30 Machines, One Vision: The Invictus and Karma’s Exclusive Future

by AutoExpert   |  20 November, 2024

Share :

Karma Automotive’s story feels more like a rollercoaster than a smooth drive. Born from the ashes of Fisker Automotive in 2014, the Irvine-based company has spent the last decade chasing a dream of luxurious, high-performance EVs.

Its journey has been anything but ordinary—filled with audacious ideas, financial struggles, and a determination to carve out its place in automotive history. The Karma Revero was the company’s first step toward redemption. Unveiled in 2016, this extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) combined the spirit of performance with a touch of innovation.

Karma Invictus

It featured a 28 kWh battery paired with dual electric motors and a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. The numbers were impressive: 536 horsepower, 550 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. While its 80-mile electric range was humble, the Revero wasn’t about range anxiety—it was about making a statement. But Karma wasn’t done yet. In 2024, Karma unveiled the Invictus, an evolution of the Revero that combines the qualities of a sculpture and a machine.

Karma Invictus

This isn’t just a souped-up version; it’s a full-throttle reimagining. With carbon fiber everywhere—hood, roof, fenders, and even the rocker panels—it sheds 75 pounds and gains a sharper, leaner edge. Functional vents and a rear spoiler keep things cool and composed, while Öhlins coilovers and wider rear tires dial up the precision. And the numbers? Now it rockets to 60 mph in 3.97 seconds. That’s supercar territory in a car designed for luxury.

Karma Invictus

Inside, the Invictus tells a story of craftsmanship. Heated, ventilated seats wrapped in upholstery inspired by the Chrysler Building, anodized aluminum door sills, and bespoke options remind you this isn’t just any car. It’s one of 30 hand-built masterpieces, crafted in Moreno, California, for those who value exclusivity as much as performance. Pricing? Release dates? For now, Karma is keeping those details under wraps, adding to the car’s mystique. But as sleek and ambitious as the Invictus is, Karma’s history remains a bittersweet backdrop.

Karma Invictus

Recalls, layoffs, and financial turbulence plagued the company's early years, threatening even the boldest dreams. Wanxiang Group’s acquisition of Fisker’s assets in 2014 gave Karma a second chance, but with only 1,000 cars sold to date, it’s clear that being niche in the EV world isn’t easy. Now, with the Invictus and the broader Karma Collection, the brand is leaning into what it does best: blending exclusivity, artistry, and performance. It remains to be seen whether Karma can withstand the relentless pace of the EV revolution. The Invictus shows that this is about making something lasting, not just cars. Despite the uncertain future of Karma, it is already leaving a legacy of bold ambition and carbon fiber.

Karma Invictus

Recomended:

Everyone Says Pop-Up Headlights Were Banned, but That Is Not What Actually Happened - Photo
Others
Everyone Says Pop-Up Headlights Were Banned, but That Is Not What Actually Happened

Few automotive features can make a parked car look as alive as pop-up headlights. Turn the switch and two neat sections of bodywork rise from the hood, pause with theatrical precision and reveal the l

AutoExpert
This Talking Datsun Hid a Tiny Six-Track Record Player Beneath the Dashboard - Photo
Others
This Talking Datsun Hid a Tiny Six-Track Record Player Beneath the Dashboard

A new car speaking to its driver no longer feels remarkable. Navigation systems issue directions, safety assistants complain about lane markings and voice controls wait patiently for somebody to remem

AutoExpert
Honda Built Navigation Before GPS Using Helium, Transparent Maps and a Glowing Green Dot - Photo
Others
Honda Built Navigation Before GPS Using Helium, Transparent Maps and a Glowing Green Dot

There was a time when getting lost required some commitment. A driver would unfold a road map across the steering wheel, locate two towns that appeared to be printed directly on top of one another, th

AutoExpert
Your Front Brakes Do Most of the Work, So Why Did the Rear Pads Wear Out First? - Photo
Others
Your Front Brakes Do Most of the Work, So Why Did the Rear Pads Wear Out First?

The usual explanation sounds perfectly logical. When a car slows down, its weight moves toward the front. The front tires carry more load, so the front brakes provide more of the stopping force. That

AutoExpert
Rubber Is Naturally Pale, So Why Did the Automotive World Make Every Tire Black? - Photo
Others
Rubber Is Naturally Pale, So Why Did the Automotive World Make Every Tire Black?

A bright red car, a metallic blue car and a taxi painted the color of a highlighter will normally leave the factory with exactly the same footwear. Black tires. The color seems so inevitable

AutoExpert
A Fatal Hand-Crank Accident Helped Change the Way Every Car Starts - Photo
Others
A Fatal Hand-Crank Accident Helped Change the Way Every Car Starts

Starting a modern car requires so little effort that the action barely registers. Turn a key, press a button or let the vehicle recognize that its driver has climbed aboard. A second later, the engine

AutoExpert
You Installed the Correct Battery, but Your Car May Still Think the Old One Is There - Photo
Others
You Installed the Correct Battery, but Your Car May Still Think the Old One Is There

Changing a car battery used to be one of the cleaner bargains in home mechanics.Remove two terminals, undo the clamp, lift out the old battery and fit the new one. The clock might need resetting a

AutoExpert
Highway Rumble Strips Are Designed to Sound Awful, but Making Them Quieter Could Save Lives Too - Photo
Others
Highway Rumble Strips Are Designed to Sound Awful, but Making Them Quieter Could Save Lives Too

One tire wanders across the painted line and the previously quiet cabin erupts with a harsh mechanical growl. The steering wheel trembles, the seat vibrates and, for half a second, it feels as if some

AutoExpert
People Once Wanted Car Radios Banned Because Listening While Driving Seemed Far Too Dangerous - Photo
Others
People Once Wanted Car Radios Banned Because Listening While Driving Seemed Far Too Dangerous

A dashboard without a radio now looks unfinished. Even the most basic car is expected to provide music, news and something to fill the silence when traffic has stopped moving but the clock has not.

AutoExpert
The Seatbelt That Chased You Across the Door Was America’s Cheaper Alternative to an Airbag - Photo
Others
The Seatbelt That Chased You Across the Door Was America’s Cheaper Alternative to an Airbag

Open the door of certain 1980s or early 1990s cars and a small buckle begins travelling along the roofline. Sit down, close the door and the shoulder belt glides toward the B-pillar, hopefully passi

AutoExpert