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Fisker Karma
- Thread starter vfx
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- Electric Vehicles fail Fisker karma
Tdave
Member
EVNow
Well-Known Member
Actually it did - in particular critics tried to say Fisker got money because of its link with Al Gore. When I search for Fisker & Al Gore, I get 19K hits, led by WSJ. Gore is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers which invests in Fisker.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125383160812639013.html
Infact there are articles complaining about linking Gore to Fisker while not mentioning Powell, also a partner at KP.
http://earth2tech.com/2009/02/05/why-colin-powell-likes-the-fisker-karma-kleiner/
It's well deserved. Heck ALL of Tesla's models are going to be built here in the USA (or assembled in the case of the roadster gliders), yet Fisker plans to operate overseas at first and still gets loans? meh
EVNow
Well-Known Member
FiskerBuzz
Member
Some quality photos are starting to appear as the Karma moves around the country.
A member on the waiting list posted these great shots on our forum and I thought I'd share. Certainly the most detailed interior photos out there.
http://fiskerbuzz.com/forums/Thread-Karma-In-The-Flesh
Touch screen concept in common with the Tesla Model S prototype:
I can't wait until the cars are finally opened up for driving scrutiny.
For California they list:
I wasn't aware of this city of Silicon Valley, CA. I assume they mean San Jose.
This looks like a change:
For some reason this charge port used to be rotated 90 degrees.
didn't know they copied the touchscreen thing too. I dunno, something about this car (and company) just doesn't mesh for me... I'll wait for the Model S or Audi's electric offering
Arnold Panz
Model Sig 304, VIN 542
The design of the car is beautiful, inside and out, but I'll be stunned if any appear on the road by the end of this year, which is what all the news reports are saying. If they get delayed, it could cause problems for them. I just don't see how they can get everything up and running as quickly as that. I agree -- something's fishy with this whole company.
The exterior has definitely grown on me, though it would be great if you could replace that ugly orange logo up front with a more monochromed version like on the steering wheel.
FiskerBuzz
Member
I'm sure it's possible - doesn't seem like a difficult modification. A simple high-quality vinyl sticker would do the trick even (as used on modified BMW roundels).
Fisker's relative speed to production is possible thanks to Valmet Automotive. Valmet has extensive experience with contract manufacturing - nothing fishy about the arrangement at all. You also have to remember that Henrik Fisker himself has quite the automotive development background - he knows what it takes to launch a vehicle.
Of course, and end user can mod their car in any way they choose, but it's just strange to me that a company that supposedly puts a big emphasis on design would do that. Colored logos rarely look good on cars, and when they do it's usually neutral tones (like the blue and white on BMW and VW logos), but orange?
And yet, a car slated to be delivered this year has yet to be driven by anyone or even preliminarily reviewed. The Volt has... You may be right in the end, but it doesn't change the fact that it seems very fishy.
Arnold Panz
Model Sig 304, VIN 542
I thought Henrik Fisker had experience with automotive design, not necessarily production, and by production, I mean everything that's required to get a car from prototype to in the hands of actual consumers. Fisker's outsourcing of basically everything except the design aspects seems like a very large risk to me. I don't know how carefully they're monitoring what Valmet is doing, but a thousand (or more) different things have to come together in just the right way at just the right time for a car to be built and launched successfully, and even automakers who outsource large parts of that process are intimately involved in every step of that process.
I just don't get the same sense of rigor or diligence with Fisker -- they seem very laize faire in their approach to the production aspects and seem totally consumed by the design aspects. Hey, if everything works and the Karma hits dealerships by the end of the year, I'll become a believer, and maybe even buy one, but I'm not holding my breath (or making a deposit).
EVNow
Well-Known Member
Being basically a car designer - Fisker probably doesn't even want to get too involved in production & "dirty" his hands. I've to wonder how their Nina project will ever work ... may be he will hire a COO and stay out of production related withngs.
The real question mark is the serial hybrid drivetrain from (the hyperbolically named) Quantum Technologies. Supposedly they're using UQM motors, an engine from GM, and A123 batteries. What is Quantum's contribution again?
With all the tweaking GM has been public about regarding NVH and driver expectations regarding how the accelerator affects engine RPM, etc. Fisker/Quantum seem rather silent.
With all the tweaking GM has been public about regarding NVH and driver expectations regarding how the accelerator affects engine RPM, etc. Fisker/Quantum seem rather silent.
EVNow
Well-Known Member
From the PopScience article on Fisker - IIRC - Quantum made a prototype hydrogen/BEV serial hybrid vehicle for the military. They sold that idea to fisker - and in essence own the design of the hybrid drivetrain.
Well, for GM the whole Volt thing is a PR exercise. It may have even made it easier for the government to save GM.
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