The Fisker Karma electric sports car has entered production for the first time, it emerged this week.

The Karma, a plug-in vehicle expected to provide serious competition to the Tesla Roadster, has been on the drawing board for years but could finally be with the first buyers by next month, according to reports from US-based Automotive News.

Priced at around €85,000, the final version of this sleek model debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2010 and attracted a lot of attention for its 480 km range, achieved using an extended range motor in the same manner as the Chevrolet Volt.

Using its 300 kW motor, the Karma offers a fuel economy of 2.4l/100km and emissions of 83g/km, as well as a top speed of 200 km/h.

It takes roughly six hours to recharge on a standard European 240-volt current and can manage 80 kilometers on all-electric power before the generator kicks in.

Fisker is keen to underline that there is “no mechanical link between gasoline engine and drive wheels” — in contrast to the Volt, which was criticized by some after its launch for a scenario in which the engine did contribute directly to the vehicle’s proportion.

Now, buyers in Europe and the US are set to finally get their hands on the Karma in the not-so-distant future, challenging Tesla’s dominance of the green sports car market and adding a new competitor for the likes of Porsche and Nissan as they rush to get fast, eco-friendly models to market.

Source: AFPrelaxnews