It was 2009 when the Karma was slated to hit the automotive markets. Instead, a flurry of hardware issues including the electrical system, and a decision to swap out the motor would push Fisker Automotive into bankruptcy and delay the release of the premium plug-in hybrid electric sports sedan until 2011.

Within those two years, Karma was bought out by the Chinese supplier Wanxiang Group which restarted low volume production using leftover inventory, then rebranded and renamed the low-riding, four-door coupe the Karma Revero. This version of the Karma is expected to be a hybrid car collector’s dream with a sleek profile and luxurious interior.

From the Fisker Karma to the 2020 Karma Revero GT

From that initial (failed) production of the Fisker Karma to the new and improved 2020 Karma Revero GT, what has changed to breathe new life into this luxury hybrid sedan? After all, building cars is difficult. Maybe Karma’s attempt to relaunch the failed Fisker Karma will actually be successful this time around? Here are three notable and decisive changes that might get the 2020 Karma Revero into production and regain the confidence of Karma enthusiasts.

1. A Restructured Corporation – According to Karma Automotive’s chief technology officer, Bob Kruse, a corporate restructuring of the entire enterprise included a fast-tracked supply chain, new manufacturing technology, a revamped product engineering team, along with retail and service networks that will track each vehicle from pre-production through sales – and into the customer service end.

The new Karma Automotive plant is located in Moreno Valley, CA, just east of Los Angeles. The brand has plans to expand into other vehicles including crossovers which will exist under a new platform.

2. Designed with Automotive ingenuity – The 2020 Revero GT will feature a three-cylinder BMW engine which will supply the power to a generator that in turn provides the electricity required by the two electric motors. The rear-wheel-drive Revero GT is expected to have a range of 80 miles on a single charge. But with a full tank of gasoline, the range is extended to 360 miles. With a price tag of about $135,000, that’s pretty good mileage for a revamped hybrid.

The company recruited top automotive developers and engineers from General Motors and Ford to build out a new Karma that is sexier, more powerful, and extremely efficient. Every detail has been poured over for design improvements. For example, the sound system boasts 3D surround-sound technology that delivers living room quality sound reproduction using algorithms that can achieve a 3D effect without a 3D audio source.

3. Innovative Additive Manufacturing –  The California plant will use 3D printing for some parts and builds of the new 2020 Karma Revero GT. With this technological advantage, automotive components can go directly from 3D design software to hardware that manufactures each piece with a precision layering of metal to construct mechanical geometries.

Additive manufacturing not only cuts costs but also lead times with increased manufacturing speed, part quality, and performance. Today’s automotive manufacturers are looking to implement end-to-end production workflows that feature AM as the next big step in production technology.

Will the 2020 Karma Revero GT go into Production?

Car enthusiasts are looking forward to this supercar reveal. Imagine a hybrid vehicle that is as sexy as a Tesla, has a range-extender that adds mileage to the battery, and can compete with a Maserati on speed—going from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 125 miles per hour. The company has already revealed the 535-hp hybrid with a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine and promises a superior ride quality, improved torque delivery, and sharper handling. 

The 2020 Karma Revero GT 2020 is scheduled to arrive in early 2020 and the company has set a goal to build 12,000 to 13,000 cars each year.