The first deliveries of the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in were originally scheduled for 2009, and then 2010, and have now slipped to early 2011. The price for the Fisker has similarly been a moving target.

The price of the Karma, first announced at $80,000, has mostly recently climbed to $95,900 for EcoStandard; $103,900 for EcoSport; and $108,900 for EcoChic.

The company aims to build and sell about 15,000 Karmas in 2011, although that goal will be increasingly difficult to meet with each passing month that Fisker delays the first sales.

As with most plug-in vehicles, the Fisker Karma qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit—which you can claim on your federal income taxes if you purchase it yourself. You will only qualify for the entire credit if you have a tax liability more than that amount. When you lease the vehicle Fisker Automotive is able to use the entire $7,500 tax credit as an additional down payment on the lease and then can claim the tax credit themselves. In addition to the federal tax credit, many states offer additional lucrative incentives—including state tax credits, instant cash rebates, carpool lane access, and special parking privileges.

As with all cars running on electricity and an electric motor, the Karma’s operating cost per mile can be several times lower than a comparable combustion-engined vehicle. Using the U.S. average electricity price of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, the Fisker Karma will cost approximately 3-4 cents per mile to operate. Electricity prices are incredibly variable around the country and world, so you'll want to do your own calculations depending on where you live.

The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid, so you'll also need to consider how often you'll be driving long distances, beyond the range of the battery pack, and the cost of a gallon of gasoline.

The Fisker Karma’s closest all-electric competition is the Tesla Roadster—a smaller and more expensive pure electric sportscar. Tesla’s upcoming 2013 Model S sedan is even a closer match in terms of size and capability—although the Model S is expected to sell for about $50,000 after incentives. Bear in mind that there’s no confirmed pricing yet on the Model S, and product delays are common for new vehicles from start-up companies. The field of fast luxury electric sportscar is limited, and is widely viewed as a stepping stone to more mainstream accessible electric offerings.