LA Auto Show - 2011 Fisker Karma

Today, all car buyers are closely considering sustainability. Tesla may have been the first automaker to cater to green-minded drivers who crave performance, but they won't have a lock on that market forever. Fisker, a custom coachbuilder-turned-automaker, proposes a slightly different formula with its plug-in hybrid Karma sedan.

Much like the Chevy Volt, Fisker calls the Karma a fully electric vehicle and considers its GM-sourced on-board 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine a range extender. Unlike Tesla’s two-seat Roadster, the on-board generator allows the four-seat Karma to travel beyond the 50-mile range of its battery pack.

The Karma’s added utility, coupled with distinctive low-slung styling, may engage affluent eco-buyers who need the extra space and range. Others may be intrigued by the Karma’s extensive use of sustainable materials. Its wool-based carpeting is bound by a backing comprised mostly of ground plant fibers. Wood trim is sourced from trees that have either reached the end of their lifespans, been burned in forest fires, or were recovered from lake beds. An available vegan interior trim package dubbed "EcoChic" features organic Bamboo Viscose seating surfaces and uses glass-framed leaf fossils as a cabin centerpiece. 

The 125 MPH Karma will be available through 52 dealerships in late 2010.

Build and price your new car. 

Explore all the new models in the New Model Showcase.

Find your new car for sale.