Official Fisker Karma thread

[Jagular]

Of course, the media are going to blame the government and say that EVs aren't viable in the marketplace.

Fisker isn't a true EV; it's a hybrid and you only need to point to the Prius to dispute the viability and the success of the technology.

As for Fisker, the high price and low gas mileage in extended mode guaranteed it would be a flop and the viability of the company has always been a high risk. But even if it fails, it isn't a reflection of EV viability in the market. Tesla will be the true test of an EV startup.

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

More bad press for the Fisker-mobile:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bad-karma--our-fisker-karma-plug-in-hybrid-breaks-down.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We buy about 80 cars a year and this is the first time in memory that we have had a car that is undriveable before it has finished our check-in process.

Real smooth. I have to tip my hat to anyone who buys one of these; they are true pioneers.

 

[EdmondLeaf]

More bad press for the Fisker-mobile:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bad-karma--our-fisker-karma-plug-in-hybrid-breaks-down.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We buy about 80 cars a year and this is the first time in memory that we have had a car that is undriveable before it has finished our check-in process.

Real smooth. I have to tip my hat to anyone who buys one of these; they are true pioneers.

Very true

Building an all-new car company from the ground up is a monumental challenge, especially for a car with innovative drivetrain technology like the Karma. Designing, engineering, certification, manufacturing, and distributing an all-new car pose giant hurtles for a start-up company.

 

[LakeLeaf]

Consumer Reports video

It's a great looking car - too bad the roll out has hit some bumps and the financing is reported to be on shaky ground.

 

[cwerdna]

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073892_dead-fisker-karmas-one-may-be-a-fluke-but-is-two-a-trend" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; points out glitches during their test drive and poor exterior fit and finish.

I've not seen a production unit up close. I'd be curious to see it's as bad as they say.

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

"We rely on our early customers to identify issues like this for us," Russell Datz, Fisker's director of corporate communications, said cheerfully at the time.

Rather than through testing?

 

[Herm]

Rather than through testing?

Testing is expensive and funds are tight, so let the customers help.. after all they also want to save the planet.

 

[edatoakrun]

Fisker and its high-voltage battery supplier, A123 Systems, have identified a fault in the battery packs fitted to the Karma sedan and are beginning an initiative to replace all affected vehicles in the coming weeks.

The issue involves a manufacturing defect in some of the prismatic cells produced by A123 Systems at its Livonia, Michigan facility, which could result in “battery underperformance and decreased durability.” Fisker believes this is the same issue that affected the Consumer Reports Karma and was discovered by Fisker’s “Quality SWAT Team.”...

http://www.wired.com/autopia/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not a very good sign for the future outlook of Fisker, or A123, IMO.

Puts the concern, that one LEAF battery pack out of over thousands may be 8% below new battery spec, after almost a year of use, in a different perspective.

 

[cwerdna]

Someone on Priuschat posted http://youtu.be/rK8MqjagHu8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, an owner's review of their touchscreen UI. It is pretty bad.

I can't believe I actually watched all 41 minutes. If anyone cares, I posted my comments at http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-prius-plug-in/109594-glad-my-interface-toyota.html#post1563155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

The same owner has an earlier review of the car, in general. It's shorter and I haven't watched more than a few bits.

 

[JPVLeaf]

That was a brutal review. I couldn't stand to watch the whole 41 minutes.
When something s^@&$, how badly do you need to know how s^@&y something s^@&$!
Now, I see why he gave the 'center command center' an 'F-' in the earlier review,
which I had actually watched first.

Well, here is the earlier review done by Fisker Karma owner, Brian Greenstone,
about three months and 2200 miles after owning the car (3/7/12).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnYuO0bGSTc&feature=youtu.be

He's honest about it's flaws (exterior and interior build quality, center command center, weight, performance, solar panel, other peculiar design features, etc., ....). Overall gives the car a 'B+'. For a 6-figure car, though, you'd like to see that as an 'A'. But, people buy cars for all kinds of reasons. He seems to be happy with all 5300 pounds of it. Although having now watched his review of the command center, and given it's prominence, I'm surprised this didn't weigh down the overall score to a 'C'.

I haven't spent much of any time learning about the car, but I find it interesting that it wasn't meant to be a sports car. The styling sure seems to scream sports car. I wonder if that was just an after-the-fact commentary when it's performance couldn't live up to it's appearance.

Judge for yourself.

 

[LEAFer]

And whatever happened after the Texas fire where Fisker sent their own swat team and made a thinly veiled implication that the owner was responsible for the fire ?

 

[cwerdna]

Exclusive: Fisker Karma Hybrid Sets Itself On Fire And Burns While Owner Gets Groceries:
http://jalopnik.com/5933859/exclusive-fisker-karma-hybrid-sets-itself-on-fire-and-burns-while-owner-gets-groceries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's interesting that Dan Edmunds notes that "Heat has no exit. Entire exhaust system ahead of firewall."

 

[TomT]

I believe that there is very little possibility that Karma will survive...

 

[TonyWilliams]

I believe that there is very little possibility that Karma will survive...

You don't think somebody (China/India/Russia) might buy it?

 

[TomT]

I'm not sure that there is much of value there to buy but even if they did, I suspect it would be a very different looking company and vehicle.

I believe that there is very little possibility that Karma will survive...

You don't think somebody (China/India/Russia) might buy it?

 

[RegGuheert]

Exclusive: Fisker Karma Hybrid Sets Itself On Fire And Burns While Owner Gets Groceries:
http://jalopnik.com/5933859/exclusive-fisker-karma-hybrid-sets-itself-on-fire-and-burns-while-owner-gets-groceries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I liked this line in the article:

Kyle Fehr, a Jalopnik reader who witnessed the aftermath, says the owner seemed upset.

Ya think?

 

[LEAFer]

Exclusive: Fisker Karma Hybrid Sets Itself On Fire And Burns While Owner Gets Groceries:
http://jalopnik.com/5933859/exclusive-fisker-karma-hybrid-sets-itself-on-fire-and-burns-while-owner-gets-groceries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I liked this line in the article:

Kyle Fehr, a Jalopnik reader who witnessed the aftermath, says the owner seemed upset.

Ya think?

And being Woodside ... I am wondering whether it's one of the VC partner cars. (You know ... the VCs that invested in Fisker :shock: )

(Thanks, cwerdna, for posting the link.)

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

I'm not sure that there is much of value there to buy but even if they did, I suspect it would be a very different looking company and vehicle.

I believe that there is very little possibility that Karma will survive...

You don't think somebody (China/India/Russia) might buy it?

Tata is the obvious suitor. They are certainly no strangers to scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to quality, and it would provide CARB credits to offset range rover and jaguar.

 

[cwerdna]

I believe that there is very little possibility that Karma will survive...

Ditto, unless someone buys them out.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/08/second-fisker-karma-burns-did-ev1volt-engineer-predict-cause/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has a link to a YouTube video of the fire being put out.

 

[GRA]

Fisker just appointed Tony Posawatz as CEO:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/fisker-lands-former-gm-exec-and-chevy-volt-guru-tony-posawatz-as-ceo/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's hoping he can lead them to survival.