Fisker Karma will go on sale in Europe next year priced at €78,780

California’s Fisker Automotive used January’s Detroit Auto Show to unveil the production version of the new Karma plug-in hybrid luxury saloon and today, at the Geneva Motor Show, the company unveiled its European strategy for the car.

The Karma is scheduled to hit showrooms in Europe by the second quarter of 2010 with a price tag of €78,780. Fisker is currently in negotiations with distributors and plans to create 40 dealer showrooms throughout Western Europe. U.S. versions of the Karma will go on sale this November at a price of $87,900.

While Fisker is an American company, its new Karma has some significance for Europe as the vehicle will be assembled by Valmet in Finland. Yearly volume is anticipated to reach 15,000 cars per year, with half of these earmarked for the European market.

Featuring a proprietary ‘Q-Drive’ powertrain, the Karma will have an all-electric range of 50 miles (80km). After the all-electric 50 miles, a petrol-powered 2.0L turbocharged, direct-injected GM Ecotec engine turns a generator to charge a lithium-ion battery. Output for the hybrid powertrain, which features two electric motors, is rated at 408hp (300kW) and a monstrous 959ft-lb (1,300Nm) of torque - enough to send the vehicle to a top speed of 125mph and push it from 0-60mph in just 5.8 seconds.

Fisker also used the Geneva event to showcase its recently-revealed Karma S convertible concept, which has been confirmed to enter production in 2011.