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Happy New Year BRANDInsiders!  We kick-off 2012 with a look at the exciting and innovative 2012 Fisker Karma. The Karma is the “world’s first high performance electric luxury vehicle,” with the freedom to Plug-in or Fill-up.

We traveled to Fisker Global Headquarters in Anaheim, California to interview David Harris, Digital Marketing Manager at Fisker. Parts one and two of our webisodes will focus on the attributes of the 2012 Karma while part three will provide some insight on the brands marketing approach, buyer demographics and the story behind the ride.

2012 Fisker Karma – Overview of features, functions and benefits

Responsible Luxury: Fisker Automotive calls the 2012 Karma “the world’s first luxury-performance hybrid-electric vehicle with extended range.” We interviewed David Harris, Fisker’s Digital Marketing Manager who gave BI some valuable one on one time with the 2012 Karma. One look at the 2012 Karma and you know right away that this is not your typical hybrid/electric vehicle. The styling is progressive, sleek, and aggressively sporty and embodies the definition of the term, “exotic sports sedan.” The low profile stance of the vehicle does provide a sense of movement while standing still.

Command Center: Inside the driver compartment the Karma does not disappoint with a cabin that is both luxurious and sporty. The cockpit offers a unique blend of leather, ecosuede and reclaimed, recycled and reusable wood and other materials that compliment modern technology.  Fisker designers chose to simplify the car’s dashboard controls by providing a single place to control multiple features.

Performance: The driving force behind the Karma’s impressive performance is Fisker’s patented EVer™ powertrain. The Karma uses an electric generator and battery pack to power the dual electric motors that drive the wheels, giving the Karma a range of up to 50 miles of electric driving using the Stealth Mode. After 50 miles, the internal combustion gasoline engine supports the electric motors for an additional range of 250 miles by using the Sport Mode. Fisker marketing touts, “high impact performance, low impact on the environment”.  The Karma offers 403 horsepower, a 300 mile/483 km extended range (EVer™) and 100 MPG/160 km achievable. According to Harris, the Fisker Karma is also the first production vehicle to feature 22″ Circuit Blade wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires as standard equipment.

Freedom: The Karma’s lightweight aluminum spaceframe and load-leveling shock absorbers deliver nimble handling and responsive driving dynamics. The dual-electric motors are capable of producing up to 959 ft-lb of torque, defining a new era of electric exhilaration. Topping things off is what Fisker describes as the world’s largest seamless solar glass roof for a production vehicle. The Karma reportedly can provide drivers up to 200 miles (321 km) per year of completely emission-and-cost free driving. Fisker will be looking to attract consumers from other luxury performance vehicles with a twist, the freedom to plug-in or fill-up.

In Part II of our Fisker 2012 Karma profile, we take a closer look at other features like the solar roof and Karma’s interior design and layout.

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