The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A Closer Look at the Fisker Karma

You know how you get really excited about the concept cars that companies debut at auto shows, then are largely let down when you see the final production vehicle that barely resembles the original? That's not the case with the Karma. Fisker, which is run by the same man who created the sexy Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8, put out a car that stays true to its concept car origins. The car's haunches are tightly wrapped around it's standard 22-inch wheels and its low-slung body creates a real road presence. Too bad it didn't stick to its first-estimated price of $80,000.

Because Fisker is run by a designer, the Karma wasn't bogged down by finance or marketing departments during its conception. Therefore, the svelte, concept-car-looking body comes at the expense of practicality. There is little room for two adults in the back, with rear legroom short of a subcompact, and can barely eat a bag of golf clubs. The Karma is not ideal for a shopping trip with three of your best buds.

One reason for the Karma's poor fuel economy can be attributed to its 5,300 pound curb weight. The Karma weighs a bit more than an Audi Q7. That's also partially why it has such an unimpressive 0-60.

Like the Chevrolet Volt, the Karma has a traditional gasoline engine on board. The GM-sourced turbo four produces 260 hp, extending range another 250 miles and providing more oomph. When the Karma's batteries run low, the four-cylinder engine sparks into life as a generator for the batteries. When switched to "Sport" mode, the Karma will use the gas engine in conjunction with the electric motors for a total output of 403 hp and a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds. In "Stealth" mode without the help of the gas engine, the Karma scoots to 0-60 in a not-so-impressive 7.9 seconds (specs from Car & Driver).

Fisker had high hopes for its sexy green machine in the fuel economy department. Though 32 miles on an electric charge seems pretty good, that number falls short of Fisker's original claim of 50 miles on all-electric power. Fuel economy with the gasoline engine fired up is an EPA-rated 20 mpg combined. That number falls way short of the 100 mpg combined Fisker had estimated early on.

The Fisker Karma can drive 32 miles in all-electric "Stealth" mode from a 16-hour charge from a standard household socket. If plugged into a 220-volt socket, the charge time could be cut in half. The American's average commute of 30 miles per day can be covered by the Karma without using a drop of fuel.

The Karma is a car only for the eco-conscious with a high budget. The "base" model starts at around $103,000, while a top-of-the-line EcoChic will set you back $116,000 big ones.

At low speeds, the Karma emits a whir not dissimilar to a jet whine. So, if they don't notice you in your sleek new wheels, they'll certainly here you comin', and not in the Young Joc way.

The interior center stack is dominated by a 10.2 inch touch screen that handles all of the Karma's audio, climate, and navigation functions. This keeps the interior devoid of needless buttons and helps maintain an interior as sleek as the exterior. The digital speedo and consumption gauges are a neat touch, too.

Fisker extends the Karma's green cred to its nicely appointed interior. The Karma is available with leather from humanely killed cows or eco-friendly suede and fabric that gives the interior a modern and upscale look. The Karma features wood that has already been plucked from trees by mother nature herself. The woods featured are found on the ground in forests in the western U.S., at the bottom of Lake Michigan, or recovered from California wildfires. That special selection process probably added about $5,000 to the final price, though. Worth it?