Having recently been awarded a $500 million loan by the U.S. government to build affordable pug-in hybrids, Fisker Automotive is expected to build those cars at a shuttered General Motors plant in Delaware. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to announce tomorrow that the California-based Fisker company will revive the Boxwood Road facility in Wilmington.

The plant, which built the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and their Opel variant, closed only recently as a result of GM’s decision to eliminate the Pontiac brand and sell-off Saturn.

The half billion dollar loan that Fisker recently received is part of the Department of Energy’s $25 billion Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program. Fisker said it, “represents a significant step in America’s future.”

A portion of the loan will go towards final development of the luxurious and expensive Karma PHEV. The Karma uses a technology similar to the Chevy Volt, but is considerably more powerful, allowing the 403hp luxury car to hit 62 mph in six seconds while getting 67 mpg. It can drive on pure electric power for up to 50 miles, with a total extended range of 300 miles.

The majority of the loan will go towards building a new generation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that will cost $39,900 after tax credits.

Fisker says the project will create or save at least 5,000 jobs among U.S. auto suppliers and in manufacturing the hybrids.

[Source: DetroitFreePress]

Fisker Automotive, the company that beat both General Motors and Toyota to market with a plug-in hybrid, has been awarded a $527 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop affordable plug-in hybrids.

The majority of the loan will go towards building a new generation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that will cost $39,900 after tax credits. The remainder will go towards final development of the Karma PHEV. The Karma uses a technology similar to the Chevy Volt, but is considerably more powerful, allowing the 403hp luxury car to hit 62 mph in six seconds while getting 67 mpg. It can drive on pure electric power for up to 50 miles, with a total extended range of 300 miles.

The loan is part of the Department of Energy’s $25 billion Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.

Fisker is calling its new initiative Project NINA, after the ship belonging to Christopher Columbus, symbolizing a move from an old word to a new world.

“This conditional loan represents a significant step in America’s future,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO. “With it Fisker Automotive can rapidly develop affordable clean cars that satisfy our passion for driving and help restore the U.S. as an auto industry leader.”

Fisker says the project will create or save at least 5,000 jobs among U.S. auto suppliers and in manufacturing the hybrids.

[Source: Yahoo]

Ahead of its German debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week Fisker has just released the expected fuel economy numbers for the four-door Karma plug-in hybrid. The 403hp luxury sedan has been rated at an impressive 67 mpg (3.5L/100 km).

While offering fuel-economy better than vehicles like the Toyota Prius, the Karma promises a luxurious and spacious cabin, a sporty drive and a 0-62 mph time of about six seconds.

As a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) similar to the upcoming Chevy Volt, the Karma will be able to drive on pure electric power for up to 50 miles, with a total extended range of 300 miles. Fisker’s calculations say the car is capable of using just three cents of gasoline per mile, with an average of seven cents per mile a more realistic real-world number.

“The Fisker Karma is the future of driving,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO.  “It proves we can drive environmentally responsible cars without sacrificing the emotional things that made us fall in love with cars in the first place.”

Official release after the jump:

Just a year and a half after it was first unveiled as a concept car the Fisker Karma is set to take to the road track during the Monterey Peninsula’s Classic Car Week. On August 15th, the plug-in hybrid Karma will run two laps of the world-famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca course at 11:10 a.m on August 15th, during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Race.

“The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races is the best stage in the world for great moments in automotive history,” said Fisker Automotive CEO, Henrik Fisker. “Fisker is honored to be a part of it.”

Using a 260hp GM-sourced Ecotec motor and two 201.5hp electric motors, the Karma’s Q-Drive powertrain allows the plug-in hybrid to travel 50 miles on pure electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion battery packs. But it’s more than just a plug-in hybrid, it’s a full-on luxury sedan and can even perform with a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph.

The Karma will also be on display the day before at Concorso Italiano, alongside the Karma Sunset hardtop convertible concept. The Karma Sunset will also make an appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 16.

GALLERY: Fisker Karma

Official release after the jump:

It’s the Fisker Karma like you’ve never seen it before. This video (no doubt leaked on YouTube to keep up the marketing buzz surrounding the luxury hybrid) shows the Karma sliding through pylons and screeching its tires. Until now all we’ve ever seen are carefully crafted beauty shots and auto show snaps.

With just over 400hp, Fisker is apparently out to prove that the Karma can not only deliver luxury wit reduced damage to the environment, it can also deliver performance.

Fisker recently announced that it has arranged for 32 retailers to sell its vehicles in North Ameirca. The Karma can achieve 100 mpg and retails for a starting price of $87,900.

Fisker Automotive is a company that continues to prove doubters wrong. Not only did it beat the world’s largest automakers to developing a plug-in hybrid, but now it has secured a dealer network throughout the United States.

Fisker recently announced that it has arranged for 32 retailers to sell its vehicles, starting with the Karma plug-in hybrid luxury car. Fisker claims the Karma can achieve 100 mpg while producing 408hp and retailers will sell the car for a starting price of $87,900.

The dealerships cover a wide geographic area with locations in New York, Miami and Orange County. Less traditional luxury market swill also be served with retailers in states like Alabama, Minnesota and Colorado. There is even a dealership in British Columbia, Canada.

Leading the charge in solidifying the dealerships was Fisker board member Vic Doolan who worked for both BMW and Volvo in the 1990s and 2000s, helping them set record sales.

“Our retail partners are our most important assets,” he said.  “To our customers, they are the face of the company.  For that reason, we’ve chosen those who will give Fisker owners the comfort and confidence to drive the future.”

Fisker says the showrooms will reflect the company’s concern for the environment, using natural and sustainable materials. They will be, ” Eco-facilities, not Ego-facilities.”

For more on the Fisker Karma see the company’s website here:

www.fiskerautomotive.com

A full list of Fisker dealerships is located after the jump:

Fisker Automotive had on display at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit the production version of its Karma hybrid that it first unveiled in concept-form at the show 12 months ago. The company also took the wraps off a new concept, the Karma S – a hard top convertible featuring Fisker’s Q-Drive hybrid powerplant.

The Karma S is quite possibly even more beautiful than the sedan version with similar styling and CEO Henrik Fisker’s own signature style.

The Karma S, like the sedan, will use the Q-Drive hybrid system designed by Quantum Technologies. Using a direct injection 2.4-liter four cylinder Ecotec engine, mated to two electric motors the Q-Drive powerplant makes 408hp and can propel the Karma to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds – almost half the time of any existing hybrid.

The Karma S is slated for production in 2011 with the Karma already taking orders. In fact 1300 Karma models have already been ordered and owners will take delivery before the end of 2009.

When asked how an upstart company like Fisker Automotive could bring a plug-in hybrid to market before automotive giants like General Motors or Toyota, company CEO Henrik Fisker said, “It is because we break all the rules. We have the best automotive engineers and at Fisker Automotive there is no pyramid. Decisions can be made right away.”

And speaking of immediate decisions, when probed about the possibility of “green lighting” the Karma S, who would make that decision and when, Fisker replied that he does and, “I’m green-lighting it right now.”

For more on the Karma production model click here.

After unveiling the luxury plug-in hybrid Karma Concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit last year, Fisker is set to show another concept as well as the production version of the Karma.

The production Karma S, has been developed with Quantum Technologies and boasts a plug-in Hybrid system that allows drivers to drive 50 miles on a single charge. Once the battery power runs out, the gasoline engine will kick in and the car will operate like a conventional hybrid.

Because of this innovative system, Fisker says that owners who drive less than 50 miles per day will achieve a yearly average fuel economy of 100 mpg.

The Karma will be powered by a GM-sourced 2.4-liter Ecotec engine that has been updated with direct injection technology. The engine alone makes 260hp and when combined with the two electric motors will make 408hp. Fisker claims this is enough for a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. Top speed is rated at a respectable 125 mph.

The stunning looking (both inside and out) Karma S will be priced at $87,900. The first deliveries are scheduled for November 2009 and apparently models are sold out until mid-2010.

Impressively, Fisker has arranged for the Karma S to be produced at the Valmet Automotive plant, a state-of-the-art facility where the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are manufactured.

Fisker Karma S:

Official release after the break: