Leif Iverson over at Digital Trends has a chat with Henrik Fisker.

The Future of Eco-Chic Cars: Fisker Karma – You’ve drooled over the legendary Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, now meet the man behind the car. We talk shop with Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker automotive. Where does he get the inspiration for his timeless designs? Are electric cars the future, or existing cars powered by bio fuels? Does Chevy’s upcoming Volt pose a threat to the Karma? Fisker shares his thoughts on the state of the industry, plus drops exciting new details on the Karma, like an optional animal-free interior and touch-screen center console with haptic feedback.

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[Source: Digital Trends]

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Sean Daily

Green Talk Radio host Sean Daily speaks to Henrik Fisker, CEO and lead designer of Fisker Automotive. This is a very high quality interview that covers all the main points about the Fisker Karma. It’s a must listen for anyone who wants to know all there is about the Karma. Topics allergy covered include the use of the largest curved solar panel in the industry, the largest haptic (touch) screen in a car (10.3″), and the advantage of the dealer network.

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[Source: Green Living Ideas]

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The video provides some very good details about the concepts that were brought together to design the Fisker Karma interior. These concepts are illustrated by Alexander Klatt, Director of Interior Design, and Fairuz Schlecht, Color & Material Design Manager. From a tiger’s glossy eye contrasting its fur, to the light and shade of a sand dune, the designers were inspired by all aspect of nature. Great care was taken to highlight the technology with accents provided by the highest quality sustainable materials. This concept is highlighted with the glass panel located in the center antiviral console that is used to highlight the battery pack. Great care has been taken to  select very sustainable materials to build the interior.

Design Philosophy Overview: First One Hundred

Fisker Automotive’s Philosophy of Sustainable Design
Presented by: Alexander Klatt, Director of Interior Design

Fisker Karma’s Interior Materials
Presented by: Fairuz Schlecht, Color & Material Design Manager

Note: For those who have already seen the videos…YES, he does appear to be a little to enamored with the car’s fender. It might be best to leave “sensuality” as a more subliminal concept.

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The greening of the automobile presents a chance to reinvent the car business.

The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is an intriguing vehicle. It is stunningly beautiful and comes with a host of compelling technologies, yet this 402-hp, 125-mph luxurious sports sedan will be priced at $87,900 when it arrives early next year, well below the less practical—and much ballyhooed—$110,950 Tesla electric roadster. But Henrik Fisker believes the reason his new company will succeed goes further than the Karma’s technology. Fisker weight loss Automotive will use a business model that differs from the auto industry’s formula of the past 100 years or so, whereby every new-model program now costs billions of dollars. “To build a car the old way,” says Fisker, “the venture capitalists wouldn’t put the money in because they want a quick return. We wanted to put all the money we raised into product development rather than building a factory.”

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[Source: Car and Driver]

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The Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid made its public driving debut over the weekend, just 19 months after being introduced as a concept vehicle. A prototype of the 403hp full size sedan reached speeds in excess of 100mph, utilizing both Sport (hybrid) and Stealth (electric only) modes around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler was driving.  California-based Fisker Automotive is developing the Karma to be the first production Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The Karma proves fuel-efficient vehicles can still generate the passion and excitement that made people 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 ambien achieve well over 100mpg. Carbon emissions are also much 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.” Fisker Automotive is scheduled to start customer deliveries in summer 2010.  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.

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