The Karma concept car from Henrik Fisker, was displayed for the first time on the main floor of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The concept will use a plug –in hybrid powertrain designed by the firm Quantum Technologies.

The right design

Henrik Fisker has the credentials for designing successful sports cars and for understanding the automotive market. When he worked for Aston Martin he designed the DB9. Fisker’s latest project is a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid sports car, which could well succeed in making it to the market.

Starting a new automotive company is not easy,but on the eve of the auto show, Fisker announced a new multi-million dollar investment by a venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers.

The company revealed that the powertrain for the new concept will be a serial design, in which power to the wheels always comes from the electric motor, and the small gasoline engine will be used strictly as a generator of electricity.

Chief engineer Thomas Fitz said that a decision has not yet been made whether to have a mechanical transmission in the powertrain. Some electric cars use them to dampen some of the tremendous torque from start up with an electric motor.

First to the market

Firker plans to begin selling the Karma in the fourth quarter of 2009 at a price of USD 80,000 (RMB 580,000) and up. If he meets that target, he could be first on the market with a plug-in hybrid. General Motors also promises a version of its Chevrolet Volt in 2010, revealed at Detroit in 2007. Although Fisker said he is confident of the start of production and sales, many obstacles remain, not least of which is the availability of the lithium-ion battery pack from Advanced Lithium Power that Fisker intends to use. Another environmental sports car company, Tesla Motors, is rumoured to have delayed plans to put a lithium-ion battery into series production this year.

Fisker says that its powertran will provide an all-electric driving range of up to 50 miles a day,provided the car is charged every evening. The Karma will use aluminium for body panels and interior structure to reduce overall vehicle weight. The lithium-ion bttery is at the centre of car, which will provide sporty handling.

“By designing around the technology and the driver to deliver a car with comfort, convenience and great design, we believe we have created a vehicle that will satisfy the consumer demand.” Says Fisker.

参考译文：

在底特律北美国际车展的主展示层上，来自Henrik Fisker的概念车Karma进行了它的处子秀。该概念车使用了Quantum技术公司设计的可插电式混合动力系统。

正确的设计

Henrik Fisker对于跑车的成功设计和对汽车市场的理解享有殊荣。当他为阿斯顿马丁（Aston Martin）工作时，他设计了D89。Fisker最新的项目是一款可插电式汽油－电力混合动力跑车，有望得市场推广的成功。

开一家新的汽车公司并不容易，但在车展的前夜，Fisker宣布了得到了风险投资公司Kieiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 数百万美金的投资。

公司透露新的混合动力系统将是串联式设计，在这种设计中，车轮的动力永远来自于电机驱动，而小型汽油机则只是用来作为电力的来源。

总工程师Thomas Fitz称是否在动力系统中采用机械变速器还没有最终定论。一些电动车采用机械变速器满足电动机发动车辆时所需要的巨大转矩需求。

市场的先驱

Fisker计划在2009年第四季度开始销售Karma，售价8万美金（58万人民币）以上。如果他能达到既定目标，那么他就将成为市场上第一量可插电式混合动力车。通用汽车公司也在2007年的底特律车展上透露，同类型的Chevrolet Volt将在2010年上市。尽管Fisker对于生产和销售的开始表示有信心，但是仍旧存在许多障碍，不仅仅是先进锂离动力电池组的问题。另一个环保跑车公司，Tesla Motors，据传已经延迟了今年将锂离子电池投入到系列产品的计划。

Fisker称如果每晚进行充电则他的动力系统在纯电动驱动下能够提供每天多达50英里的续驶里程。Karma将采用铝制车身板件和内部结构来减轻整个车身质量。锂离子电池是整部车的核心，能够提供跑车的运动驾驶感。

“通过围绕技术和驾驶员设计，我们相信我们已经创造了一辆满足顾客需求的车，一辆舒适，方便并饱含着伟大设计的汽车。”Fisker谈到。