A New Chapter for a Persistent Automaker

Karma Automotive has defied gravity in the automotive industry. Emerged from the ashes of Fisker Automotive's 2013 bankruptcy and relaunched under Chinese ownership, the Irvine, California company has proven more durable than critics expected. The unveiling of the Amaris at its first Create Karma product presentation event is its most ambitious product reveal in years, signaling a renewed effort to carve out a niche in the luxury plug-in hybrid segment.

The Amaris is a series hybrid — meaning its gasoline engine does not mechanically drive the wheels but functions as a generator to charge the battery, which exclusively powers the electric drivetrain. This architecture offers EV-like driving dynamics with extended range capability, addressing range anxiety without requiring the engineering complexity of a parallel hybrid system.

Design and Specifications

The Amaris is unmistakably a Karma: long and low, with the swooping fastback roofline and solar-panel roof that have distinguished the company's vehicles since its founding. The interior continues Karma's emphasis on bespoke materials and craftsmanship, positioning itself explicitly against the utility-focused aesthetic that dominates mainstream EV offerings.

Performance specifications place the Amaris in the upper tier of luxury PHEV offerings. Full powertrain specs were not finalized at reveal, but Karma targets 0-to-60 times competitive with established luxury coupe benchmarks. The solar roof provides modest but cumulative range and efficiency benefits unique to the Karma lineup, resonating with sustainability-conscious buyers while reducing parasitic battery loads.

The Kaveya Delay

The Amaris reveal was accompanied by less welcome news: Karma is delaying the Kaveya, its planned fully electric coupe, by one year to 2027. The company cited changing market conditions, language that reflects broader dynamics in the premium electric vehicle segment where pure-EV adoption in the $80,000-and-above bracket has been slower than projected.

For Karma, the PHEV-first strategy may be tactically astute. Buyers in the target demographic accept plug-in hybrid technology, which eliminates range anxiety entirely while still enabling primarily electric operation for daily driving. Launching with the Amaris allows Karma to establish the platform and dealer experience before asking customers to commit to the additional transition to all-electric. The competitive set in this niche includes PHEVs from McLaren, Ferrari, and Lamborghini as well as established luxury offerings from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.

This article is based on reporting by Motor Authority. Read the original article.