Fisker Automotive hasn’t gotten the production version of their Karma sedan to consumers yet but as the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show opens, we have our first look at the newest model from the innovative automaker – the Fisker Surf.
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Fisker previously offered a shadowy teaser picture of the new Surf concept clearly showing the lines of the production-bound Karma sedan, except with a new rear end that adds the shooting brake form. You can cover the back end of the Surf and it looks identical to the Karma sedan which can only be looked at as being a good thing, as the Fisker Karma combines luxury styling with a sporty feel that makes the car both aerodynamic and very sharp looking. The Fisker Surf was named this because a surf board will fit inside of this luxury hybrid; stressing the added cargo space in this larger vehicle. Also, unlike the Sunset convertible concept that has made its rounds of the auto show circuit, the Surf will join the Karma in production.
The heart of the Fisker Surf is the hybrid drivetrain, which uses a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder and an electric drive motor provide a total of 403 horsepower and 981lb-ft of torque. When this drivetrain is applied to the Karma sedan, it offers up to 50 miles of all-electric driving in Stealth mode but in Sport mode, the Karma will run from 0-60mph in just 6.3 seconds. The larger Surf is 77 pounds heavier so while the Surf’s performance and range may differ from that of the Karma, it shouldn’t be much of a difference. However, thanks to the enlarged roofline, the Surf has a larger and more capable solar roof than the Karma sedan, which improves the Surf’s abilities to gather energy from the sun – that means more “free” charging!
The US-based automaker expects that Fisker Surf buyers can expect to receive their sporty new shooting brake hybrid to reach their driveways as early as July 2012. Like the Karma sedan, the Fisker Surf will be built at the Valmet Automotive plant in Finland while we still expect future compact Fisker models (currently named project Nina) to be built in the newly acquired Fisker plant in Delaware. No price has been offered but with slightly more technology than the Karma, we can expect the Fisker Surf to cost slightly more than the sedan. The only pricing comment from Fisker officials was "It will be like the Ferrari FF but with four doors and at one-third the price.”
You can check out the new Fisker Surf for yourself in the gallery on the right and the links below offer more news from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show!
Other 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show News:
Lamborghini confirms Sesto Elemento production in Frankfurt
Frankfurt: The 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale
The production form of the 2012 Ford Focus ST debuts in Frankfurt
Fear of Crisis at the Frankfurt Auto Show
Subaru Reveals Complete Details on Urbanized XV Crossover at Frankfurt Auto Show
Opel RAK e Concept targets EV affordability at Frankfurt Motor Show
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