The Fisker Karma is now reborn as the Revero under the manufacturer's name Karma Automotive (as opposed to Fisker Automotive). It retains the dual-electric motor, rear wheel drive layout, aided by a range-extending 2.0-litre turbocharged engine up front.
This time, however, under new Chinese owners Wanxiang, the California-based Karma says that it has fixed all the kinks and shortfalls that plagued the model previously and is now ready to unveil the new Revero next month in September.
The new Revero, which will be built in the United States, also now has a very large solar panel roof that can generate enough energy to meaningfully charge the car’s drive batteries where previously the smaller panel would only be enough to power the car’s air conditioning and other auxiliary functions.
Many details are as yet unconfirmed about the Revero’s drivetrain and power outputs but assuming Karma Automotive have concentrated on refining the original car’s formula rather than altering it, we can expect a 194kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine up front to generate energy to fill the 20.1kWh lithium-ion battery which then drives the two 120kW rear electric motors (one for each wheel). This allowed the Fisker Karma to generate a combined output of 299kW, a massive 1,300Nm of maximum torque, and a claimed fully-electric range of 51km.
Some outlets have reported that Karma Automotive are now sourcing components from BMW. This could mean that both the battery and petrol engine come off a BMW Group production line with both more likely to offer more performance/capacity than the original spec from 2011.
So it’s not really all that new of a car. Some might remember the much-loved but ill-fated Fisker Karma from 2011 that wowed the world with its innovative unique petrol-electric powertrain, head-turning looks, and futuristic interior - which has all been kept in this new evolution.
It had plenty of potential, both as a car and a company. But the Karma’s launch and initial production run were hampered by several recalls and other incidents that highlighted issues with the car’s manufacturing that were not properly solved by the time it was delivered to customers.
The downhill spiral also included a high profile lawsuit with Tesla. This, along with a raft of internal issues, caused the departure of founder and revered Danish car designer Henrik Fisker to leave in 2013 which was followed by the company filing Chapter 11 later that year.
But here we are in 2016 and the Revero is shaping up to be a very interesting addition (or return) to the automotive landscape. Built upon the ashes of the ambitious Fisker Automotive, the newly christened Karma Automotive hopes that the new stream of funding and a focus on refining the Karma’s original appeal and unique take on electric vehicles will propel the new Revero to the bright future it deserves.
