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Fisker Sunset Shows Up At Chicago Auto Show in Black

Fisker Sunset in black – Click above for high-res image gallery

While walking the hallways at the Chicago Auto Show looking for interesting things to write about, we stumbled upon the Fisker booth and found a pair of extended-range plug-in hybrids to point our DSLR lenses at. We were especially attracted to the droptop Sunset model, in this case painted up in a beautiful coating of jet black paint. Equally as jaw-dropping was the brown leather interior, which had a worn-in baseball glove-like finish that looked awfully inviting.

Joining the Sunset was the expected four-door Karma, painted up in a familiar shade of gray. See them both in our high-res gallery of live images from the show floor in Chicago. Click here for coverage of the Chicago Auto Show from our sister site, Autoblog.com.

Gallery: Fisker Sunset at Chicago Auto Show

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Henrik Fisker: Leonardo DiCaprio's Prius Inspired Karma PHEV

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, 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]

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Tags: fisker, fisker karma, FiskerKarma, henrik fisker, HenrikFisker, karma, leonardo dicaprio, leonardo dicaprio prius, LeonardoDicaprio, LeonardoDicaprioPrius, prius, toyota prius, ToyotaPrius

Henrick Fisker Drops the Top on Green Luxury Motoring in Detroit

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Click the Fisker Karma Sunset concept for a high res gallery

Detroit MI in January is not generally the kind of place you associate with open top motoring. In fact 9 inches of fresh snow the day before the press previews started were followed by temperatures dropping to near zero by mid-week. Nonetheless veteran car designer Henrick Fisker showed off the production version of his plug-in hybrid Karma sport sedan and a new concept for an open-top version to follow up in 2011. The Karma and Karma Sunset concept are targeted at those who are tired of rolling up to award show red-carpets in a lowly Toyota but don't want to give up their "green cred."

The Sunset draws on the styling themes that first appeared on the Karma when it debuted at last year's Detroit Auto Show. In either sedan and convertible variations, the cabin is pushed well toward the back with the classic long hood proportions and voluptuously curved fenders. Fisker's cars are propelled by an extended range electric drive system not unlike that in the upcoming Chevy Volt, but with much more power. The Karma is claimed to be able to go 50 miles on a charge of its lithium ion battery before the 260 hp turbocharged engine starts up to recharge the battery.

Inside, the green luxury theme continues with wood trim exclusively from salvaged trees that are fallen from age or fire or recovered from lakes. The rest of the interior can be trimmed out in either leather made with so-called sustainable processes or a special fabric made from bamboo fibers which is remarkably soft in spite of its source. The Karma sedan is available for pre-order now at a starting price of $87,900. Deliveries are expected to start late this year.

Update: There is an interview with Henrik Fisker at Green Fuels Forecast

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Fisker Karma