- Karma Automotive, a California-based automaker, has a new model in the works.
- Called the Invictus, it's a performance version of the Revero four-door plug-in hybrid.
- The Revero traces its origins back to the Fisker Karma.
After the somewhat ungracious downfall of Henrik Fisker’s latest automotive project, which ended with a widely reported bankruptcy case and thousands of Ocean EV owners desperately searching for answers, the idea that yet another Fisker-led automotive endeavor is in the works would be quite a sore point.
But rest assured, because this is not what it seems to be. This is the brand-new Karma Invictus, and it’s a freshly released performance version of the latest-generation Karma Revero plug-in hybrid. If the name Karma rings a bell, it’s because this car used to be manufactured by Fisker Automotive with a Karma badge on it. That company went bankrupt, as did Henrik Fisker’s second attempt at making a car from scratch, and its assets were scooped in 2014 up by another entity that chose to improve on the formula and continue selling the four-door sedan under a different name.
The Karma Invictus, then. It will be limited to just 30 units and each will come with carbon fiber front wheel arches, hood, roof and trunk. Under the skin, the Invictus gets Ohlins coil-overs with Swift sprints, an improved steering box that delivers more precise feedback.
The powertrain is the same as in the regular Revero–a PHEV setup with two electric motors making a total of 536 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, together with a 1.5-liter gas generator that has the job of providing energy to the 28-kilowatt-hour battery pack. However, because the Invictus is lighter than the latest Revero–though Karma didn’t say by how much–it can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in an estimated 3.97 seconds, over half a second quicker than the model it’s based on.
The Invictus also wears sticky Michelin PS4S tires wrapped around black polished five-spoke forged aluminum wheels. The performance PHEV has 10-millimeter wider tires (295/35 R21) at the rear than at the front for improved grip. Karma Automotive says the Invictus is more predictable at the cornering limit and over uneven surfaces, which should make it a more involving drive.
Gallery: Karma Invictus
Built in California, the Karma Invictus comes with anodized aluminum door sill plaques which can be inscribed to the client’s specifications. The seats–heated and ventilated at the front–are trimmed in an art-deco pattern reminiscent of New York’s Chrysler Building, the company said. Just like the Karma Revero it’s based on, the Invictus can travel up to 80 miles on all-electric power, while the total driving range with a full tank of gas is 360 miles.
“Karma Invictus takes an intense and visceral persona, amplifying its performance with a sharpened chassis paired with bespoke exterior and interior appointments to create a new identity for this legendary four-door GT,” said Marques McCammon, President, Karma Automotive. “As with the 3rd Generation Karma Revero, which begins delivering to clients later this month, Karma Invictus unleashes the potential of its space frame by marrying lightweight carbon fiber bodywork with our innovative hybrid Extended Range Electric powertrain.”
There’s no pricing or production timeline for the Invictus yet, but the luxury automaker said it will be available worldwide.
