LA MOTOR SHOW: Wild 809kW Karma SC2 shocks
Chinese-backed US car-maker reveals mighty EV hypercar concept that will humble a Bugatti away from the lightsKarma Automotive has unveiled its all-new Karma SC2 Concept at the Los Angeles motor show and it's claimed to produce both 809kW and an unbelievable 14,000Nm of torque.
Said to preview both the car-maker's future design direction and next-generation pure-electric powertrain, the zero-emissions rival to a Bugatti Chiron is shockingly fast.
Its creators claim a 1.9-second sprint to 60mph (97km/h) is feasible, while its energy-dense 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack should provide around 560km between charges.
Featuring an electric motor driving each axle, the all-wheel drive Karma SC2 Concept features both advanced torque vectoring and regenerative braking systems, plus huge carbon-ceramic brakes.
The suspension, meanwhile, is pure F1 with the Karma hypercar gaining a lightweight push-rod suspension system.
A novel piece of technology unique to the SC2 is what the car-maker calls 'Drive and Play' tech that uses HD cameras and LIDAR sensors to record and then play a 360-degree film of your previous drives.
This helps drivers to 'relive' their favourite journey in 3D even when sitting in their parked car thanks to laser projectors that can project the image on the front screen and side windows.
Instead of a conventional key the SC2 concept uses facial recognition to unlock the scissor doors, while the side glass automatically darkens using electrochromic technology to give extra privacy.
At the show, Karma Automotive also announced it will launch an updated version of its Revero GT pure-electric sedan in 2020 and a new global platform a year later.
It is expected to underpin a whole raft of new vehicles that will allow the brand to transition from niche producer to gain a foothold in the premium car market.
Rising from the ashes of Fisker Automotive, California's Karma Automotive was formed back in 2015 with the launch of the Revero – a facelifted version of the Fisker Karma.
A Karma Automotive spokesperson told carsales at the LA show that right-hand production of the Karma Revero electric sedan for markets outside the US and Europe could eventuate.
“Exports have started to Europe. No right-hand drive at the moment but if demand increases there’s no reason why it wouldn’t happen,” she said.
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