The Comeback Of The Karma Revero

Had It Persisted, It Would Probably Be Giving Tesla A Headache By Now

The Karma four-door sedan was first produced by the now-defunct Fisker Automotive in 2012. This was a significant time because it was around the same time that Tesla’s Model S came out and the hype towards electric and hybrid cars had taken momentum.

But there was an unseen challenge. The company declared bankruptcy in 2013 and Republican opponents dubbed Fisker the poster child moved on to other projects.

Wanxiang Group bought the leftover assets for $150 million in 2014 and renamed the company Karma Automotive. It then set base in Southern California and had the advantage of ex-Tesla and ex-Cadillac executives.

It is this new outfit that has revived Karma Revero, which is retailing at for $130,000. You don’t need to work too hard to see how fundamentally close this car is to the first concept in both the design and the platform.

The Karma Revero has two electric motors and a 21-kilowatt-hour battery that drive the rear wheels. It also harbors two-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine that extends the range of the car when the battery runs out. Initially, General Motors supplied the engine.

The Revero sprints to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds under Sport mode, which is its fastest setting. Sustain mode, the slowest, sees 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Top speed is reached once you hit 125 mph.

The car has chosen BlackBerry for tech supply. The company uses Certicom, which is owned by BlackBerry, for the security of its connectivity and data systems.

A moderately sized screen sits on the dashboard and the graphics are rather cool. You are even able to monitor the flow of energy in the car.

This car has been making enviable strides over time. It has come back at a time when the kind of powertrain it carries has gained interest. With proper marketing, it should be able to get more competitive going forward.