Also based out of California like Tesla, Fisker produced just one model during its brief existence – the Karma petrol-electric plug-in hybrid – and fewer than 2,500 units were ever built.
As stunning as it was to look at, a series of missed launch dates and hasty production resulted in oversights that saw various failures and recalls, and some even had the unfortunate tendency to catch fire.
The struggle was too much and in 2013, Fisker laid off its workforce, filed for bankruptcy and promptly vanished. Until now, because the brand has been somewhat reborn with this: the Karma Revero.
Relationships with former Fisker suppliers have been rekindled in a bid to resume production of discontinued parts and from the outside, the Revero is a near-copy of the Karma with several features harking back to Fisker’s sole model.
There’s the horizontal twin-front vents, the bug-eye headlights, the gentle yet sharp shoulder line running the length of the car like a soft wave; in fact flicking between an image of the Karma and the Revero reveals an undeniable effort to recreate the Fisker Karma for 2016.
Like the Karma, the Revero uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain, delivering silent yet punchy electric acceleration for up to 50 miles, before a roaring engine fires up and takes over.
The badge on each Revero is hand-painted, one at a time, something they claim has been done by no other car company ever. They say this speaks volumes over the craftsmanship invested into each Revero, making each car individual.
Forget charging, a solar panel fitted into the car’s roof can capture enough energy to power the car, making it self-sufficient to a degree, depending on how it is driven.
Meanwhile, the car’s infotainment system will be simple, intuitive and beautiful, if you believe that beauty can be found in a series of buttons and menus.
Upon releasing these initial images, Karma Automotive’s chief revenue officer Jim Taylor said: “Serving a mass market is not, and never will be, our purpose. The Revero is for a discerning group of individuals who desire beautiful, clean vehicles and a memorable ownership experience. We are thrilled to start this journey.”
All being well, the Karma Revero will be available through ten North American dealerships. A greater appreciation and uptake of plug-in vehicles suggests that it’d have a better chance of success if it ever reached the UK. There’s a long way to go before then though…
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