Southern California-based Karma Automotive has a new player – the sumptuous Karma Gyesera –the next model in its electrified luxury lineup. Gyesera is positioned as the successor to the Revero, which has served as Karma's high-profile offering since the company acquired this model’s design and technology from the failed Fisker Automotive back in 2014. While many important technology refinements have been made to the Revero along with mild styling updates, the stunning design of the original car has largely remained intact.
The new Gyesera extended range electric vehicle (EREV) arrives at a time when the market for all-electric cars has softened and interest in EREVs is growing significantly. While the Karma Revero was once one of the pioneers in the luxury end of the electrified luxury market, Karma must now compete against a wide field of premium automakers offering their own plug-in and performance hybrids. Gyesera represents a strategic move to stay in the game and prove Karma is a serious player.
Karma is building Gyesera on an evolution of its aluminum space-frame platform, pairing it with bodywork made from aluminum and carbon-reinforced composites to reduce weight. The result is a lighter, more agile grand touring car that should also benefit efficiency. Larger forged billet aluminum wheels with Karma-specific Pirelli tires help reduce unsprung weight and rolling resistance.
Performance sees a clear step forward. The latest version of Karma’s extended-range hybrid powertrain delivers 566 horsepower and 546 lb-ft torque, propelling Gyesera from 0-60 mph in an estimated 4.0 seconds. That’s half a second quicker than the Revero, underscoring the emphasis on both grand touring comfort and sportier dynamics.
Beyond the car itself, Karma is highlighting a shift in how it designs vehicles. Gyesera is the first model developed under the company’s Intelligent Product Development System, a process that blends traditional engineering with digital twin concepts from the tech sector. By simulating designs virtually and connecting development to real-world data, Karma aims to shorten product development cycles and improve reliability.
This new approach points to the company’s ambition to operate not just as a boutique automaker, but as a tech-driven product company. It also sets the stage for additional models, including the Amaris GT coupe expected in 2026.
Visually, Gyesera introduces a design language meant to define Karma going forward. A low-slung stance, carbon composite details, and a distinctive “backslash” signature on the fenders create a bold appearance. The company’s distinctive “Target Acquisition” lighting, first shown on the Kaveya concept, makes its production debut here. A vented hood inspired by a comet’s trail adds both functional airflow and a unique styling cue.
The rear design is anchored by a full-width diffuser that emphasizes the car’s athletic proportions. Overall, Karma is aiming for a design identity that blends exclusivity, performance cues, and brand distinction.
Inside, Gyesera takes a restrained approach compared to competitors that dominate the cabin with large screens. A digital instrument cluster and a new Qualcomm-based infotainment system focus on delivering information cleanly rather than overwhelming the space. HVAC functions are integrated into streamlined menus, while conveniences like wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless device charging are standard.
Expanded over-the-air update capabilities bring added value, offering downloadable features such as custom audio tuning and AI-driven predictive service diagnostics. Premium materials and a simplified design approach reinforce the goal of a modern, uncluttered luxury environment. Slim front seats open up additional legroom for rear passengers, improving practicality without sacrificing the car’s sleek proportions.
With an expected starting price of about $165,000 and producing scheduled later this year, the Gyesera competes directly against luxury plug-in models from larger mainstream automakers. Its success will depend on Karma’s ability to distinguish itself through exclusivity, which the Gyesera's lofty price pretty much guarantees. That exclusivity formula, by the way, has been a key element already at work for this automaker. The upcoming Amaris GT Coupe, positioned at roughly $200,000, will further broaden Karma’s small but focused lineup.
Gyesera represents more than just a new model for Karma – it’s a signal of intent. By combining advanced plug-in serial hybrid power, lightweight materials, and software-enabled features, Karma is aiming to stand apart in a crowded segment. Whether this approach will establish Karma as a stronger player in the luxury hybrid space remains to be seen, but the Gyesera sets a new direction that builds on the pioneering foundation of the Revero while charting a logical and exciting path forward.
Approximately 6 percent of the vehicles sold in the U.S. today are electric. That’s only 825,000 EVs. When you consider that 40 percent of those sales are in California, that leaves less than 500,000 divided among 49 states.
The good news – for the environment and EV sales – is that most prognostications point toward 40 – 50 percent of all vehicles on America’s roads by 2030 will be electric.So, what’s an EV manufacturer to do? The simple answer is that there’s a rainbow of solutions.
Some traditional manufacturers are still making profits from predictable internal combustion vehicles. They’re selling the ICE experience that wraps around their cars and trucks. For example, there’s the hot version from Dodge and the off-road variants from Ford. They are wisely finding low-cost methods to stretch the lives of their portfolio products while simultaneously stepping into the EV marketplace.
Quite a few pundits have disparaged Toyota for being slow to develop a pure EV portfolio. Their scientists, however, claim there is no single silver bullet. To support a move to lower carbon consumption, the worldwide leader in auto sales is remaining flexible. Their reasoning is that drivers across the country will not have access to a widespread full electric infrastructure for quite a few years. So, hybrid range, extended electric, cleaner gasoline, hydrogen fuel cells and, of course, full electric are going to play prominent roles for at least the next 20 to 30 years.
Tesla originally shook the industry when the investment community heaped kudos and cash on Elon Musk for being a futurist and an outsized disruptor. Now, nearly every manufacturer is sprinting into electrification, but, as usual, it will not be a one-size-fits-all formula. Manufacturers will still have to balance their portfolios to ensure profits and perform tried-and-true marketing methods.
There will assuredly be quite a few auto companies that fall away in the process. And some that aren’t making headlines today will be front page news tomorrow. Bottom line: we still have at least another decade or so of industry disruption ahead of us.
Playing it safe creates mediocrity and oftentimes failure. At Karma, research, data, a brilliant design team, and common sense are guiding our efforts toward fulfilling a unique market niche. Our American luxury brand will be a variant of: Distinctive. Aspirational. Exotic-Elegant-Electric. Or maybe something entirely different, but still addressing a clean mobility future. (We’ll be revealing our actual updated branding and marketing beginning in the latter stages of 2023.)
Whatever we decide, we expect to build a competitive advantage by being a mirror of our customers in an industry that will soon be bursting at the seams. We truly aspire to drive change beyond the norm, building vehicles that inspire positive transformation in the world.
Select a strategic direction, extol the differentiators, and state the story. An entire organization – inside and out – should enthusiastically speak with one voice, unapologetically dispensing core messaging over and over again.
U.S. businesses lose nearly $40 billion annually due to poor customer service. The EV world – where there are often unique customer demands – is not an exception to this rule. In fact, as the segment expands, superior service is actually becoming a differentiator. While we’ve all been rightfully focused on sales, many of the shiny new vehicles have become a bit road-worn and require regular maintenance and occasional repairs.
This is where a breakdown occurs. A quality customer experience should be mandatory. Developing well-schooled EV service techs is an astute investment that is too often overlooked.
The transition into EVs and, more broadly, the next chapter of automotive will be defined by the experiences that automakers create for customers. As media and digital interactions move deeper into the fabric of society, the ability and desire to create an unbroken connection between the life of the consumer and the products they consume will be an increasingly prevalent focus.
It will not be the buying, the service, or even the driving that build sales. Instead, it will be how the vehicle can be inserted into the continuum of a consumer’s life to complement their sense of self and future aspirations.
In April, Marques McCammon was named president of Irvine, Calif.-based ultra-luxury carmaker Karma Automotive. His 30-year auto industry career across four continents includes engineering, manufacturing, brand leadership, marketing, and software-based product advancement.
The 2020 Karma Revero GT is a major remake that delivers a new model substantially more refined than the original Karma Revero, which evolved from an existing series hybrid sedan. Externally, all of the Revero GT’s body panels have been restyled, including the doors. Most noticeable are the new grille and front fascia that present quite a departure from the Revero’s original and rather massive grillework.
Besides a more modern look, weight has been reduced by more than 500 pounds, an important move since this is one heavy grand touring car weighing in at some 5,050 pounds total. Optional carbon fiber wheels shave off an additional 55 pounds. Inside, there are new seats, center console, and an all-new infotainment system.
There are also big changes in the drivetrain. A turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, sourced from the BMW i8, replaces the previous GM-sourced 2.0 liter engine originally used in the Revero series hybrid. Two electric motors drive the rear wheels through a single speed transmission. Combined power output has noticeably increased from 403 to 535 horsepower, with a beefy dose of 550 lb-ft torque at the ready. All this brings an impressive 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. In a departure from the norm, the exhaust for the Karma GT’s three-cylinder engine is located behind the front wheels.
A lighter 28-kWh battery pack is configured to run down the spine of the car. This nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium-ion pack provides a battery electric range of up to 80 miles, an impressive gain over that offered by the 2019 Revero. With the 280 mile range afforded by electricity from the car’s gasoline engine-generator, overall driving range comes in at 360 miles. EPA rates the 2020 Karma Revero GT at 26 combined mpg and 70 MPGe when driving exclusively on battery power.
Drivers can choose between Stealth, Sustain, and Sport modes to tailor the driving experience. Stealth is for all-electric driving. Sustain mode uses the BMW range-extender engine to supply electricity to the rear motors, preserving power from the battery pack for later use. Sport mode maximizes performance by combining the power from both the engine-generator and battery pack. Three levels of regenerative braking can be selected using steering wheel paddles.
A Karma Revero GTS is planned for introduction later in 2020. Here, torque will be increased to a massive 635 lb-ft for even greater performance. The GTS variant will also feature electronic torque vectoring and Launch Control to handle all that torque. In addition, a planned battery upgrade is expected to provide up to 80 miles of all-electric driving.
