When the Fisker Karma launched in 2011, it instantly turned heads. Forget about the environmentally friendly construction, just looking at it was enough to get gear heads fired up. Unfortunately, the financial realities of mass production killed the car before it could truly make an impact. Now, thanks to a fresh injection of Chinese cash, the Karma is back. Thankfully, it looks just as good as ever.
From the outside, the Karma Revero looks almost identical to the Fisker Karma. That's no bad thing, because the original design was some of Henrik Fisker's best work – considering he's the man behind the BMW Z8, the Aston Martin DB9, and the one-off Thunderbolt, that's high praise.
The real changes have been wrought under the skin, where the Revero will be fitted with a new infotainment system, fast-charging capability, and an updated solar panel capable of charging the battery. Karma says the solar-charging technology is an American first, but hasn't revealed details about just how much juice it will provide.
Technology changes aside, there is one area that will have to be better than before, and that's build quality. As is often the case with boutique manufacturers, the original Fisker Karma wasn't quite on par with mass-produced cars when it came to build quality. The fact they had a tendency to catch fire didn't help either.
"Serving a mass market is not, and never will be, our purpose," says Jim Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer at Karma Automotive. "The Revero is for a discerning group of individuals who desire beautiful, clean vehicles and a memorable ownership experience. We are thrilled to start this journey."
Buyers will be able to order through 10 dealerships in North America, and Karma Automotive is also planning a flagship "brand experience center" in Orange County. Existing owners will have the opportunity to reserve a car before the general public, who will get their chance on September 8.
If that's too long to wait, the video below gives a pretty good idea about how it's shaping up.
Source: Karma Automotive via PR Newswire
Bleck!
Heh. I've looked at pictures of the Fisker Karma for years and never noticed that. Now that it is seen, it cannot be unseen. Argh!