Fisker Says Karma will Reach its 2011 $50k Nina to Mid-2013

Just yesterday, Fisker sold the first example of its Karma extended-range hybrid sedan after receiving the necessary EPA certification - though the mpg numbers weren't exactly what the company hoped for…

Despite the delay, Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of the company, insists that the Karma will reach its sales target for 2011, which is a rather optimistic 7,000 units.

“Analysts have to look at it from a different perspective”, he said, dismissing reports that the Karma did not delivered what it promised. “We’ve already defied the analysts a couple of times. We’ve made it. We’re delivering cars.”

However, the not-so-good karma (pun intended) that made Fisker delay the timeline set for the sedan and miss the original targets seems to be affecting its second model line as well.

Fisker has already signed a deal with BMW to get the German firm's new 2.0-liter supercharged TwinPower engines for Project Nina, which is a smaller hybrid sedan. However, the timeline of its launch has already been pushed back a year, from 2012 to mid-2013.

Whereas Valmet in Finland builds the Karma, the Nina will be manufactured in Delaware, USA. And while Fisker currently employs just 120 people, its new ex-GM in Delaware facility will have some 2,500 workers.

The reason is that the Nina will have a much higher production volume of 100,000 cars per year. Whether this is a realistic target remains to be seen. So far, Henrik Fisker has brought his first high-profile hybrid to the market and has begun filling the 3,000 orders the company says it has for the Karma.

Story Sources: Delaware Online

Pratham UK PHOTO GALLERY

The first example of the Fisker Karma to be available for sale in the UK was auctioned off at a charity event held at Camden’s Round House. The highest bidder paid £140,000 ($220,689 US) – or more than double the car’s sticker price. The model in question will get a unique plaque signed by the company’s CEO, Henrik Fisker.

The plaque, or the bragging right to owning the first extended-range electric Karma in the UK, wasn’t the reason for this generosity: all proceeds from the auction, which raised over £870,000 ($1,371,120 US) will go to the Pratham UK organization.

Pratham UK is a chapter of the children’s charity that was founded by UNICEF in 1994 to ensure that all children in India receive an education. The funding will be used for programs like “Read India”, which aims to improve reading and arithmetic skills of children in the country’s rural areas.

PHOTO GALLERY

BMW X6, BMW X6M, Hybrids, Reports PHOTO GALLERY

At a time when automakers are presenting one hybrid after the other, BMW has is doing the exact opposite: the Bavarian company is killing the ActiveHybrid X6 SUV from its U.S. line-up. Dave Buchko, a spokesperson for BMW North America confirmed the news to enthusiast website Bimmerfile.

The full-hybrid variant of the X6 crossover was only just launched in 2009 as a 2010MY primarily targeting U.S. buyers, but sales on this side of the Atlantic proved to be poor.

The reason wasn't a lack of power: with a combined output of 480HP and a peak torque of 771.9 Nm (575 lb-ft) from its turbocharged V8 gasoline engine and two electric motors, the hybrid X6 could accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in a mere 5.4 sec.

No, the reason the X6 ActiveHybrid is waving good-bye to the American market is more pedantic: it is extremely pricey at US$88,900 and doesn't offer any significant gains in terms of fuel consumption as it tips the scales at 5,401 pounds (2,450 kg).

Apparently, most buyers of the X6 were more than willing to shell out the extra… six hundred bucks and opt for the US$89,500 550HP X6 M, even if it consumed 12% more gas the ActiveHybrid.

PHOTO GALLERY

ACEA Wants Carmakers to Adopt Standardized Charging Plugs for EVs

|

The European Union has already agreed with cell phone manufacturers to adopt a common charger format for their new phones. Therefore, consumers we will be able to buy a new phone without a charger, which up until now, was different to the one used by their old cellphone.

Now ACEA, the European car manufacturers association, is following the example and wants carmakers to adopt a common standard concerning chargers for their plug-in electric vehicles. To that end, it has already compiled a set of recommendations that stipulates the use of a uniform type of plug regardless of the country or power provider.

“This is a major step towards the broader introduction of electrically-charged vehicles in Europe and paves the way for a harmonized solution around the world”, said ACEA Secretary General Ivan Hodac. “We call on the European commission to adopt these recommendations and to clear remaining issues as soon as possible.”

Up until now, each manufacturer has introduced its own type of charger. A common type of chargers and charging stations will create a uniform infrastructure throughout the continent and is believed to help increase sales of electric vehicle across Europe.

According to Hodac, adopting a common standard will benefit not just the consumer, but also the carmakers and the charging stations providers: “Standardization provides predictability to investors, economies of scale and reduces costs. We have also ensured that our solution meets the highest safety standard and is easy to use.”

ACEA urges the EU to examine and approve of the new standard “as soon as possible”. Car manufacturers, on the other hand, want it implemented from 2017.

PHOTO GALLERY

Electric Vehicles, Hybrids, New Cars, Reports, Toyota, Toyota Prius, UK

After Toyota's U.S. arm came out with pricing details on the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the firm's British division is next in line to inform buyers what they're going to pay for the car when it goes on sale in Britain in the first half of 2012.

However, instead of giving a exact price tag, Toyota UK said the plug-in version of the Prius will "cost less than £31,000" before any government incentives, which can reduce the price to customer by up to £5,000, or under £26,000.

Toyota says that while official consumption numbers are still pending, it predicts the Prius Plug-in Hybrid will emit 49g/km of carbon dioxide and achieve 134.5mpg UK (equal to 112mpg US or 2.1lt/100km) combined cycle fuel economy (apparently when working in both pure electric and hybrid modes).

Ewan Shepherd, General Manager Toyota/Lexus Fleet Services commented: “Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be an exciting and valuable addition to what is already an industry-leading Toyota range that delivers significant financial benefits to companies and company car drivers with advanced and highly efficient models such as Prius and the British-built Auris Hybrid.”

Toyota added that it has entered a partnership with LeasePlan to support a corporate sales programme for Prius Plug-in Hybrid not only in the UK but also across the rest of Europe.

PHOTO GALLERY

64th Frankfurt Motor Show to present two new versions of its A8 large luxury sedan

Audi has chosen the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show to present two new versions of its A8 large luxury sedan as well as the brand-new 4.0 TFSI engine which will power the “S”-badged versions of its line-up.

The A8 Hybrid will go on sale on 2012 and unusually for such a big car, it features a relatively small-capacity four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled to a hybrid system. In reality, the A8 Hybrid is anything but underpowered: The 2.0-liter TFSI and the electric motor develop a combined output of 245 HP and 480 Nm (345.03 lb-ft) of torque for short periods of time.

Using its two motors that are mounted one behind the other the A8 Hybrid accelerates to 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph).

Unlike other hybrids, the A8 can travel up to speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) on electric power alone. It can also run for 3 km (1.8 miles) with zero emissions at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and its average consumption is less than 6.4 lt/100 km (36.75 mpg) while its CO2 emissions fall below 148 g/km.

The second version of the A8 displayed at the IAA is a limited edition named “Audi exclusive concept”, of which only 50 cars will be produced. Based on the standard W12 LWB version of Audi’s flagship sedan, it features Poltrona Frau leather in the interior, wood olive ash inlays used liberally throughout the cabin and special “Audi exclusive concept” logos.

Finally, Audi presented the new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that will power, in slightly different configurations, the S6 sedan and Avant, the S7 Sportback and the S8. Depending on the configuration, its maximum output ranges between 420 and 520 HP and its maximum torque reaches up to 650 Nm (479.4 lb-ft).

The 4.0 TFSI is very light and compact and features direct injection and two twin-scroll turbochargers located on the inside, rather than on the outside as is the usual practice, of the cylinder banks’ 90-degrees V.

It also has a cylinder deactivation system as standard, which in low to medium loads shuts down two cylinders reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and, when necessary, reactivates them without the driver noticing anything.

PHOTO GALLERY