Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a hybrid car that’s not only efficient, but also fast, sexy and luxurious? If so, then the Fisker Karma could be the right car for you. Conceptualized by Fisker Automotive, this premium plug-in hybrid electric sportscar proves that style, performance, madness and the environment can somehow live in harmony.

The four-door hybrid has been designed and engineered in California to provide an all-electric, zero emissions range of 50 miles (80 kilometers). Plus, it also has the ability to travel 300 miles (480 kilometers) on a full charge and a single tank of gas. It’s a series Plug-in Hybrid system, and Fisker calls it a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the Karma also gets a 2.0 litre petrol engine that acts primarily as a generator for the battery pack, which sends electricity to two electric traction motors attached to the rear differential. Fisker claims that performance will be a priority, with an expected 0 to 60mph (0-96km/h) time of six seconds, and a top speed of 125mph (201km/h).

Fisker has had ambitious plans for some time, but these plans were diverted off-track courtesy of the financial problems that gripped the American auto industry. This caused a delay in development and production. However, the company recently secured an additional $115.3 million (`520 crores) of funds through private equity investors to keep the project alive. And with this funding in place, it now has the option to access a $528.7 million (`2,400 crores) conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to help realize its objective.

With the funding and loans in place, the Karma is going to lead the charge followed by other projects like the NINA, a low-cost plug-in hybrid that’s also in the works. Production of the Karma is expected to start in 2012. Starting at $87,900 (`40 lakhs), the Fisker Karma is scheduled to be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February next year.

Scarlet to Green! Ferrari plans a 612 Hybrid

The Prancing Horse is believed to be working on a replacement to the 612 Scaglietti that will come with a hybrid arrangement. The Scaglietti was originally manufactured in 2004 as a grand tourer, and was a replacement to the drop-dead gorgeous 456M.

The planned hybrid replacement of the 612 is expected to offer an electric motor which will put out the equivalent of 100bhp – this, of course, is in addition to a V12 powerplant that’ll produce around 550bhp. It’s speculated that the hybrid drivetrain will help in reducing CO2 emissions by about 35 percent.

The 612 Scaglietti replacement is expected to come with a similar setup to that of the hybrid 599 concept, which was showcased at Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The 599 hybrid featured a tri-phase electric motor, which is driven by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The electric unit sends power via one of the two clutches, while the other acts as a KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) – using regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

It appears that scarlet to green is possible after all.

The three-wheeled green delight

You’d be forgiven for mistaking the car in the picture for an Ariel Atom. It is, in fact, a powerhouse on three-wheels called the Torq – an electric vehicle conceptualized by Epic Electric Vehicles.

The Torq is a two-seat sports car that’s propelled by Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, which are capable of producing the equivalent of 200 horsepower. The electric unit is mated to a single speed transmission that also incorporates a reverse gear.

The bug-like Torq looks to be a fairly well crafted machine, as it measures 4,414mm in length, 2,210mm in width, and 1,220mm in height. Weighing 771kgs, this three-wheeled machine can be charged either through a 110 volt plug-point or a 220 volt socket. Full details about the Torq are still awaited, but it’s a rolling display of the kind of innovations being brought to market by independent EV makers like Epic Electric Vehicles.