Fisker

Fisker announces a four-seat plug-in hybrid convertible

Henrik Fisker is not slowing down. Following a positive reception to his Karma plug-in hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show, Frisker showed off the first picture of a two-door, four-seat convertible at the J.D. Power Roundtable in San Francisco today, according to Automotive News (subs req'd). That little picture is not all we know about this car, as Fisker said it will use the same PHEV powertrain as the Karma and will be available at around the same time (i.e., late 2009). If you've got an Automotive News subscription, you can see a larger version of the image above on the AN site. While the Karma has four-doors, there is a lot of styling carryover between the two vehicles (based on this one image). The wheels, grille, and body shape all look similar. The two obvious differences are the missing top and reduced number of doors. What do you see? (you can compare the shot above with a large 3/4 shot of the Karma

While some automakers flee Detroit, start-ups see opportunity

With all three of the domestic automakers scrambling to shed jobs at U.S. facilities including their Detroit area engineering facilities and headquarters, others are seeing opportunities. When Tesla Motors started doing some preliminary work on their WhiteStar sedan early in 2007, they opened an office in Rochester Hills and started hiring engineers who had left the domestics but had experience in body engineering and manufacturing. Those were both areas that Tesla had left largely to Lotus when the Roadster was being developed. Another aspiring alternative drive automaker is now apparently looking at southeast Michigan this time as a potential manufacturing base. After publicly showing a styling mockup of the Fisker Karma at the Detroit Auto Show, the designer-turned builder is considering staying in the area to do manufacturing. There is no shortage of shuttered factories and experienced auto workers in the area. In addition, most of the major suppliers who might be called upon to supply components, subsystems or even complete final assembly have at least offices or engineering facilities in the region. The Big Three might be scaling back as fast as they can but there seems to be no shortage of scavengers willing to pick through the wreckage to find some good pieces.

Advanced Lithium Power may be providing batteries for Fisker Karma

At the Detroit Auto Show, Henrik Fisker finally unveiled the Karma, the plug-in hybrid electric car he hopes to start selling in 2009. Actually what was unveiled was a curvaceous four door styling buck. There are no mechanical components. According to Fisker reps, there won't be a running prototype of the Karma until the end of 2008. When asked not much was available in terms of technical details. A little digging around has turned up some clues about what might be coming. Fisker's specialty is styling, not mechanicals. For that skillset he has formed a partnership with Quantum Technologies. Quantum however is not known for developing powertrains, they have specialized in compressed gas fuel storage systems. A couple of years ago Quantum purchased Tecstar, a company with some experience in powertrain development. In the realm of plug-in hybrids one problem that must be addressed is batteries. The obvious question that arises is who will supply the battery. The most likely candidate would be Advanced Lithium Power of Vancouver BC. ALP already has a relationship with Quantum through a program to convert some Ford Escape Hybrids to plug-in capability in Southern California. Not much detail is available right now about what technology ALP is using but perhaps we'll find out if and when Fisker and Quantum actually roll out a functional prototype.

Fisker Automotive gets multi-million dollar investment

Now that we've seen the Fisker Karma, we're glad to know more about the company behind this $80,000 plug-in hybrid. As part to the Karma's unveiling, Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, the company that is part of the joint venture behind Fisker Automotive, announced that the funding group Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers gave a second round of funding to Fisker. How much? Well, it's a "multi-million dollar investment [that] builds on the initial capital funding from Palo Alto Investors." More details than that were not divulged by Quantum. KPCB's managing partner, Ray Lane, said in a statement (pasted after the jump) that, "We believe that Fisker Automotive's groundbreaking, forward-thinking design stands to pave the way for a greener and more efficient transportation future." You can believe these things in a serious way when you've got millions of dollars to back up your belief.