Range-extended luxury car, the Fisker Karma has been named as the Automobile magazine’s 2012 ‘Design of the Year’.
The US publication’s editor honoured the model for its sleek lines and sporty look, writing that the Karma: “stands to become an icon, even without mention of its range-extended electric powertrain”.
The model is the brainchild of Henrik Fisker, the designer responsible for such modern standouts as the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9.
Automobile magazine’s design editor Robert Cumberford says the Karma; "is a beautiful and highly dramatic automobile, unlike anything else on the road today and yet very much like dozens of the most beloved sports cars of the past".
In receiving this award, the Fisker Karma joins an exclusive list of previous winners, such as the Ferrari 456GT (1995), BMW 6-Series (2005), and another Henrik Fisker design, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2007).
Using both its gasoline engine and electric motor, the Karma has a total system horsepower of 403, allowing the Karma to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds and achieve a top speed of 125 mph. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings, the Karma has an economy rating of 52 mpg city/highway (equivalent to around 62.45mpg).
Now arriving in showrooms in the US and selected European markets, the 2012 Karma costs around $96,850.
