Karma’s Invictus puts a new spin on electric motoring.
By Joe Yogerst
If you live in an area that’s already saturated with high-end electric vehicles but yearn to make your own mark, the new limited-edition Karma Invictus might be your ticket to ride.
Launched in November to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Irvine-based Karma Automotive, the Karma Invictus flaunts a $185,000 base price. Orders are currently being accepted on the Karma website, karmaautomotive.com/karmainvictus, with the first cars slated for delivery during the first quarter of this year. Once the car is finished, Southern California buyers can fetch their vehicle at the Karma dealership in Newport Beach.
And don’t expect to see another Karma Invictus pulling up beside you on PCH. Karma says that only 30 Invictus will be manufactured at its assembly line in Moreno Valley for buyers around the globe.
The company calls the Karma Invictus a “performance-focused expression” of the Revero, launched in 2017 as the company’s original flagship. Like its older brother, Invictus is a four-door, plug-in hybrid. But that’s where the resemblance stops.
The aluminum body parts on the older Karma have been replaced by state-of-the-art carbon fiber roof, engine hood, trunk cover, front fender and rear spoiler.
Meanwhile, the chassis has been upgraded with a high-performance Öhlins coil-over suspension system paired with Swift springs, rendering more of a street legal race car feel. These enhancements give the driver more adroit steering and better grip on tight corners or dodgy roadways.
The Karma Invictus derives its quite considerable oomph from an Extended Range Electric Vehicle hybrid powertrain with 28 kilowatt-hour, high-voltage battery pack and 1.5-liter turbocharged powerplant and onboard generator that can churn out 536 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque.
Translating that into raw performance, the vehicle can race from zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds, a top speed of 125 mph, an 80-mile all-electric range and 360 miles total range.
There’s new stuff inside, too. The heated front seats, interior door panels, and center armrest carry a cool Art Deco trim inspired by the iconic Chrysler Building in New York City. And the first thing you see when opening the driver-side door
is an anodized aluminum plaque engraved to the driver’s specifications including
the vehicle’s sequence in the 30-unit limited run.
Active noise cancellation keeps the cabin quiet while 3D haptic touch technology makes it simple to switch between drive modes, navigation features and entertainment choices. The Karma Invictus also features KarPilot Assist for safer driving and Connected Car to allow for online updates and upgrades.
A variety of branded accessories complement the Karma Invictus including luxury vehicle covers and floor mats, leather and aluminum key fob cases, trunk organizers, and Brembo six-piston brake calipers.
Exterior colors include Sirius Silver, Borrego Black, Balboa Blue, Bodega Bay Blue, Pacifico Grey, Silver Fog, Surf White and Napa Red; interior options are black or black-and-white. Through Karma Reserve, the company’s bespoke services option, an additional “technical” paintwork is offered: This transitions from the chosen color rearward from the nose down the center of the car to reveal the black carbon hood, roof and trunk.
Karma Automotive started life in 2007 as Fisker Automotive, the brainchild of visionary Danish vehicle designer Henrik Fisker, who rightly predicted that Southern California was fertile ground to start the electric car revolution. The company was sold and relaunched as Karma Automotive in 2014.
DEALERSHIP INFO
Karma Newport Beach
4040 Campus Drive, Newport Beach
949-326-5089; karmanb.com
