American hybrid with sex appeal

By now you’ve had several chances to drool over the Fisker Automotive’s response to the Tesla Roadster, The Fisker Karma and Karma Sunset extended range EV. The Karma is packed with technology and has definite European seductiveness thanks to designer Henrik Fisker, the Denmark born virtuoso responsible for the BMW Z8, Aston DB9, and Vantage. With GM selling off properties, Fisker purchased the automaker’s Wilmington, Delaware plant to start producing the hybrid / extended range EV sports sedan. Looks like they will be putting the 260hp GM Ecotec four cylinder engine along with a 22 kWh battery pack. 0-60 estimates are about 6 seconds. You can pre-order yours today for $5,000 down. MSRP when delivered in the second-half of 2010 will be about $88,000. Pocket change really – for a sculpture which you unplug from the house and drive to work, especially if you’re entitled to that $7,500 tax credit.

GM’s future is still to be decided in court, but this move will position America on the leading edge of car manufacturing – at least that’s what the Obama/Biden administration hopes. Fisker received a $528 million low cost loan thanks to the Department of Energy. The GM plant, which used to produce the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky will once again house American workers and that’s good for Biden’s home state of Delaware. The question is, are start-up companies like Tesla and Fisker going to be the brand faces of America or will they just be eaten up by established names like Audi who have widespread marketing and distribution channels?

Apple, Bang & Olufsen, Eames, Braun are all companies that take design very seriously.Fisker is clearly a nut for good design and it’s that visual appeal that will interest buyers. The tesla roadster had problems when it was first introduced. The transmission couldn’t handle the torque, and nuts and bolts could fall off, making you crash, for instance. Does it matter? The stunning looks of the Tesla made all that nonsense of safety recalls and reliability issues disappear. Similarly, this new Fisker is going to turn heads when it hits the streets. No marketing campaign is as effective as the ability for a car on the road to direct your gaze.