A PHEV elected car of the year !

The Fisker Karma Sunset PHEV hardtop convertible coupe has been named 2009 Production Preview Concept of the Year, part of the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. Henrik Fisker, CEO of California-based Fisker Automotive, accepted the honors today during a ceremony at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.

The North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards, now in its eighth year, recognizes those vehicles most likely to shape the future of the automobile industry. A jury of more than two dozen automotive journalists selected the Karma Sunset over vehicles from seven other major manufacturers. The Production Preview category is for vehicles based on a model that has already been announced or is planned for production. The Fisker Karma Sunset was unveiled to rave reviews in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Based on the same architecture and driven by the same Q-DRIVE(R) hybrid electric powertrain as the Fisker Karma -- scheduled to be the world's first commercially available Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) -- the Sunset's hardtop convertible coupe configuration gives it the perfect blend of style, sportiness and efficiency. It will be available in 2011 through Fisker's global retail network. The company is already accepting deposits.

"We are honored the Karma Sunset has received such great recognition," said Fisker Automotive CEO and lead designer Henrik Fisker. "The Karma Sunset, along with the talented Fisker Automotive team that helped develop it, proves environmentally friendly vehicles can be fast and sexy, too."

"As the industry's emerging paradigm shift rewrites the book on how cars are designed and manufactured, the Fisker Karma Sunset concept is a bellwether for the auto industry's second century," said Tom Kelley, juror and founder of the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards.

Source : Carz Unlimited, June 24th, 2009