[bwilson4web]

http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/10/...pa-rating.html

Fisker Automotive got a lot of press over the last few years claiming that its exotic Fisker Karma*range-extended plug-in hybrid would deliver 50 miles of all-electric range. Now the official EPA rating for the car is out and the number falls far below that claim. The official numbers the $96,000 Karma (above) will wear on its window sticker are 52 miles per gallon-equivalent (mpg-e) in combined city and highway driving. This includes 32 miles of all-electric range, and 20 mpg when its gasoline engine/generator kicks in to provide electricity once the car’s lithium-ion battery pack is drained. The Karma’s EPA rating prompted conservative Fox News to post an item on its Web site suggesting the Karma is a fuel economy flop.

I was never impressed with the Fisker and when I saw one at the 2009 Detroit AutoShow, it went down a notch. The display had one surrounded by leggy models and when I asked about their pedestrian noise maker, the lady called it,"synthetic roar." . . . only my Southern ears heard 'whore.'

Still, I'm patient and was willing to wait until something real came out . . . and this is what it came in at. I don't know Fisker from Adam but this is really pretty disappointing performance.

Bob Wilson