Citing complex certification processes, Fisker Automotive has cut its sales target for the plug-in hybrid electric Karma once again.

Initially set at 15,000 units for 2012, in November the American start-up automaker headed by renowned automotive designer Henrik Fisker shopped the forecast to 12,000 units in November. Now Fisker has reduced that goal once again, to 10,000 units.

According to the company, extensive mileage and emissions certifications are to blame for getting the car to market slower than expected. In addition, Fisker has encountered other issues with a recent software glitch that halted production, as well as a recall as a result of a possible coolant leak.

GALLERY: Fisker Karma

[Source: Just-Auto]

Just as the Karma begins to enter showrooms, Fisker is raring to get a move on its Project Nina. However, despite the optimism, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Fisker. Although it was initially intended for the $50,000 Nina hybrid to be completed by 2012, circumstances require the product’s launch to be pushed back a year to mid-2013.

Quite a lofty bar has been set as Fisker’s team of 120 personnel expands another 2,500 workers to operate a made-for-Nina manufacturing plant in Delaware. While humble sales numbers are expected for the Fisker Karma, company fonder and CEO Henrik Fisker intends for Project Nina to reach a production volume of 100,000 cars per year.

Earlier, CEO Henrik Fisker announced that Nina will be a competitively priced smaller hybrid sedan, receiving 2.0 liter supercharged TwinPower engines supplied by BMW.

[Source: DelewareOnline via Carscoop]

Fisker Automotive has finally been given EPA certification and as a result can start officially selling cars. The U.S.-based builder of luxurious yet green vehicles has received a 52 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating for its Karma sedan.

With a 32 mile electric-only range, the Karma’s gasoline only rating is a less impressive 20-mpg. To put this into perspective, the Chevy Volt gets a 93 MPGe rating with a 37-mpg rating on gas only, whereas the Prius Plug-in Hybrid is 87-MPGe rating with a high 49-mpg on gas only.

It’s important to point out, however, that the Karma is also a stunning looking luxury sedan that’s capable of accelerating to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds.

“We are delighted to have EPA certification and fuel economy ratings that verify the Karma’s remarkable green credentials.” said Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of Fisker Automotive.

“As with all electric vehicles, range varies greatly on the conditions of the road and how you drive the car.  We firmly believe that most owners will get up to 50 miles of driving range on a single charge and will use our electric-only mode most of the time they drive the car, thereby running on zero emissions.  Overall, we are very pleased with the results of EPA’s tests. The Karma is a groundbreaking product with a unique powertrain.”

GALLERY: Fisker Karma

For the honor of owning the very first Fisker Karma available in the UK, one lucky bidder paid £140,000 (that’s US$220,680). And yes, while you may think it’s an excessive price, you’ll be happy to hear that the money went to charity.

Selling for over double its market value, the Karma is an extended range electric vehicle and this one was the main attraction at the 2011 Pratham UK Gala. This Karma also comes with a plaque signed by Henrik Fisker, the CEO and Co-Founder of Fisker Automotive.

Developed to be driven anywhere in the world, this EV is the only luxury sedan that meets future fuel consumption and emission requirements. Making it even cooler is the fact that it comes in two drive modes: Stealth and Sport. When you’re in Stealth Mode, the Karma is able to maximize its battery before activating the gasoline engine-driven generator.  In Stealth Mode, you can go from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.9 seconds while reaching a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h). Switch it to Sport Mode and the gasoline engine lets you go from zero to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).

The money raised by the sale of the Karma goes to Pratham UK, an overseas chapter of the children’s charity founded in Mumbai by UNICEF in 1994, which has helped over 36 million Indian children through its literacy campaign.

Fisker Automotive has had some delays in getting the Karma to market, but during that time the American electric car maker has been busy creating plans for a full lineup of models. Following the Karma will be the Karma S convertible, debuting some time in 2013, followed later that year by the Nina, an entry level model designed to be an affordable electric car.

If you’ve been following the Fisker story, none of this is entirely new to you. But this will be: a Fisker crossover. Yes, according to one report, Henrik Fisker has confirmed a sort of crossover model, which is described as a mix between a sporty estate (read wagon) and an SUV.

It’s being rushed into production as well, and is set to be on sale next year. We’ll get our first look at the new model (likely in concept form) when it debuts at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Fisker is reportedly working on an AWD system and this may be the first example we see of it in use.

[Source: WhatCar?]

Anyone who has played around with an electric radio-control car knows that power comes instantly and as a result acceleration is pretty rapid.

Expand the idea to a full-size vehicle, and the results are certainly thrilling. So far, all fully-electric vehicles have had a drawback, their single-speed gearbox, which tend to neuter the driving experience.

No one has been able to adopt a multi-speed gearbox to work reliably with an electric motor, but Henrik Fisker is working on just that for his Karma plug-in hybrid sedan.

Fisker believes he has a solution, which if it works reliably, would offer Karma drivers “Veyron levels of performance.” That means that the four-door sedan could accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 3-seconds.

No timeline has been given as to when this system will become available, but with such impressive performance figures, we can hardly wait.

[Source: Autocar]

The birth of the Fisker Karma has not been easy. The project has seen delays and customers have seen the price go up over the years, before the car even set foot on any showroom floor.

However, it now seems that the project is finally well on its way to hit the open road, as the first Karma is set to be delivered later this month, to none other than Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio.

Other notable names on the order list of this plug-in hybrid super sedan include Al Gore and Colin Powell.

The Karma as many of you know, is powered by two electric motors, which can power this car for about 80-miles on just battery power alone. Once the battery runs out of juice, a GM sourced 2.0-liter, turbo-charged, four-cylinder engine will come into play to take you the remaining distance. The idea is, you get green motoring without any mileage limitations.

Fisker says they have secured about 3000 orders for the Karma, which is being built by Valmet in Finland. Currently only 5 cars a week are rolling out, but that number will jump to 300 per week from November.

Henrik Fisker, the CEO of the company has said, “Our sales are split 50:50 between early-adopting car enthusiasts and total non-car enthusiasts who just like that we are bringing something totally new to market. They recognize the infrastructure isn’t there for electric cars, and see we offer a stylish, stress-free alternative with no range compromises.”

The Karma sedan is priced from around $100,000. Later, a convertible and wagon version will also be offered.

[Source: Autocar]

Remember the Fisker Karma? The plug-in hybrid luxury saloon from an upstart California automaker was touted as beating the Volt to market when it debuted over two years ago, a testament to the ability of small companies to get things done when giant automakers flopped their bloated carcasses into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

But the Volt is now on sale the the Karma? Well, Fisker is proud to announce that after what seems like endless delays, it has now officially entered production, with the stunning, powerful and incredibly fuel efficient $88,000 machine hitting dealers in April.

The Karma, in case you’ve forgotten, makes 402-hp and can run up to 50 miles on pure electric power. And unlike the Chevy Volt, it’s got power seats.

Plug-in automotive upstart Fisker Automotive have had their share of delays, but the company is still working on expanding its product portfolio, even though the first customer cars have still not been delivered.

While many were hoping to have taken delivery of the Karma plug-in hybrid sedan last year, delays have pushed that date to later this year. But they are getting closer, as Henrik Fisker allowed a few European journalists to have a go in a pre-production model earlier this year, and the latest version was sitting pretty at the recent Geneva Motor Show.

Now Henrik’s business partner Barney Koehler has given a little more insight as to what the company is upto. Speaking with Automotive World, he said; “After Karma, there will be another car, which we are launching in Frankfurt this year, and selling six months later. Then there will be Sunset (convertible), one year later. We have one platform for Karma and two derivatives, meaning a total of three body styles. … We want to keep it under wraps. It’s a good-looking car, and our dealers are going crazy about it. They love it, and they love the fact that it will be available so soon.”

Koehler added that this new model will also be built by Valmet in Finland.  He also mentioned that Fisker expects to sell 7000 vehicles this year and about 15000 in 2012. We wish them all the best, and guys, feel free to drop us a test car or two at the AutoGuide office.

[Source: Automotive World]

In the world of car designers, Henrik Fisker’s name is more recognizable than most. After all, his past credits include cars like the BMW Z8 and the current Aston Martin Vantage.

In 2005, Henrik decided to start his own designer car company and thus Fisker Coachbuild was born. His first car was called the Tramonto and it was based on the underpinnings of the Mercedes-Benz SL-model. Regardless of the engine you had on your SL, Fisker had an engine tune program for it. The most popular model for conversion was based on the SL55. Fisker had enlisted the help of the Danish tuner company Kleeman to do all the engine mods, and they were able to get 610-hp from a motor that originally had 493-hp. So it was fast, and thanks to a custom exhaust system, very loud also. We know this because we have driven this car, and know exactly how alluring it truly is.

The original plan was to make a limited run of 150 cars, but sadly only 13 ever got made, which makes them quite collectible and also very hard to find.

But we have found one that is up for sale in Needham, MA. This privately owned 2007 model has reportedly only covered just 1,609-miles, and has the Kleeman tuned SL55 supercharged motor.

The seller is asking $150,000 for it, which is a bargain when you consider that a brand new Tramonto was going for nearly twice that.

Since Fisker has now gone into the plug-in hybrid car business, this Tramonto will remain a very rare and unique car indeed.

[Source: Dupont Registry]