Now that deliveries of the stylish 2012 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid have begun, the question most often asked of the automaker is “what comes next?"
A shooting brake (or station wagon, for us Americans) dubbed the Fisker Surf was shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show and will be the next Fisker model to hit dealer showrooms.
Talk of a small sedan and crossover from Fisker is nothing new, since vice-president Joe Biden spilled the beans on “Project Nina” after Fisker purchased the former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware.
Project Nina is the code name for a new, smaller platform from Fisker that will underpin a range of body styles. It is expected to debut first as a four-door sedan in 2013.
The Project Nina platform will also give rise to a crossover variant, according to reports from Britain’s AutoExpress. Like the Karma and Surf, both Nina variants will be extended-range electric vehicles.
An unnamed Fisker source described the Nina sedan as being the size of a BMW 5-Series, but having the price tag of a high-end BMW 3-Series. There’s no word yet on when the Fisker crossover will hit the market, or at what price.
Unlike the Karma and Surf, the new vehicles will be built in Fisker’s Delaware factory, and will use engines sourced from BMW. The Karma and Surf are built for Fisker by Valmet, in Finland, and use a GM-sourced 2.0-liter Ecotec engine to power the range-extending generator.
As AutoObserver reports, Fisker is on track to fill most Karma pre-orders by the end of the year.
The Fisker crossover will go head to head with the Tesla Model X crossover, whose development has been shrouded in secrecy. Look for a prototype Model X to be shown in the first quarter of 2012, with an “invited audience” getting a special preview before the end of this year.
+++++++++++
Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.
Have an opinion?
This is a bit confusing. The latest news that I've read is that Fisker has yet to get receive its EPA certification, an issue that further delays deliveries to October or November of this year. It was reported here on Green Car Reports on September 13th and as recently as yesterday there were reports that the car is still delayed (Fisker indeed raising another $150M http://cnnmon.ie/pHXeab).
Does anyone know which information is correct?
The deliveries referred to above are actually of manufacturer-plate cars, so they're not technically sales. That said, Fisker is producing cars at a steady clip and I anticipate sales to be recorded when certification does finally come through. If that hasn't happened by, say, December 1, then there will be significant reason to worry that something bigger is going on. Stay tuned ....
I'm definitely pulling for them. Fingers crossed...
These cars' prices are making them inconsequential to all but a select few.
The fact that the Karma boasts breath-taking design, cutting edge technology, and rarity brings legitimate substance to the price tag. It's a no-compromise car that makes the bold statement that luxury and social responsibility need not be mutually exclusive. When was the last time a Prius made you point, stare, and raise your heart rate?
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!