Fisker Atlantic - Project Nina at 2012 New York show

Fisker Automotive will show its new Atlantic model at the 2012 New York auto show this week - the long-awaited smaller hybrid hitherto codenamed Nina.

The Fisker Atlantic is a more compact sports saloon to slot under the Karma in its fledgling range of range-extender hybrids sports cars.

While Nina has long been the codename for the new smaller Fisker plug-in hybrid, the showroom spec car will be badged the Fisker Atlantic.

It'll be unveiled formally on the eve of the New York auto show, but photos and details have leaked out early on numerous blog sites.

Autoblog reports that the Fisker Atlantic/Nina will cost around half the list price of a Karma, pointing to a $50,000 tag.

It'll have the same range-extender hybrid technology as the Karma, but with a smaller engine acting as a generator, likely to be a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine supplied by BMW.

The company remains tightlipped ahead of this week's briefing. A short announcement today said: 'Fisker Automotive is holding a special event ahead of the New York Auto Show to share a business update and give a glimpse of the future of the company.'

Although the company was founded by ex-Aston Martin design chief Henrik Fisker in 2007, he has recently been replaced by former Chrysler boss Tom LaSorda. Fisker remains the creative head and actively involved as executive chairman, however.

The new management team is working hard to overcome the damaging publicity of battery glitches with the Karma; it has recalled every model sold, blaming faulty batteries on its supplier.

By Tim Pollard