New Karma GT designed by Pininfarina revealed at Shanghai
The Pininfarina-penned Karma GT was joined by the Revero saloon and SC1 Vision concept on the brand's Shanghai stand
Karma Automotive teamed up with the Italian design house Pininfarina for this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, unleashing three new models which preview the brands’ short, mid, and long-term ambitions. The pair’s show stand features a low-slug two-door coupe, a next-generation Karma Revero saloon and a concept supercar called the Karma SC1 Vision.
The Karma GT designed by Pininfarina previews Karma’s mid-term goals. Essentially, it’s a reworked version of the Karma Revero saloon, with fresh styling penned by the Italian styling house Pininfarina.
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The exterior has undergone a drastic design rethink with a more aggressive front bumper, restyled LED headlights, a pinched waistline, two fewer doors and a redesigned rear end.
Inside, the GT gets an updated, three-pronged steering wheel and re-trimmed, quilted upholstery, finished in white leather and burgundy piping. The dashboard is near identical to the Revero saloon, sharing the same mid-mounted infotainment screen and digital instrument binnacle.
No official details on the GT’s drivetrain have been announced but, seeing as the concept is based on the Karma Revero, we expect it will be powered by the same pair of rear-mounted electric motors, fed by a petrol range-extender. In the Revero, this system produces 398bhp and 1,330Nm of torque, allowing total maximum range of 300 miles.
Karma’s short-term ambitions were previewed by a refreshed version of the Revero saloon to Shanghai. The updated model claims a broader range of interior and exterior customisation options, as well as improved performance, courtesy of a new, BMW-sourced turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
The California-based firm’s stand was completed by the new Karma SC1 Vision Concept. This all-electric roadster prototype previews Karma’s long-term goals, providing a snapshot of its future design language and eventual move away from range-extender powertrains. A stand-out feature of the concept is its next-generation infotainment system, with support for 5G connectivity.
The Karma brand has already established itself in the US market, with plans to expand into Europe and the Middle East next year. Following that, the firm will branch out into the Chinese market by 2021.
Karma Automotive’s CEO, Dr. Lance Zhou commented: “this is the first major auto presence for Karma in China, and marks a significant moment by ushering in a new era for the company. Karma is ready to move forward with bold steps, a chapter we call our New Dawn.”
What are your thoughts on Karma and Pininfarina’s new GT car? Let us know in the comments section below...
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