Hybrid solutions based on "range extenders" have never been a great success. One of the car brands that has used this is Karma. But now they also come with pure electric cars.
The models with "range extender" were further developed from Fisker Karma - Henrik Fisker's first car project that went bankrupt in 2013. After Chinese Wanxiang bought the company the following year, production was moved from Valmet in Finland to Moreno Valley in California. After some modifications, Fisker Karma hit the market in 2016 as Karma Revero.
We know Henrik fisker as the man behind several failed car projects, most recently Fisker ocean. The management in Karma Automotive have emphasized on several occasions that their Karma Revero not can be compared to the previous Fisker Karma, but when you see the two cars together, it's hard to see any differences. If Henrik Fisker does not succeed with his projects, he is undoubtedly a very capable one car designer. The Karma Revero is a particularly beautiful car. Many refer to it as a 4-door Corvette. And there is very little - if anything - that differentiates the Revero from Fisker's original design.
The Karma Revero is powered by two electric motors that drive the rear wheels. Power for the motors comes either from the batteries or from the petrol engine - or both together. The petrol engine in the Karma Revero thus drives a generator without being connected to the drivetrain in any way. Today's Revero is built according to the same principle, albeit with a number of upgrades.
2011 Fisherman's Karma
Range Extender: 2,0 Opel EcoTec engine. Batteries: 20,1 kWh. 2 electric motors at the rear. Total power: 403 hp. Range on electricity: 80 km.
2016 Karma Revero
Range Extender: Newer version of the 2,0 liter engine. Batteries: 21,4 kWh. 2 electric motors at the rear. Total power: 403 hp.
2020 Karma Revero GT
Facelifted front. Range Extender: 1,5 BMW i8 twin turbo engine. Batteries: 28 kWh. 2 new, more powerful electric motors at the rear. Total power 536 hp. Electric range: 128 km.
2021 Karma GS-6
Compared to its predecessor, the Revero GT, prices were dropped from approximately $150.000 to $87.000 (base price) without any downgrading of technology or design. Batteries and drivetrain are of the same type as the far more expensive Revero GT. In an interview with Jay Leno says the CEO Marques McCammon that almost no parts of the bodywork in the GS-6 are similar to those in the Fisker Karma and Karma Revero, although it is difficult to see.
2025 Karma Gyesera
New model in the same style as the Karma Revero/GS-6. The drive is electric without a range extender. Battery pack: 120 kWh. 590 hp. Range on electricity: 400 km.
Electric powertrains
I find it strange that it would take almost 10 years for Karma to now offer 100% electric powertrains. In the range extender cars, the batteries are stored in the huge center console that runs across the passenger compartment. Karma has previously shown drawings of an SUV that could be suitable as an electric car, but fortunately they managed to find space for the batteries within the dimensions of the new Gyesera - which, as you can see, is in the same sleek style and shape as the Revero.
Karma Kaveya
The Karma's electric powertrain is deployed in two different models, Gyesera og Kaveya. The latter is a 2-door sports car with planned delivery in 2026. It will be Karma's first car with 4-wheel drive - presumably electronically controlled via several electric motors. In total, the electric motors will provide 1180 hp, 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds
Karma of Gyeser
Although the powertrain is new, there are many things about Karma's new all-electric 4-door sports sedan that are reminiscent of previous models. It amazes me that the fixtures and dashboard are kept in exactly the same style as the very first cars. In any case, the first cars can start rolling out already after the summer holidays as 2025 models. The Gyesera will only be delivered with rear-wheel drive. A total of 590 hp and 0-60 mph in 4,2 seconds. Both Kaveya and Gyesera have stated a range of 400 km and a battery capacity of 120 kWh. Both models have a net weight without driver of 2400 kg. That is quite a lot considering that the cars are built from light materials. Bodywork components of aluminum and carbon on an aluminum spaceframe frame with components in the undercarriage and suspension built from aluminum SLA.
The Karma Gyesera becomes completely electric
>Hybrid solution based on "range extender" has never been a great success. One of the car brands that has used this is Karma. But now they also come with pure electric cars. See more
Prices
I haven't found final prices for Karma's new electric models, but you can reserve them now. For 5.000 USD/Euro you can put yourself on the waiting list for a Karma Gyesera. You have to shell out double to reserve a Karma Kaveya. Since Karma only builds hand-built cars, the options are large - and thus there are really no list prices. I haven't seen any official prices, but preliminary estimates say that Gyesera could cost from $175.000 and Kaveya up to $225.000. You can also reserve cars from Europe.
The Revero is still in Karma's model lineup for 2025. It can be reserved today for $2500. I don't know the Revero prices either. From 2011 (Fisker) to 2020 (Revero GT), prices rose from just over $100.000 to $135-150.000. When the GS-6 arrived, prices were cut down to $87-107.000 depending on equipment. It is therefore uncertain whether the 2025 Revero will follow the reduced prices. In any case, Karma has stated that the plug-in hybrid car will be cheaper than the electric models.
Used prices
Let's start with the cars located in Norway - Fisker Karma produced between 2011 and 2012. There are 16 cars. At the moment is one of them for sale at Finn.no. The asking price is NOK 435.000. On Autotrader Fisker Karma is offered at prices from $25.000 to just over $40.000 in the US. If you go up in the year classes, you can see that almost new Revero GTs are being sold for prices up to $150.000, while almost unused GS-6s are offered for between $80-100.000. Several owners of the Revero GT have been forced to adapt to the reduced price level. At today's exchange rate and applicable taxes, it will cost approximately NOK 1,3 million to import a 2021 Karma GS-6 to Norway - with an assumed purchase price of $80.000 including shipping.
Simpler technique?
If you have to call a spade a spade, then it must be fair to say that the technology behind the Karma Revero and GS-6 does not impress. Allowing a petrol engine to generate power for the electric motors instead of sending the power directly to the drive wheels is hardly the best way to use expensive drops of petrol. The solution is probably easier to implement and perhaps more durable than today's modern hybrid drivetrain, - especially with regard to the transmission. Karma is built as an electric car with a single power source. Their hybrid concept is about distributing the input from several sources into the power source - not about distributing the output - the forces - from several power sources out to the drive wheels.
Style and image
After all, it is probably Henrik Fisker's ingenious design that attracts buyers. Even almost 14 years after the launch of the first cars, they appear stylish and modern – especially with 22 inch wheels. The fact that the cars are also hand-built with limited production capacity makes them special and individual.
And to be completely honest. Nor will the new Karma Gyesera hijack customers because of battery technology, range, driving characteristics or performance. It can still attract buyers because of its good looks. It is suitable for people who don't mind standing out a little from the gray mass in which most of us find ourselves.
That is perhaps why the Gyesera – Karma's new electric sports sedan – has been allowed to retain the original lines of the Fisker Karma.
