Even for accomplished automotive designer Henrik Fisker, breaking new ground by producing an innovative electric car was a major challenge. When the issues piled up too high, newly-formed Karma Automotive took over and revamped the luxury brand while still holding on to the original, beautiful design.
Karma cars fuse a stunning exterior shape with an innovative series hybrid drivetrain, providing an incredible electric drivetrain with a range-extending combustion engine. Their style and performance match some of the best cars in the world, but as the fully-electric models sweep the industry, it’s time for Karma Automotive to deliver another hit.
At a glance
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| Name: Karma | Industry: Automotive |
| Founded: 2007 (Fisker Automotive) | Founder: Henrik Fisker |
| Headquarters: United States | Parent organization: Wanxiang Group |
| Revenue: ~$207 million USD (est.) | Website: karma.com |
Karma price
How much does a Karma cost?
The Karma car prices have fluctuated dramatically since the initial release of the Fisker Karma from the previous ownership. The first vehicle under new reins tipped the heavier side of the price scale, with the Karma Revero price starting at $135,000.
Today, the Karma GS-6 price has moved much lower, starting at a relatively-reasonable $85,000. You can tack on another $10,000 for the luxury package with finer interior amenities or up to $105,000 for the high-performance Sport trim.
What is the most expensive Karma?
The most expensive Karma is the Karma GS-6 Sport price at $105,000. This hybrid model features dual electric motors providing power to the rear axle with a 1.5L BMW engine providing extended range capabilities.
If you look back to 2020, you’d find a more expensive Karma car for sale. The Karma Revero price started at $135,000 in 2016, then jumped to $145,000 after a slight overhaul in 2019 when the Karma Revero GT was released, changing from a GM engine to a BMW.
Compared to the most expensive cars in the world, Karma car prices are a steal.
How much is the cheapest Karma?
The cheapest Karma sports car is the Karma GS-6 base model, starting at $85,000. This luxury car features a sleek design showing elements of British grand tourers, plus a powerful hybrid drivetrain to provide an incredible driving experience.
While all Karma cars feature purely electric propulsion, they’ve relied on a combustion engine to recharge the battery for a better driving range.
However, the Karma car brand has unveiled plans for the first Karma electric car without a combustion engine, called the Karma GSe-6. Unfortunately, the vehicle is well past its expected release date, leading to much uncertainty about the electric Karma vehicle.
About Karma
History of Karma
Although Karma Automotive started in 2014, the original roots of this luxury car brand can be traced back to 2007. During that year, Fisker Automotive started under the leadership of Henrik Fisker, a Danish automotive designer behind the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9.
The only Fisker car was the Fisker Karma, a range-extended electric car with a world-class design. It used a series hybrid system where a powerful electric drivetrain uses a combustion engine for battery recharging on the go.
Unfortunately, the Fisker electric car encountered many issues, the most significant being battery issues that led to the bankruptcy of its sole battery supplier. As a result, the Fisker Karma is unlikely to show up on our best classic cars list.
Fisker was put under severe financial strain and was sold to China-based Wanxiang Group in 2014, which created Karma Automotive to take the project ahead.
After two years of redeveloping the Fisker Karma, the Karma Revero car was released in 2016. It retained much of the same stylistic touches and engineering as the outgoing Karma but had a significantly higher price, likely due to extensive battery redevelopment and production costs.
The Karma Revero had more success than the Fisker Karma, and in 2019, an updated version was released. The Karma Revero GT swapped out the 2.0L GM engine for a 1.5L BMW engine to recharge the batteries, while also boosting performance to 536 horsepower.
In 2020, Karma Automotive slashed the price of its only model by $60,000. The new Karma GS-6 was still remarkably similar to the Karma Revero.
An all-electric Karma model was announced as the Karma GSe-6, but it has since missed its anticipated release date and its future seems uncertain. There have also been reports that the Karma Revero will come back as a bespoke, higher-end electric model, but that hasn’t yet come to fruition either.
Understanding Karma car range
The Karma Automotive lineup is very straightforward as the company has essentially had one model from the start. It is currently sold as the Karma GS-6 and the previous version was sold as the Karma Revero and Karma Revero GT.
Karma has provided very few details on the meaning behind these names. Since the Revero is a revamped Fisker Karma, it seems likely this name is derived from the reversal or renewal of the model.
Interesting facts about Karma
Although Karma Automotive has been building high-end electric sports cars for many years, recent reports indicate the company is turning toward other avenues.
The most recent reports show that Karma is opening the doors to its California facility to assist in the production of electric light commercial vehicles. It has partnered with B-ON, which provides electrification services to commercial delivery fleets.
Where is Karma made?
Karma Automotive has headquarters in Irvine, California, and its main production facility in Moreno Valley, California. Although it is owned by China-based Wanxiang Group, Karma Automotive remains firmly planted in the United States.
Karma electric cars
Karma cars to date have all featured a series hybrid drivetrain, meaning the propulsion is 100% provided by electric motors with a combustion engine to help recharge the batteries while driving. This creates a relatively low carbon footprint with a long driving range. The Toyota Prius uses similar technology.
Karma Automotive has released plans for a purely-electric car, the Karma GS3-6, but the company is far behind its projections on releasing that model.
Will a Karma electric car be released? It’s hard to say. The company has reported it will now be helping with B-ON’s mission to electrify commercial fleets, but it’s unknown if that means the end of the Karma GSe-6 or if it could benefit the production.
Karma models
Let’s dive into the details of the current and past Karma cars.
Karma GS-6
As the most recent Kar car for sale, this sleek model brings the same drivetrain as the previous Karma Revero, but the Karma GS-6 price is slashed down to $85,000, a whopping $60,000 difference.
The flowing exterior lines are still reminiscent of Aston Martin and Maserati styling, and the tight interior is a minimalist dream featuring a 3D haptic touch interface and finely-stitched leather.
Taking a hint from the BMW i8, the Karma GS-6’s onboard 1.5L engine charges the 28-kWh battery pack, while the two rear-axle mounted electric motors push out a respectable 536 horsepower output.
The best electric cars, including those from Tesla, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz, have already transitioned to pure plug-in electric power, leaving Karma a little behind the trend.
| Price: | Starting at $85,000 |
| Release year: | 2020 |
| Engine: | Two electric motors with range-extending 1.5L turbo BMW inline-3 engine |
| Top speed: | 125 mph – 201 km/h |
| 0-60 mph: | <4 sec |
| Power: | 536 hp |
| Torque: | 624 to 550 lb-ft |
| Range: | 360 miles – 579 km (80 miles – 129 km electric only) |
Karma Revero
When Karma Automotive officially took over the reins from Fisker Automotive, no one could tell what the future held. But after two years of redeveloping the Fisker Karma into the Karma Revero, the changes were more minimal than you’d likely imagine.
One of the biggest changes was the price. While the Karma Fisker price started around six figures, the Karma Revero price jumped to $135,000. It retained much of the same rounded shape and the dual electric motors with GM-engine to provide an extended range.
But that didn’t mark the end of the road.
In 2019, the Karma Revero for sale switched to a BMW-source engine, while also pushing the horsepower from 403 to 536. It also dropped the time to 60 to less than 4 seconds. That’s still a far cry from the fastest cars in the world, like those of Koenigsegg, Pagani, and Bugatti, but a serious improvement from prior years.
| Price: | Starting at $135,000 |
| Release year: | 2016 |
| Engine: | Two electric motors with range-extending 2.0L turbo Ecotec GM inline-4 or 1.5L turbo BMW inline-3 engine |
| Top speed: | 125 mph – 201 km/h |
| 0-60 mph: | <4 to 5.9 sec |
| Power: | 536 to 403 hp |
| Torque: | 960 to 550 lb-ft |
| Range: | Up to 360 miles – 579 km (80 miles – 129 km electric only) |
Fisker Karma
Although technically from a different brand, the Fisker Karma laid the foundation for Karma Automotive. It was developed at a time when a high-performance electric drivetrain was mostly a pipedream, yet the Fisker Karma pulled off the impossible and produced impressive thrust exclusively with electric motors.
The Fisker electric car still relied on an internal combustion engine to recharge the battery pack when driving more than 33 miles, far less than ideal. But the 981 lb-ft of torque gave the Fisker sports car a Mike-Tyson-level punch.
After 2,450 units were produced, the Fisker Karma’s battery supplier, A123 Systems, faced two recalls and failed to weather the storm. As the sole battery behind the Fisker, it spelled the end of Fisker Automotive.
But the Karma would live to see another day, and it’s not the only brand to go through turmoil. Chrysler, Bentley, and Lamborghini have all gone through serious ownership changes as well.
| Price: | Starting at $95,000 |
| Release year: | 2011 |
| Engine: | Two electric motors with range-extending 2.0L turbo Ecotec GM inline-4 |
| Top speed: | 125 mph – 201 km/h |
| 0-60 mph: | 5.9 sec |
| Power: | 403 hp |
| Torque: | 960 lb-ft |
| Range: | 240 miles – 386 km (33 miles – 53 km electric only) |
Karma customer service number
You can get in touch with a knowledgeable staff member by calling the Karma customer service number at 1-949-541-6420 or 1-855-565-2762. You can also submit an inquiry through the form on the Karma Contact Us page.
Karma social media profiles
To stay in the loop with the latest news and events, follow the official Karma social media profiles:
Frequently asked questions about Karma
If you’re wondering how much do Karma cars cost, the Karma GS-6 price starts at $85,000. Throw on the Sport package to see the price jump up to $105,000. In the past, Karma car costs were higher, with the Karma Revero price starting at $135,000.
Karma Automobile is the company that makes Karma autos. It is owned by Wanxiang Group, a multinational conglomerate, but Karma Automotive has headquarters and production in the United States. Karma Automobile took over from Fisker Automotive in 2014.
Karma still makes cars after changing ownership in 2014 from Fisker Automotive to Karma Automotive. The Karma GS-6 hybrid was released in 2020 and a pure electric Karma GSe-6 was reported, although it is severely delayed.
Yes, Karma vehicles are considered luxury cars. They sport an advanced, powerful drivetrain with more than 500 horsepower and can reach 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, plus the interior is packed with premium materials and upscale features.
If you’re wondering how fast do Karma cars go, they can drive to a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) and can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. While these numbers are respectable, there are faster cars on the market.
