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Henrik Fisker: Leonardo DiCaprio's Prius Inspired Karma PHEV

Filed under: Wheels, Green



Ever wonder what it is that sparks the mind of an entrepreneur? After all, lots of people have big imaginations and great ideas, but only a relatively small number of them actually follow through, create a company and design a product. Of course, we can add Henrik Fisker to that list of entrepreneurs, and we're definitely looking forward to seeing what else springs from his fertile mind.

So, back to the original question. In the case of Henrik Fisker, the inspiration for the Karma extended-range electric car came from none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Actually, the actor's Prius hybrid, to be specific. Says Fisker:
A couple of years ago it started, by people who were maybe a little ahead of their time. You saw some movie starts like Leonardo DiCaprio buying a Prius... He could have bought any car in the world, and I remember seeing that on television and thinking to myself, you know, when you've got a guy who could buy any Ferrari or Rolls Royce and he's buying a Prius, you know something is changing dramatically.
Interesting little tidbit, no?

[Source: Reuters | Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

Premium Green Automakers Go Opposite Direction with Dealerships

Filed under: Wheels, Green



Want to get yourself an environmentally friendly new ride? Soon you'll have more choices – and more luxurious choices – than a Toyota Prius, but you may find the experience vastly different. Upstart American automakers Tesla and Fisker are both in the process of bringing their battery-powered luxury sedans and convertibles to market, but with entirely different strategies. Fisker, creator of the hybrid Karma sedan and Karma Sunset convertible, is authorizing existing luxury car dealerships across the United States to sell and service its vehicles, allowing them to get into more markets more quickly while tapping in to local expertise. Tesla, on the other hand, so far is only selling its Roadster at its own retail locations in California. But by the time the Model S (pictured above with the Roadster) hits the market, the plan is to open more factory-owned retail locations, which the company likens to Apple stores, in major metropolitan centers from coast to coast. Which will work out better for the rival green automakers? Only time will tell, but we'll have to head down to the local dealerships ourselves to see in person.

Fisker Karma

Filed under: Wheels, Green


Our friends at Autoblog are at the Detroit Auto Show this week and one of the cars there that is drawing a lot of attention is the Fisker Karma. The Karma, designed by Henrik Fisher, is a premium hybrid sedan. Autoblog reports it is powered by the Q-DRIVE, a system from Quantum Technologies in which a four-cylinder engine powers a generator to move the car. It can do the zero to 60 hop in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. It can run on just electricity or in sports mode which uses the four-cylinder engine. Luxury features of the four-door sedan include a navigation system and DVD player with headrest-mounted displays. The first 99 will be signed by the designer. The cars won't be available until 2009 and sell for $80,000.

Forbes Picks Top Cars for Spring

Filed under: Wheels

Forbes puts out its list of the Top 10 cars for spring, with the BMW M6 Coupe, Lexus GS Hybrid Sedan, and Mercedes Benz GL-Class SUV all making appearances. Most expensive set of wheels for spring? The Fisker Coachbuild Tramonto convertible at $234,000 (written about earlier last fall in Motor Trend). Those looking to spend a bit less can snap up the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage coupe (pictured), listed for $110,000.


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