2012 Fisker Karma
Malik Elam Vehicle story
The 2012 Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in hybrid sedan with a rear-wheel drive and a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack: Designed to be a luxurious sedan.
Powertrain
The Karma has two electric motors in the rear and a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine in the front that acts as a generator to create electricity. The motors produce 403 horsepower and 1,300 newton-meters of torque, and the car can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds in Sport Mode.
Range
The Karma can travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, and then the gasoline engine takes over. Fisker says the car can go up to 250 miles on gas.
Charging
The battery takes about 15 hours to fully recharge using a 110-volt outlet, or about six hours using a 220-volt outlet. The Karma is not compatible with Level 3 rapid-charge systems.
Features
The Karma has a warning sound system that activates when the car is traveling in electric mode at less than 25 mph to alert pedestrians. It also has ABS, driveline traction control, heated front seats, and dual zone automatic front air conditioning. The interior features a rich cloth and special leather that's not chrome tanned.
Engine
turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder from General Motors that previously slummed it in the Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the HHR SS. It drives the electric generator with 260 horsepower.
Wheels and tires
Tires & Wheels
Alloy wheels Standard
22 x 9.5 in. wheels Standard
Performance tires Standard
P285/35R22 102W tires
Brakes
Traditional friction-based brakes with regenerative technology
Transmission
Hybrid 1-speed direct drive transmission with a single ratio and limited-slip differential (LSD). The car's two electric motors drive the rear wheels through the differential