid-2010.
The Fisker Karma will start delivery to the initial buyer list in November 2009. The car is priced at $87,900.
The Karma has Fisker's "Q-Drive" powertrain with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a lithium-ion battery pack. It's a setup that gives the car a range of 50 miles on electricity alone and then calls on a gasoline engine with a generator that charges the lithium-ion battery. Fisker says "most" Karma drivers who plan to charge the vehicle overnight and drive less than 50 miles per day will get a whopping 100 mpg in fuel economy, averaged over a year. Top speed is 125 mph.
Powertrain-related physical attributes of the Karma are an enlarged lower air intake and diffuser in front, with a cooling cover for the electric drivetrain, an Exhaust pipe routed directly behind the front wheels and a functional side vent to release hot air. The Karma is built on an all-aluminum spaceframe and has aluminum and composite body panels.
There's also a glass solar roof panel with a splayed solar cell array that converts the power into stored electric energy to increase driving range.
The interior seats four, but other than calling it "a luxurious tailored space," Fisker has revealed few details prior to the Detroit show unveiling.
The Karma will be built by Valmet Automotive in Finland, and Fisker plans to build 15,000 per year.
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S @ 2009 NAIAS
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The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S will make its world debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show and shortly afterward will arrive in dealer showrooms in the U.S., the automaker told Inside Line. The Quattroporte Sport GT S will have a base price of $138,400, including a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax and a $1,800 destination charge.
The Quattroporte Sport GT S is priced $1,000 less than the Gran Turismo S, which starts at $139,400.
Maserati says the Quattroporte Sport GT S is designed to be "a real driving machine in the guise of a luxury saloon."
Power in the 4.7-liter V8 is Boosted to 433 horsepower. The front and rear suspension systems get stiffer springs and a lower ride height. Exterior cues include a new black grille with concave vertical fins with the Maserati trident logo, new headlights in metallic titanium finish, and black twin oval Exhaust pipes. The cabin gets new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery.
The unveiling in Detroit will take place on January 12.
2009 NAIAS Highlights: Detroit Auto Show
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Forget all those bad things you read about Detroit these days. The 2009 Detroit Auto Show will be the biggest and best auto show next year. There will be more world premieres of production vehicles and concept cars than Tokyo and Frankfurt combined. Maybe that's why it's officially called the North American International Auto Show. Yes, it's that big.
Unlike last year's display of old-school horsepower, the 2009 Detroit Auto Show is expected to have a more forward-looking theme. A big part of that will be the introduction of the 2010 Toyota Prius. It's been fully redesigned for even better mileage than before and it will be joined by a new Lexus hybrid sedan counterpart. Other notable debuts include the 2009 Audi R8 V10, 2010 Ford Taurus, 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover and 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible. Full coverage starts here January 10.
Essential: Infiniti Essence @ 2009 Geneva Auto Show
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Infiniti Essence @ Pebble Beach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8tQgM0Aweg
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Yes, Geneva is a Swiss show, traditionally well attended by the Italian design houses and German tuners. But at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, a Japanese designer is the talk of the Palexpo — thanks in no small part to his new Infiniti Essence.
Nissan's upscale brand would have us believe this sensational coupe concept is "the essence of Infiniti." In fact, it is the essence of Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's senior vice president of design, not to mention a glimpse into the future design direction of Infiniti.
Nakamura's team has crafted a sleek two-seater with a panoramic glass roof that is all but devoid of ornamentation. Japanese cultural cues abound inside and out.
The designers drew inspiration from, among other things, Japanese calligraphy, traditional lacquerware, even the kanzashi, a hairpin used by women when wearing a kimono. The aim, according to Nakamura, was "to merge all existing Infiniti design cues with fresh design language."
The sinuous, sculpted shape is wrapped around a traditional front-engine/rear-drive sports car layout. But the Essence is hardly traditional in its powertrain, safety technology and even its post-modern minimalist cabin.
Nakamura's team created a stunning asymmetrical cockpit with staggered seats, separated by a curving console that sweeps into the dash. The driver's "cocoon" is finished in black, while the passenger is swathed in red. The cabin is trimmed in leather, Alcantara and hand-painted wood and features chronometer-type dials, an aluminum gearshift knob, a red engine-start button and a flat-bottomed steering wheel flanked by paddle shifters.
Nissan chose a powerful gas-electric tandem, configured as a parallel hybrid so the two power sources can work independently or together. The 3.7-liter direct-injection V6 is fitted with twin turbochargers and makes 434 horsepower, while the electric motor adds another 158 hp, providing total output of nearly 600 hp. Energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack.
Advanced safety technologies include distance control assist, lane departure prevention, side collision prevention and back-up collision prevention.
The pièce de résistance is a collaboration with Louis Vuitton — a bespoke three-piece luggage set that's fitted to the trunk of the Essence. Naturally, each piece carries the initials of the owner.
Guess what "SN" stands for.
Audi A7 Sportback Concept @ 2009 NAIAS
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Audi plans to unwrap a thinly veiled concept version of its upcoming A7 next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The production version is expected to make its debut later next year at one of the major European shows, probably Frankfurt, ahead of the official production launch in early 2010.
The A7 is essentially Audi's entry in the rapidly expanding ranks of premium "quad coupes," a segment pioneered by the Mercedes-Benz CLS and joined in the past year by the Passat-based Volkswagen CC.
Speculation in Europe is that the production A7 will sport a variety of powerplants, at least in the European market, including a supercharged 300-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, a 395-hp 4.2-liter V8 and a monster twin-turbo 600-hp 5.2-liter V10 that's said to be reserved for the limited-edition RS7.
Transmission choices are said to include a six-speed manual, seven-speed dual-clutch and eight-speed automatic.
Audi has released only this sketch of the car. More details should follow shortly.
Fisker Karma television ad
Fisker Automotive ad for the Karma that ran during the KTLA pre-show broadcast of the Academy Awards. Copyright Fisker Automotive. Used with permission.
Karma S, Fisker, Detroit Auto Show.
Sponsored by http://www.couponsoffersanddeals.com (Free Digital Coupons), http://www.buttinseat.com (For Auto Dealers) and http://www.ANProximityMarketing.com (Mobile Advertising). Sit in on the Fisker press conference at the Detroit Auto Show and see Karma S hardtop convertible electric car.
Fisker Karma Testing
Check this out. The Fisker Karma undergoing suspension (?) testing at the El Toro Marine base
2009 Fisker Karma Hybrid Sports Sedan with Quantum Q-Drive
The worlds first luxury high performance hybrid sports sedan. The Karma is a joint venture between Quantum Technologies World Wide Inc. and Fisker Coachbuild llc. The company is already sold out and will be delivering them in the fall of 2009.
Visit Quantum Technologies Worldwide Inc. at
www.qtww.com
And visit Fisker Automotive at
www.fiskerautomotive.com
Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle at Discovery Channel
Television interview with Henrik Fisker on the sports high-performance Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid vehicle being developed at Fisker Automotive (www.fiskerautomotive.com).
Video shows rare footage of Quantum Technologies' (www.qtww.com) installations where the Q-drive electric hybrid powertrain is being developed for the Karma.
Test runs are at El Toro' old airbase in Orange County, and a showcar was recently demonstrated at the tracks of Laguna Seca.
Production is planned at Valmet Automotive's installations at Finland.
Fisker Karma Rolling Footage
Here is a short video of the new Fisker Karma in action. The more I see this car the more I start to fall in love with it. It has great lines, decent power, lots of luxury, and its plug-in hybrid drivetrain makes it guilt-free in these times of "eco-friendliness". All video footage you see in this video was shot by Fisker Automotive.
http://www.fiskerautomotive.com
http://www.motorworldhype.com
Introducing the 2010 Fisker Karma
The 2010 Fisker Karma, a plug-in electric hybrid, is the first of four new models built by Quantum.
The car runs on 75 cents per gallon to operate in electric mode, can be charged at home, and will switch to gas mode for longer trips.
Quantum Technologies CEO Alan Niedzwiecki spoke with AlwaysOn's Phyza Jameel last month at the Nordic Green conference.
