On a fully charged battery, the Karma can run for about 32 miles before it needs to crank up its gasoline-burning turbocharged engine (See correction below.) which runs to generate electricity for longer drives. You might recognize this system as being very similar to that used in the Chevrolet Volt.
The obvious advantage is that drivers can enjoy enough smog-free electric motoring to get through a typical day without gasoline -- should they wish too -- while still having the flexibility a gasoline engine offers.
The downside is, you've got a battery pack running the length of the car plus a gasoline engine under the hood. That adds weight and weight is, generally speaking, the enemy of driving fun. Fisker engineers have done their best to moderate the impact but the effort didn't feel entirely successful.
Correction: We originally wrote that the Karma had a V8 engine. It has a turbocharged four-cylinder. engine.
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