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The 100mpg Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid saloon has made its public driving debut at a race track in America.
A prototype of the 403hp full size saloon reached speeds in excess of 100mph, in both Sport (hybrid) and Stealth (electric only) modes around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Fisker Automotive co-founder and COO Bernhard Koehler was driving the Karma, just 19 months after it was introduced as a concept vehicle.
California-based Fisker Automotive is developing the Karma to be the first production Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).
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 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 powered by a 260hp, four-cylinder petrol engine. Combined with two powerful electric motors, these components make up Fisker’s Q-DRIVE powertrain.
