Fisker Automotive Inc., an electric car maker, plans to build 70-100 Karma plug-in hybrid cars this year through Finland-based contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive, for testing purposes.

"Some of them will be given to customers for testing purposes as well, out in the real road.", Ray Lane, managing partner at U.S. venture capital fund Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers said.

The Fisker Karma will be built in Finland, at Valmet's factory, which also makes the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, using components sourced from suppliers in the United States.

Lane said that Fisker will start mass production of the Karma sedan in February with a planned 15,000 units annually. Fisker also has plans to do a convertible version of the Karma shortly after the sedan hits roads.

The Karma is a rechargeable luxury sports car, similar in size to the 7 series and Mercedes-Benz S class, and its power comes from two electric motors, producing 300 kW (402 bhp / 408 PS) and 1,300 Nm (959 lb/ft) of torque, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, which allows the Karma to travel 80km (about 50 miles) on a single charge in electric-only mode. A generator attached to a 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec direct injection gasoline engine by General Motors provides a total range of 482km (300 miles). The drive wheels are solely powered by the electric motors. The Karma can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 125 mph.

Fisker, which has been granted $529 million in U.S. government funding, also plans a mid-sized Nina sedan in 2012, similar to BMW's 5-series, with a lower-cost that will be built in a former General Motors U.S. factory in Delaware.

The 4-door sport-sedan coupe will be sold for $87,900 in the United States and 78,780 euros ($96,415) in Europe.