Irivne, CA based Fisker Automotive is close to releasing its Karma model, which has the beauty of a Maserati and fuel economy better than a Prius.

The Karma is the first vehicle released by Fisker Automotive, and it is powered by Q-Drive technology and an innovative petrol engine/electric motors combination. Q-Drive is a “series hybrid system” meaning that the engine is paired with a generator to provide an electrical connection to the motor and also recharge the batteries. The gasoline engine actually never powers the car, it solely acts as a generator to recharge the batteries.

The Karma can be fitted with a solar-paneled roof not only to aid in the recharging of its batteries but also to power the climate control systems. The solar roof is capable of generating a half kilowatt-hour a day and is estimated to provide up to 4 to 5 miles (6.4–8.0 km) of additional mileage.

Follow this link for the official 2010 Fisker Karma Specifications.

If you want to get a closer look at the Karma, please view the video below:

Typically as new technolgies and products are released, the price for early adopters is almost always out of reach for the average buyer. The Karma is expected to sell for between $90k-$100k. Hopefully, by the time that plugin hybrids have reached maturity this combination of form and function will be available to the average car enthusiast. As we wrote about earlier, hybrid cars are not the perfect solution to saving the environment, but these automobiles are a step in the right direction.