Fisker e-sportster debuts on infamous Laguna Seca circuit
The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid has made its public driving debut at the annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races - barely a year and a half after first being unveiled as a concept.
With Fisker chairman Bernhard Koehler behind the wheel, the Karma completed a single lap of the infamous Laguna Seca race circuit in …
A decent range on electric only for your workaday commutes, and the trousers to do a proper job on longer runs when required. Makes the new-gen Prius look a bit rubbish by comparison, considering Toyota's muscle. Now all they have to do is sell it for half the price and I'd seriously consider it.
"....the car will hit 125mph at full chat and get to 60 in under six seconds....."
So either the guy driving is the world's biggest girl's blouse or, in a typical bit of Yank car design, they've completely forgotten to build in the capability to go round corners.
Probably neither. The guy was likely told to take no chances given the value of the vehicle, and putting even an incredibly exciting street car on a race track is a recipe for boring. Even a pretty fast Porsche is dull on a quick track - which Laguna definitely is.
Hair-raising on the street is doze-inducing on a race track which is quite a bit wider than your usual 2-lane road.
Regardless, that was a truly awful marketing move - they've taken what might actually be a pretty fun car to drive on the street, and made it look like it's abjectly awful - and chosen a shot of the driver that drives the point home! Smooth...
Reality check: My 8 yr old Maxima will still do 140 mph, 0-60 in under 7 sec, and seats 4 comfortably with only 225 HP, gets an honest 28 mpg highway (if I behave myself), has one of the cleanest exhausts around (CA spec), has at least another 50K miles in it and all that with a current blue-book value less than $10K. Wake me when they start selling something other than hype and an "excellent experience". If I want the latter, I'm only a 5 hr drive from Las Vegas (and 2 hrs from Hollywood) where I can find much better hype and experiences for the $75K "value" difference. And, keeping mine is much greener and kinder on the planet (considering full life-cycle cost) than scraping it and buying that, electric plug-in notwithstanding.
Ok, OK, it's a better babe-magnet, but that's about it. On second thought... :-)
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Fisker e-sportster debuts on infamous Laguna Seca circuit
The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid has made its public driving debut at the annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races - barely a year and a half after first being unveiled as a concept. With Fisker chairman Bernhard Koehler behind the wheel, the Karma completed a single lap of the infamous Laguna Seca race circuit in …
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Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 11:27 GMT
Rob Haswell
Granny driving #
I've had faster shits than that
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 11:27 GMT
Dan Howarth
Still sounds like... #
... a milk float. :)
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Elron
Sedately!! #
<Quote>to let us all see Koehler enter the fearsome Turn 8 corkscrew in manner that can only be described as sedate.</Quote>
You know, you drive almost slow enough to drive Miss Daisy...
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Shakje
The title.. #
Thought it was about the e-sports player Fisker starting out a racing career
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Annihilator
Boooorrrrreeedd #
Around 26 seconds in, cut to the driver, looking like he's out for a Sunday drive.
I'm amazed it had to even slow down for the corkscrew at those speeds.
Mind you, in true GT4 fashion, you should just gun it and hope there's no spin. Gawd bless no damage.
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Alex King
What a hybrid should be #
A decent range on electric only for your workaday commutes, and the trousers to do a proper job on longer runs when required. Makes the new-gen Prius look a bit rubbish by comparison, considering Toyota's muscle. Now all they have to do is sell it for half the price and I'd seriously consider it.
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Craig McAllister
sounds like a blowoff valve.. turbo? #
... but it's electric. And they need to sort out that transmission-whine noise, it's horrific.
C
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
karakalWitchOfTheWest
Just one problem... #
...it sounds like a Viennese underground tram...
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Anonymous Coward
I misread the name as Korma #
and I've had one of those go through me quicker than the Karma goes round that track :)
nice try though
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
TeeCee
Typical. #
"....the car will hit 125mph at full chat and get to 60 in under six seconds....."
So either the guy driving is the world's biggest girl's blouse or, in a typical bit of Yank car design, they've completely forgotten to build in the capability to go round corners.
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 17:33 GMT
Laurent_Z
A new name for the sporster ! #
Frisker "Sedate" ?
Looks as fun t drive as a first price Logan...
Anyone has an idea of what the competition looks like @ 84K$ ?
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 23:49 GMT
David W.
@TeeCee #
Probably neither. The guy was likely told to take no chances given the value of the vehicle, and putting even an incredibly exciting street car on a race track is a recipe for boring. Even a pretty fast Porsche is dull on a quick track - which Laguna definitely is.
Hair-raising on the street is doze-inducing on a race track which is quite a bit wider than your usual 2-lane road.
Regardless, that was a truly awful marketing move - they've taken what might actually be a pretty fun car to drive on the street, and made it look like it's abjectly awful - and chosen a shot of the driver that drives the point home! Smooth...
Posted Wednesday 19th August 2009 23:54 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Yawnzzz... #
Reality check: My 8 yr old Maxima will still do 140 mph, 0-60 in under 7 sec, and seats 4 comfortably with only 225 HP, gets an honest 28 mpg highway (if I behave myself), has one of the cleanest exhausts around (CA spec), has at least another 50K miles in it and all that with a current blue-book value less than $10K. Wake me when they start selling something other than hype and an "excellent experience". If I want the latter, I'm only a 5 hr drive from Las Vegas (and 2 hrs from Hollywood) where I can find much better hype and experiences for the $75K "value" difference. And, keeping mine is much greener and kinder on the planet (considering full life-cycle cost) than scraping it and buying that, electric plug-in notwithstanding.
Ok, OK, it's a better babe-magnet, but that's about it. On second thought... :-)
This topic is closed for new posts.