Karma: The New Luxury

Luxury in an automobile used to be about conspicuous extravagance. “My car is bigger and more comfortable than yours,” was the message, “so I am obviously wealthier than you.”

In the modern world of resource constraints and changing climate, however, there are different values to embrace and different messages to send. Today, more and more drivers want to demonstrate environmental responsibility and a commitment to sustainability, even as they enjoy something special. The Fisker Karma was created for that new ethic.

Of course the car is strikingly styled: long and low, with sweeping lines and a unique character. But that shape is also aerodynamically clean to reduce the car’s energy requirements when under way. And the interior is elegant and tasteful, but there are stories behind the materials: the wood trim is reclaimed from sunken logs in Lake Michigan or burned orchards in California, and the leather comes from a low-emissions, energy self-sufficient tannery in Scotland. (Buyers can also specify an animal-free interior if they prefer.)

The Karma is quick and responsive, as befits a premium automobile, but its powertrain is thoroughly unlike anything else on the market. This is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which runs solely on battery power for up to 50 miles. After that, a highly efficient gasoline engine kicks in to drive a generator, recharging the battery pack and extending the car’s range another 250 miles. Thus, the Karma offers industry-leading fuel-efficiency and the lowest emissions of nearly any production automobile.

That combination of elegant style and genuine environmental sensitivity defines what luxury really means in this age.