Fisker Automotive has been quiet for the past two months since the announcement that the cars would be built in Finland by Valmet. As we know, mass producing cars is an enormously expensive proposition which means any company that wants to get into the business has to raise some serious cash. With that in mind Fisker has just completed its third major fundraising round. The biggest chunk of the new $65 million investment is coming from the Qatar Investment Authority with extra funds coming from Kleiner Perkins and Palo Alto Investors. Fisker is still hoping to launch production of the Karma plug-in hybrid sports car in the fourth quarter of 2009. This marks the latest investment in green technologies by Middle Eastern investors. The conspiracy theorists will of course think these investors are just trying bury the technology - especially if Fisker fails to thrive (something that is likely regardless of who puts up the money). The more realistic analysis is simply diversification with the realization that getting rich from oil will eventually become impossible. The Fisker press release is after the jump.

[Source: Fisker]

Click above for more shots of the Fisker Karma

While you could certainly argue that developing just one single new plug-in hybrid vehicle is about as difficult a task as a small automaker could handle, Fisker Automotive is rumored to be working on four such models. Of course, that task should be just a little bit easier thanks to the help of Quantum Technologies, the company that has been tasked with providing the automaker with the hybrid drivetrain for its sedan. As it is, Fisker has pretty ambitious plans for its sedan, the Karma, with the goal of selling 15,000 units per year by 2011. The four new shapes would include a coupe, a convertible and, oddly enough, an SUV and all would use the same basic underpinnings. Expect all of these models to carry a pretty high price - though an additional piece of good news from the rumormill indicates that the automaker is also planning a new lower-cost PHEV as well. We look forward to seeing how this all pans out.


[Source: Channel 4]

We were telling you recently about the Fisker Karma showing up in fake camo stickers as part of a PR campaign. This being the 21st century and all, video, as well as the still photos, was taken and now is available on YouTube. Said video is equipped with sound and has the Karma accelerating to the tune of something akin to twin turbines. Having heard previously that an actual running prototype of the car wouldn't be seen until closer to the sunset of 2008, we have to wonder what it is making all that racket powering this machine. Is it the rumored VW engine or an electric drivetrain? It doesn't exactly sound like the cross between a "Formula 1 car and a jet plane" that Monsieur Fisker spoke of during it's unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show. Perhaps it's just a simulation of a jet via speakers. Not being able to decide ourselves we leave it to you, the treasured reader, to let us know in your comments after viewing the video on the other side of the jump.

Come rain, come shine... come lawsuits, Fisker appears determined not to let anything get in the way of a late 2009 launch for its upcoming Karma electric sedan. Along with the spy shots over on Autocar, the first indication of what on-board powerplant will charge the batteries is mentioned: a Volkswagen 1.4 liter. No mention is made of which 1.4 liter engine is being considered for the Karma, but we'd imagine it'll be a basic engine without forced induction of any sort if we had to wager an early guess. There is also no mention of whether or not the photographed sedan was using battery power or dino power. Regardless, seeing the Fisker Karma undergoing testing in California gives a bit of a the "warm fuzzies" to those who are in anticipation of the vehicle, which, as its second place finish in our list of the Top 20 most exciting green cars proves, definitely includes AutoblogGreen.

UPDATE: For what it's worth these photos were not captured by a photographer hiding in the bushes. They were apparently actually put out by Fisker's Beverly Hills PR agency Rogers & Cowan. We still don't know anything about the mechanicals of the car in question, only that Fisker is trying to generate some buzz.

[Source: Autocar, Autoweek]

In spite of the recent lawsuit brought against Fisker Automotive Inc. by Tesla Motors, Fisker says they are still on track to deliver cars in the fourth quarter of 2009. Fisker's partners and investors in the venture are stepping up to defend the designer in the dispute and insist the Karma PHEV is still on track. The lawsuit revolves around the contract that Fisker had to design the body for Tesla's WhiteStar sedan. Tesla was apparently not satisfied with Fisker's work and ultimately chose to look elsewhere. Fisker went on to hook up with Quantum Technologies and get venture funding from Kleiner Perkins to create his own car. Tesla is alleging that Fisker used his knowledge of WhiteStar in the development of the Karma. Fisker claims all his design contracts are non-exclusive which is undoubtedly true. But even non-exclusive contracts don't give the contractor the right to use proprietary information on other projects. We here at ABG don't have any knowledge of the details of what happened between Tesla and Fisker. Tesla hasn't revealed much about the WhiteStar and Fisker hasn't said much about the technical details of the Karma. Frankly, regardless of what happens with the lawsuit, given that Fisker doesn't have a running prototype yet, a Q4 2009 delivery seems highly unlikely but we'll be waiting and watching. Fisker's latest press release is after the jump.

Click above for high-res live gallery of the Fisker Karma

It's a bit ironic that the Tesla WhiteStar sedan and the Fisker Karma grace our list back-to-back as the number two and three most exciting green cars we wish we could buy today. As you're probably aware, news has surfaced that Henrik Fisker was tasked with the design of a Tesla product before being dismissed from the project. Depending on which side you believe, Fisker then either stole Tesla know-how or salvaged his work by introducing his own electric sedan, the Karma. Either way, we think the design of the Karma is amazing and hope that it does in fact see the light of day.



Ready for Number 1?

You know how it goes, when there's smoke... Tesla Motors is reportedly suing Fisker Automotive for stealing inside design ideas. As rumors indicated earlier this week, Henrik Fisker apparently was hired by Tesla to style their upcoming Whitestar sedan. The styling was not to Tesla's liking, either by accident or on purpose - likely depending on who you ask -- so Fisker's designs were rejected. At that time, Tesla claims that Fisker and some associates took what they learned from Tesla and started their own project, which was unveiled recently, ironically enough, as the Karma sedan.

We should point out that it's too early to know where the truth lies when it comes to this story. Tesla is suing for the money it paid Fisker for design work along with unknown damages. There's been no response as of yet from Fisker. We'll surely be keeping you up-to-date when we find out more.

[Source: The New York Times]

Although it's obvious that Fisker has a long-ways to go when it comes to moving their Karma PHEV sedan from its current conceptual stage to its hopeful production stage, Fisker has reportedly set up its first European importer: Fisker Italia. Currently, this means next to nothing, but Fisker execs say that they expect to export more than half of their cars if and when the Karma does actually go into production, so Italian fans of the sleek electric sedan can now start saving up their pennies for a hopeful debut in 2010.

Fisker continues pointing to the fourth-quarter of '09 for North American deliveries of the Karma and add that they have "received great interest from 44 North American markets in which it hopes to have retail representation." We'll just take that for what its worth and remain hopeful that Fisker is able to pull this off.

Click above for more high-res images of the Fisker Karma

There is one major problem with the current list of electric or hybrid sedans on the market right now: they are seen as boring by many people. Sure, some drivers have fun in their hybrids by squeezing the most mileage that they can from a gallon of gas, and many people have a good time with the "eco-screen" that many vehicles come equipped with, but those features could hardly be described as "sexy". Henrik Fisker plans to change all of that with the Karma, his hybrid sedan capable of 125 miles per hour and a 6 second rush to 60. According to Fisker, ''For me it's important to create a vehicle that's so sexy you've just got to have it, and later you find out that you can go 80 kilometers (50 miles) without using any gas." That sounds like pretty good reasoning. For drivers who want to to be green and look good doing it, the Karma may be the perfect vehicle.

For what it's worth, we think that the Karma is a beautiful car, and sincerely hope that Fisker is able to get it into production for the end of '09 as is currently planned.

[Source: Forbes Autos]