Fisker Atlantic unveiled at New York Auto show

(CBS) - In one of the first announcements of the New York International Auto Show, Fisker automotive has unveiled the Atlantic. The Fisker Atlantic is the latest iteration in Fisker's goal of creating a luxury electric car that people can actually afford.

The Atlantic is the second vehicle to be debuted by the California-based automaker. Their previous model was the Karma, another high-performance hybrid released in 2008. The Atlantic shares many similarities with Fisker's first car. Both are plug-in hybrid vehicles that can switch from gasoline to electric power at the flip of a switch. Both have an emphasis on offering extended-range travel using only electric power.

The main difference between the two is price. The Karma was unveiled as a six-figure luxury electric car - a classification that didn't exist before 2008 and one that other automakers are scrambling to fill. The Atlantic is intended to be more consumer-friendly while still offering impressive hybrid performance.

The lithium ion battery-powered electric motor motivates the sedan for the first 30 to 40 miles driving. Once the EV range has been exceeded, users can continue driving on gasoline power thanks to a small, possibly turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplied by BMW acting as a generator and extending the vehicle's range. No word has officially been given on the specs for that engine, the fuel economy we can expect, or what kind of power to expect the Atlantic's electric motor or motors to make.

The Atlantic's announcement comes in the wake of Fisker Automotive securing $392 million in financing, putting an end to assertions that the automaker lacked the resources to actually build a new model.