Fisker Karma at Laguna Seca update: even at 100 mph, PHEV used no gas

Fisker Automotive has released a bit more information about that one lap that the Karma ran at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday. According to the start-up, during the silent (for proof, see the video) lap around the track, the luxury plug-in hybrid managed to hit 100 mph and didn't use any gasoline. Average folks with money who buy a Karma won't get to hit that speed very often (to say nothing of the 125 mph top speed), but the Karma's 0-60mph time of six seconds won't go unnoticed. At Laguna Seca over the weekend, the driver was Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler.

Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker believes the single lap shows a lot of promise: ""This demonstration represents a significant milestone for Fisker Automotive and PHEV technology. The future of clean cars is bright."

Photos (except the large image above) copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Fisker ]


PRESS RELEASE:

FISKER KARMA PHEV MAKES WORLD DRIVING DEBUT

Plug-in hybrid silently laps racetrack without gasoline

Monterey, CA – August 17, 2009: The Fisker Karma PHEV made its public driving debut over the weekend, just 19 months after being introduced as a concept.

The 403hp prototype Karma Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) attained a speed of 100 mph, but used no gasoline as it made its way around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Behind the wheel was Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler.

California-based Fisker Automotive is developing the full size Karma sedan to be the first production PHEV. The Karma proves fuel-efficient vehicles can generate the passion and excitement that made us fall in love with cars in the first place. Although the Fisker Karma can reach 60mph in six seconds and a top speed of 125mph it can also achieve well over 100mpg. Carbon emissions are also lower than today's hybrids.

"This demonstration represents a significant milestone for Fisker Automotive and PHEV technology," said CEO Henrik Fisker. "The future of clean cars is bright."

The Karma has a range of 50 emission-free miles on a full charge of its Lithium-ion battery, and a total range of 300 miles thanks to an on-board generator turned by traditional but efficient 260hp, four-cylinder gasoline engine. Combined with two powerful electric motors, these components make up the Q-DRIVE® powertrain exclusive to all Fisker automobiles. Q-DRIVE® delivers the ultimate combination of performance, range and efficiency.

ABOUT FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Fisker Automotive, founded in 2007 by Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies (QTWW), is a privately owned American car company producing premium green automobiles, with Henrik Fisker as CEO. Global headquarters are located in Irvine, Calif. The company is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Palo Alto Investors and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). More information is available at www.fiskerautomotive.com.