After multiple production delays over a couple years, the Fisker Karma finally arrived to dealerships in late 2011. So, as if to undermine any good feeling derived from the launch, Fisker Automotive promptly jacked up the price of the Karma.

The six-percent increase is unlikely to sway potential Karma buyers one way or the other, but this is one more sign of mismanagement and customer disrespect at Fisker. The long list of bad karma has included reports of faulty components, controversy regarding government loans, and poor fuel efficiency numbers.

This price increase means that the base-level Fisker Karma, dubbed the EcoStandard, will be priced at $102,000 and the top-o-the-line EcoChic version will ring in at $116,000. The price increase was not the first for the Karma. In January 2011, Karma customers found out that price of the EcoStandard rose to $95,900, while the EcoSport and EcoChic versions jumped to $103,900 and $108,900 respectively. Fisker originally set a baseline price of $80,000 for the luxury plug-in hybrid.

As with many 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. But because the Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid, 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. Longer-range drivers will not see dramatic savings in fuel savings compared to a conventional vehicle—calling into question the green-ness of the car, its actual energy benefits, and any claims it has to being a break from the past.