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| Standing (back row, from left): Colin Cordery, managing director, Trading Enterprises, Barny Koehler, co-founder and CEO of Europe & Middle East, Fisker Automotive, Henrik Fisker, co-founder and executive chairman, Fisker Automotive, Len Hunt, president – Automotive, Al Futtaim Group and members of Green Hope, UAE, at the launch of the Fisker Karma in Dubai |
American automaker Fisker has launched in the Middle East, the Karma sedan, which combines eco-friendly credentials with stunning design.
The premium plug-in electric hybrid vehicle was unveiled before regional media at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City, last week.
Senior management from Fisker Automotive and Al Futtaim Group’s Trading Enterprises, which holds the exclusive distribution rights in the GCC and Mena regions, were present.
Henrik Fisker, co-founder and executive chairman, Fisker Automotive, said the car is built according to the company’s sustainable and accountable design philosophy.
“It is a proud moment for the Fisker brand as it is the start of our journey in the Middle East. Our firm’s approach to responsible luxury goes well beyond minimising fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Fisker vehicles use renewable materials and the lowest-impact technologies at every stage of the engineering, production and marketing processes,” he said.
Colin Cordery, managing director, Trading Enterprises, said: “Fisker offers an environmental alternative to traditional luxury vehicles and we are well-placed and proud to partner with Fisker and support their vision of delivering uncompromised, responsible luxury to this part of the world.”
Fisker’s plug-in hybrid electric powertrain has resulted in an electric vehicle with extended range (EVer). The powertrain consists of a gasoline engine, an electric generator, a Lithium-ion battery pack, and two electric motors at the rear wheels.
The Karma sedan allows the driver to select between two driving modes: Stealth mode for relaxed, emission-free all-electric driving and Sport mode to access the vehicle’s full power.
The Fisker Karma which has already picked up a number of global awards in its debut sales year, comes along with a standard 110V convenience charger. The optional 220/240V high-voltage charging station can easily be installed in homes. Running on the battery alone, which can be charged from a 220V Fisker wall charger in about six hours, the Karma can cover 80km. After this, the range extender comprising the gasoline engine and generator set, provides another 400km of range, by supplying supplemental power to dual rear-mounted electric motors, for a total range of 480km. This essentially ensures that a driver can comfortably go about his business during the day and then charge the unit at home overnight. Due to this feature, the Karma which is being touted as an “environmentally responsible” luxury car offers good fuel efficiency even in a region where petrol prices are low.
The Sport mode combines power from both the gasoline-powered generator and the battery, to give the driver more aggressive acceleration and higher top speed.
The 50km drive in the Karma from Al Badia Golf Club along the Dubai-Al Ain highway and back, made me aware of its qualities of smooth handling, power and solid braking performance.
As I negotiated the traffic, the car in Stealth mode displayed sufficient agility while insulating me from the exterior noises. In the Sport mode, the car delivers extra aggression and a higher speed with a mild roar from the gasoline engine.
The car exterior is pleasing to the eye and is bound to turn heads. The front and rear styling curves exude an upscale feel and the vehicle has a long wheelbase as well as a 195-litre capacity boot.
The Karma’s roof is an integrated, full-length solar panel, providing drivers up to 321km per year of emission free and cost-free driving. The unique solar roof also produces energy to help power the car’s interior cooling system.
The grille is two-part and separated at the middle with the Fisker badge above it.
The interior is luxurious too. The dashboard panel which includes the 10.2 inch multifunction touch screen, has good aesthetic appeal with the dual-tone leather upholstery.
The manufacturer offers a choice to opt for a standard or a premium audio system at the time of order and other main features include the keyless ignition with a push button start, Bluetooth hands-free phone compatibility, USB port and a rearview camera.
The phone and audio controls are mounted on the alloy and leather-trim steering wheel.
The battery is located in a tunnel that runs down the centre line of the vehicle and contributes to a low centre of gravity. This tunnel which is well dressed up with top range leather enables the car to provide four cup holders for the front and rear passengers along with a hidden storage area for all kinds of valuables like jewellery, cash or important documents. Highlights of the safety features include the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Panic Brake Assist and a total of eight airbags.
The vehicle comes with a 2.0 litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder gasoline engine and depending on the choice of interior trims, accessories and paint combinations, the Fisker Karma will retail in the Middle East for an equivalent of UAE Dhs500,000-600,000.