2020 Karma Revero range extender EV to use BMW engine

Re-engineered luxury saloon will be fully unveiled in Shanghai before arriving in Europe next year
by Lawrence Allan
5 April 2019

The 2020 Karma Revero range extender electric luxury saloon will make use of a three-cylinder petrol engine from BMW, likely the 1.5-litre unit used in the i8.

UPDATED: New Karma Revero GT and Pininfarina GT revealed with BMW hybrid powertrain

The Munich-supplied unit powers a generator that charges a new, improved lithium ion battery, which in turns feeds a pair of rear-mounted electric motors. This set-up that allows for a claimed 0-60mph time of 4.5sec – nearly a second faster than the current Revero.

More detailed performance information will be revealed when Karma officially unveils the new Revero at the Shanghai motor show, alongside its new Vision EV concept and a luxury saloon concept developed with Pininfarina.

Originally launched in 2016, the Revero is the model born out of the ashes of Fisker's bankruptcy. Chinese-funded, California-based firm Karma has been selling the model in the US since then and is now planning to introduce it in European and Asian markets after a number of updates to make the powertrain more competitive.

Spy pictures show that the four-door coupé, which will rival the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, will get styling revisions to its front and rear but that its overall bodyshape will stay true to the Fisker Karma, from which the Revero was developed.

Our Verdict

Fisker Karma 2011-2012

Fisker Karma

The Fisker Karma has stunning looks, backed up by impressive acceleration and has single-handedly made electric cars cool

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week

Karma's chief revenue officer, Jim Taylor, previously told Autocar that the Revero's delayed entry into Europe (including the UK) and Asia was always part of the business plan. Prices for the current model start at $130,000 (£98,124) in the US.

The current Revero uses solar panels located on its roof that can power the car's electrified powertrain. Solar panels have been seen on earlier development cars, so expect improvements to their efficiency with the 2019 model if they do continue into production.

"The energy collected from the solar panels is supplied directly to the car's high-voltage battery, which in turn powers the electric motors," Taylor explained when asked how they work on the current model. "Our solar panels are twice as powerful as the original [Fisker] ones."

While no charging time for the solar roof was revealed, Taylor suggested that strong Californian sunshine would enable owners to leave their car parked outside all day and return to it with noticeably more charge.

"We're still a long way off from being able to charge it up significantly in a few hours, but if you left your car parked in an airport car park for a couple of days, you'd see more energy," added Taylor.

The input of the sun's energy is displayed on the Revero's infotainment screen, so drivers can see when energy is being captured, even on the move.

The current Revero uses a 260bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from General Motors and a twin electric motor set-up, with some parts supplied by BMW. It's claimed to be capable of running on battery power alone for up to 50 miles, but Karma has pushed for a better range in the updated model in order to satisfy even more stringent real-world tests.

As a range extender, the Revero straddles the line between electric cars such as the Tesla Model S and plug-in hybrids like the Porsche Panamera. It will also compete with the upcoming Polestar 1 hybrid coupé.

Karma Automotive has been built upon the remains of Fisker Automotive, which went under in 2013. With owner Wanxiang Group providing stronger financial backing, insiders are anticipating a more productive future for the American brand.

Read more

Shanghai motor show 2019 

Fisker previews electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model Y​

Karma teases Pininfarina-designed electric luxury car​

Join the debate

Comments
15

Peter Cavellini

12 August 2016
Why not start with where most of the sales would be?,with a Car for the People,a Family Car,surely you would sell more to help cover the development costs?,your never going to get 30,000 buyers for a sportscar,if they could turn a Car for say £22,000 or around that,surely you'd get more sales if it doesn't need a charging infrastructure?

Peter Cavellini.

sabre

22 January 2019
Peter Cavellini wrote:

Why not start with where most of the sales would be?,with a Car for the People,a Family Car,surely you would sell more to help cover the development costs?,your never going to get 30,000 buyers for a sportscar,if they could turn a Car for say £22,000 or around that,surely you'd get more sales if it doesn't need a charging infrastructure?

A small company cannot compete in the low price high volume field. 

Magic_Sparrow

26 August 2016
Can't take something seriously when it's an unsuccessful car just relaunched and looks the same. Sorry but no.

CapitalGreenstake

26 August 2016
Who would be stupid enough to buy this turd again? The car is powered by smoke and mirrors and Taylor's imagination. What a sham these people should be embarassed

lambo1

26 August 2016
Nice looking car but the Tesla model S technologically is like comparing a canoe to a power boat.
It stands 2 chances: Slim and none

ahaus

26 August 2016
It's visually unchanged from the 5-year-old original design, which is unfortunate when there are much more elegant and modern looking cars out there.
I hope the really cheap and crude interior of the original gets an overhaul -- it's inexcusable for a car even at half its price.

Marc

26 August 2016
ahaus wrote:

It's visually unchanged from the 5-year-old original design, which is unfortunate when there are much more elegant and modern looking cars out there.
I hope the really cheap and crude interior of the original gets an overhaul -- it's inexcusable for a car even at half its price.

Well we tried. All those long Finnish nights..

sabre

22 January 2019
Marc wrote:
ahaus wrote:

It's visually unchanged from the 5-year-old original design, which is unfortunate when there are much more elegant and modern looking cars out there. I hope the really cheap and crude interior of the original gets an overhaul -- it's inexcusable for a car even at half its price.

Well we tried. All those long Finnish nights..

I can see the Start of this car, but, alas, cannot see how they get to the Finish

typos1

26 August 2016
Jesus, you guys are a bit harsh, I m hardly a big fan of this or the original, but give it a chance, no figures have been released, nor much detail about anything other than the solar panels and some of you are saying its all "smoke and mirrors" - most of you just arent being fair.

XXXX just went POP.

gillmanjr

27 August 2016
"We're still a long way off from being able to charge it up significantly in a few hours, but if you left your car parked in an airport car park for a couple of days, you'd see more energy," added Taylor.

I'm sorry but is this supposed to impress me? If thats the best they can do than clearly solar cells have not a reached a point yet where they are feasible to be used in automobiles. If the solar cells are intended to be a selling point of this car, you would have to be a moron to buy one. And typically the type of people who can afford cars like this aren't.

Pages

Add your comment

Log in or register to post comments

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week