Driving Report Fisker Karma

Beautiful as a Macerates Porsche Panatela, like a strong spurt, and more economical than a Toyota Prius. Impossible? Not a Fisker Karma. After initial teething problems the luxurious pussyfooter comes in these days is finally coming to Germany.

On the ecological orientation of earners has Hendrix Fisker his doubts: "It may be that just bought here in Hollywood, many celebrities a Toyota Prius for its green image," says the Danish designer who, after a few years ago California moved is. "But who was standing just in front of the garage, when in fact they secretly drove off in their Mercedes or Lexus are." Compromises will make none in this price range, Fisker believes. And he knows whereof he speaks. Finally, he is not even half way prosperous, and moreover a passionate speeders. Before starting his own automobile company he had designed the BMW Z8 even at Aston Martin and the DB9.

Compromises such as the Prius, which provides enough space and prestige, or the Tesla Roadster, which lacks practicality, Fisker wants to close now. As the first truly green alternative for the upper class so he brings the karma at the start. In America, there are the stately sedan and coupe settled between four-door since last fall. With a good year late, he now starts in Germany: At least 101 800 € must be transferred to one of the seven dealer Emil Frey of the general importer, if you want to start with a good conscience, continue on the fast track.

Long as an S-class, flat as a Lambs
There is a car that looks so far like him: five feet long and drawn with sweeping lines, the karma is almost as flat as a Lamborghini, as elegant as a Macerates Quattroporte, offers nearly as much comfort as a Mercedes S-class and can Porsche Panatela are available at some Sprint. That is in itself not bad. But best of consumption: A test value of 2.4 liters of floats is more economical than a Prius.

Made possible by a drive system, as we know it from Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampere. Just like the streamers of GM, Fisker is not only to electric motors and lithium-ion batteries, but also to a petrol engine as a range extender. He always jumps in and then when the battery is either going to run out or the driver has a little piece. Where at Volt and Ampere, however, ruled the reason is the karma that pleasure is not on the route: the two electric motors on the rear axle have altogether more than 400 hp and get out of the 20 kWh big battery in the center tunnel enough juice for a sprint of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 153 km / h Who has not tried too often comes far with this eerily quiet and anything but fun-free "stealth mode" about 80 kilometers, Frisker promises.

Under six seconds from 0 to 100 km / h
Activated automatically or by pressing a button, the Range Extender, a 2.0-liter turbo with 190 kW/260 hp from GM comes more power into the game: At full throttle in the sports program are then already 100 km after 5.9 seconds reached, the Karma on the motorway then creates it, 200 km / h, and the box must be after almost 500 kilometers. Of course, Fisker also knows that his car is just for the German customers so still a bit too slow. But a new gearbox will soon remedy this. And until then remains as a comfort to look at the on-board computer. The 2.4 liter, the rich need the karma for 100 kilometers, some competitors have to warm up.

Speaking of competition. Strictly speaking, there is still no competition for the karma. Because of the Ampera looks easy compared to all other crummy cars and consume too much. But because the Fisker earners just wrests no compromise, he sees his car in a field with cars like the Porsche Panatela, Mercedes CLS and the Audi A7.

Still unsatisfactory workmanship
For the price may be true, and for the performance everywhere outside of Germany perhaps. But where is not the visionary brilliance, but solid craftsmanship counts, the newcomer has yet glaring flaws: That you can sit on the two armchairs in the back on this side of the kindergarten-aged little to like the buyer may get over yet. Because until it times 100,000 € for a car together, has the kids are probably already out of the house. And if the back seat remains empty, you can see perhaps even across the tiny trunk. But what good is one the most beautiful scenery in the paint and leather interior wonderfully simple, drop in the demonstration vehicles when the plastic parts, the joint body writhe as the Grand Canyon through the sheet metal and trim flapping loosely in the wind?

If Fiske’s production partner Valet in Finland since not very fast, it will be the cut above all the quality-obsessed customers in Germany by the ears. He needs the green connoisseur for his success. "After all, Germany is Europe's most important market for us," flatters the Dane's home country of his competitors. "Here, customers have enough sense not only for higher vehicle class, for superior performance and environmentally friendly engines," is the designer and company president believes. "But there you can also afford these cars."

Specifications Fisker Karma
Luxury Sedan
Electric drive with range extender:
2 electric motors with 150 kW/204 hp
plus four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with 1998 cc and 190 kW/260 hp, maximum torque of 1330 Nm.
0-100 km / h 7.9 s,
Amax: 153 km / h (stealth mode)
0-100 km / h 5.9 s,
Vamp: 200 km / h (sport mode),
Range 80 km (electric),
480 km (overall)
Consumption of 2.4 l/100 km for standard,
CO2: 83 g / km,