Southern California-based automaker Karma Automotive’s new 2020 Revero luxury electric vehicle will use a BMW TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder in-line engine supplied by BMW AG to power an on-board electric generator and enhance overall vehicle performance.
Karma’s engineering team embarked on a complete redesign of the all-electric powertrain that underpins the new 2020 Revero. After extensive evaluation the team selected the highly-charged BMW engine as the optimal choice to support a new and more powerful high-voltage NMC lithium-ion battery pack and a new, transversely mounted, twin-motor rear drive module (RDM).
The new Revero will debut at Auto Shanghai 2019 later this month and reach retailer showrooms during the second half of this year.
The enhanced technology found in the 2020 Revero improves 0-60mph performance, according to Bob Kruse, Karma’s Chief Technology Officer, noting that the car will hit that mark in 4.5 seconds, nearly a full second faster than the model it replaces.
“We created a world-class electric vehicle drive system that delivers the performance and packaging requirements of the new Revero,” Kruse said. “Alongside a series of other technological advancements, the new 2020 Revero is as fast as it looks.”
The 2020 Revero, along with Karma’s Pininfarina-designed concept car and its all-electric Vision concept car, will form the automaker’s “Big Three” product announcement at Auto Shanghai 2019. Taken together Karma’s Shanghai Big Three products shows the automaker’s short, medium and long-term vision.
BMW AG started working with Karma in 2015 to help develop the onboard generator systems used in the company’s new Revero. The collaboration is an example of how Karma embraces relationships with like-minded technology leaders to help spur innovation and speed-up product development.
“BMW AG is a natural fit for Karma’s luxury-tech focus because it is a proven technology leader renowned for conceiving and delivering ground-breaking innovations,” Kruse said.
