Karma's Swan Song: A Luxury Coupe That's Electric...Kind Of
Image Credit: Karma.
It's Friday, and it has been one week. That means I'm in an extra-grumpy mood, and unfortunately, Karma Automotive just fell into my focus. This little California thinks they've got something special. They call it the Amaris. A two-door, swoopy, electric-ish thing.
This Amaris is supposed to be beautiful. I mean, it's got those wide hips and those, ahem, "swan doors" that swing up. Swan doors! Regular doors clearly weren't good enough. I'm imagining trying to get out of this thing in a tight parking spot, and… Yeah, let's just say it'll be a spectacle.
Karma says it's built on the same bones as their Revero sedan, which itself is a reincarnation of the old Fisker Karma. So, basically, it's automotive recycling but with a bit more glitter.
Sure, they've slapped on massive 22-inch "Constellation" wheels. And the body? Aluminum and carbon fiber. They've also thrown in a clamshell hood and a spoiler that is apparently making the Amaris slippery. No comment.
Image Credit: Karma.
Underneath all that shiny metal and carbon fiber mix, it's where things get complicated. It's an extended-range electric vehicle, or EREV. Which, in layman's terms, means it's half-electric, half-gas. They've shoved a BMW four-cylinder engine in there, but it's not actually driving the wheels. No, no, that'd be too simple. It's just turning a generator, which then powers the battery, which then powers the electric motors. So - a very complicated, very expensive, mobile power station.
Karma claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. That's actually pretty quick. And a top speed of 165 mph, which you're never going to reach, unless you're on the Autobahn, or fleeing the authorities. But as far as bragging rights go, Amaris ticks all the boxes.
Image Credit: Karma.
Here's where Karma gets quite a bit confusing to me. They also have this Gyesera thing, which was supposed to be all-electric, but now it's also an EREV. It seems the market changed its mind, or something. Look, I've been around long enough to know, the market changes more than my underwear. Gysera was supposed to replace the Revero, which, as we've established, is basically a zombie car. Or is it Amaris's job now?
The big plan is to launch this Amaris in late 2026. I'm not trying to be funny, but in car years, that's about a decade away. Then, apparently, they've got this Kaveya "super-coupe" coming in 2027, and an Ivara SUV in 2028. And, before all that, the Invictus is coming out this year. Karma has got a whole lineup of electric-ish things, all coming at you like a freight train. Who's buying these things anyway?
Image Credit: Karma.
You know very well that I'm all for electric cars. They're quiet, they're silly quick, and they don't spit out fumes. But this EREV idea? Let's not beat around the bush - it's a darn hybrid, but with extra steps. Pointless steps at that. Clearly, someone couldn't decide if they wanted to have an electric or gas car, so they just said, "Why not both?"
I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I'm just saying it's a bit… complicated. And with a price tag that's probably going to make you cry, you'd hope they'd at least throw in a free car wash. And then there's that look… They tried going for a Jaguar vibe but ended up with the Ford Probe. It sure is a compliment for the Ford, but honestly? It's as confusing as Karma's history. At least it's got "swan doors." So there's that.
