Fisker Automotive, the passion project of former BMW head Henrik Fisker, is soon opening its first LA dealership in Santa Monica.

Fisker is an American premium hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer based in Anaheim, CA. The company’s first release is the 2011 Fisker Karma, a luxury 4-seater that looks much closer to an Aston Martin than a Nissan Leaf.  The beautiful lines speak for themselves, Fisker has definitely solved the problem of the ugly hybrid, and with zero emissions, it actually pollutes less than a prius. The car burns no fuel for the first 50 miles after a charge, and then operates as a normal hybrid until it maxes out at 300 miles. On the performance side, the car does 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 143 mph (95 if you want to stay electric-only). The company has been offering test drives to car editors, and reviews have been positive, and the base price is surprisingly competitive given its sex appeal and eco status – the base price is about $95,000.  It seems like a crazy bet to start a car company when so many auto manufacturers are struggling to stay afloat, but they already have over 3,000 pre-orders.

While many of the vehicles will be manufactured in Finland, the design and engineering are done right here in the States, and the company recently purchased an assembly plant in Wilmington, DE. We’re especially excited that they are launching a convertible version of the Karma next year called the “Sunset.”  Can’t wait to see it on the road.