Karma Automotive is presenting the new Karma GT by Pininfarina at Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach. If the name Karma sounds familiar, then you’re probably thinking about the Fisker Karma, which happens to be one of the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid vehicles to enter production. Now that car was conceived by Henrik Fisker and went on to sell over 2,000 units worldwide.
But after the Wanxiang Group of China purchased the manufacturing and design facility of Fisker Automotive in 2016, the newly renamed Karma Automotive is going full forces with the new Karma GT by Pininfarina.
The Karma GT by Pininfarina debuted in Shanghai
This is not the first time we saw the Karma GT by Pininfarina in all its glory. The car debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show a couple of months ago albeit in concept form. The Karma GT shared the stage with the Karma Revero and Revero GT. Interestingly enough, both the Revero and Revero GT are based on the old Fisker Karma with four doors and a hybrid plug-in powertrain.
However, the Karma GT is a two-door coupe. It is built using the underpinnings of the Revero, but the styling is a different matter altogether.
The bespoke body is conceived by Italian design house Pininfarina
You can essentially think of the new Karma GT as a Chinese plug-in hybrid grand tourer wearing sleek Italian clothing. The Karma GT is the first result of the company’s first partnership with Pininfarina, the same Italian engineering and design firm behind the outrageously fast and stupendously beautiful Battista electric hypercar.
We’ll reserve our judgments until we see the car in the flesh. But based on official images, the new Karma GT by Pininfarina is set to be one of the most desirable and head-turning hybrid electric vehicles to date. Omitting the rear doors only made the car look sleeker and sexier at first glance.
The Karma GT has almost the same exterior dimensions as the Revero GT, but it has a longer hood with shorter rear overhangs. Keen observers will also notice the new headlights and new front bumper with a pair of air intakes.
Sadly, Karma didn’t say anything about the technical specs of the new Karma GT
However, Karma Automotive did say the Karma GT by Pininfarina retains the fundamental engineering parameters of the Revero GT. Based on this, we’re assuming the Karma GT receives the same powertrain as the donor vehicle. This means a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder mill from BMW, two electric motors, and an onboard electric generator.
If this remains true, the Karma GT is expected to produce 535-horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Using this powertrain, the Revero GT rushes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4-seconds using launch mode. Karma says they turned to the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid as a performance benchmark for the Revero GT.
The Karma GT has a plush interior
We’re saying this based on the interior shots released by Karma Automotive. Of course, a beautiful body should be complemented by a plush and equally gorgeous interior, and the Karma GT by Pininfarina delivers in spades.
While the company remains mum on materials and standard equipment, the Karma GT’s interior is festooned in leather with genuine stitching and generous soft-touch materials. You’ll also notice the digital instrument display and a large center-mounted touchscreen infotainment display. Admittedly, the interior is not as dramatic as in the Battista. But the low seating position and generous wiggle room are very much fitting of a grand touring car.
The new Karma GT by Pininfarina will grace the stage at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance alongside the Revero GT. Prices, trim models, performance specs, and production numbers will be revealed at a later date.