It’s only fair after having talked about the Tesla Roadster to talk about the other contender, albeit different in technology, nonetheless appealing, the hybrid performance Karma.
The gist is that if people love the Tesla Roadster, the Karma’s big smile, or are they mustaches has also won the hearts of many.
Although not as eco-friendly as an all electric car, the Karma is powered by a Q-DRIVE, a system developed by Quantum Technologies that combines a four-cylinder engine to a generator. Fisker claims zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. But if you want to be more ecologically friendly, then you have a choice. You can chose from two different modes; “Stealth Drive” and a sports mode. Stealth drive is a pure electric mode that runs for 50 miles off of the lithium ion battery pack until the engine kicks in. The second sports mode, includes the four-cylinder engine for peak performance and, according to Fisker, makes the Karma sound like a combination of a jet fighter and an F1 car.
Technically the car was well thought of and designed. The battery packs are located in the center bottom of the car enabling a perfect front-back weight ratio. Think mid-engine for gas engines.
If you are sold on this luxury four-door hybrid performance car you’ll have to wait until 2009 and ready to dish out $89,000. You’ll then have the satisfaction of owning a car that is rare, different and still contributes to a healthier planet.
Source AutoBlog.