I like that this guy isn't trying to upsell it. He knows it's not the top dog, but he's not trying to be, just proud of what it is and honest. That's gonna get him far.
Exactly, you don't need to be at the top of every stat sheet to have a good product. This dude knows that so he's just looking to making a good car and isn't trying to bs about it.
Little company in Canada, called Edison Motors Building hybrid semi trucks. Using electric drive axles, diesel generator in place of original engine & transmission. Pretty interesting how well it's been progressing... Developing re-fit kits for full size pickups, making them hybrid electric drive.
Still remembers his Massachusetts upbringing ;-) When you start hitting 68 (me), you start thinking how things were better when you grew up, and Jay is 73...
Loved the look of the original Fisker Karma and love the updated Karma Revero. Marques' cool transparent demeanor adds to me wishing them much success.
Probably the most impressive thing in this episode isn’t the car - it’s their CEO. Huge emotional intelligence, great product knowledge and enthusiasm.
24 min 21 seconds is all it took and I love this guy. Something with Marques' personality shines through his aura, I can not explain it but I would love to work for this man. I wish him and his family all the success and good health possible all from 24min 21 seconds.
I like this Karma because it has its own character- Not another Tesla "dolphin", or loaf of bread of dullness like some manufacturers. The Karma has some rare style.
The only sedan that actually looks like a sports car. Love what they did with exterior updates, but the lines and body proportions are absolutely timeless.
Intelligent choice for a propulsion system. Trains have been using engines to produce electricity for the high torque electric motors for many decades. Here, you've got a tried and true BMW engine instead of two room sized diesels, performing the same task. Jay said he's gone 700+ miles using no gas. It's amazing...
@@Leonard-hk1nfYou can't really count the covid shutdown when they couldn't sell gas as fast as they were producing it so they basically had to give it away at cost. And the US is actually producing more gas today then it did under trump.
Now it's time to talk about the interior. Marques mentioned luxury. That is a luxurious interior. Aluminum body and chassis, BMW powerplant, Brembo brakes and 2 electric motors sounds very good to me. No frunk, no problem. That's a trunk big enough for a vacation... Excellent work all the way around...
This kind of power plant makes sense to me more than full elec or hybrid. I3 small displacement or a small industrial diesel driving generators would fit the needs of a vast majority of people.
This young man is really prideful. He is proud about his position in this company, & you can tell he puts every fiber of his being into increasing the marketability of these vehicles. My friend i hope you're in good health & thriving 🙏
I'm glad to see a car company go this route. Best idea yet. You locomotives have been doing this same thing for decades. The huge diesel engine only powers a huge generator providing electricity for each traction motor. The regeneration that slows you down they call dynamic braking. Love, love the Karma. 👍🏿
I would buy a car from this guy all day long. He’s passionate about his product and everything he’s done with this car makes perfect sense. Most importantly, it’s American made.
About Karma Automotive Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility located in Moreno Valley, Calif., and owned by Chinese clean energy conglomerate Wanxiang Group, Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East.@@Gray-beard
That's basically how Submarines run, since WWII and Diesel-Electric Locomotives as well: Internal combustion engine, driving a generator, that charges a battery and/or directly powers electrical motors.
Don't get fooled this car still need expensive maintenance service costs for lots of parts in that engine, oil changes, pulleys, rubber belts, rubber hoses, sparkplugs, oil filter, oil pump, water pump, fuel filter, fuel pump and list go on.. way above the electrical parts and will increase the servicing & owning costs over same period of let's say 5-10 years compared with a full ev.. So then from the start what would be the point of this hybrid Karma GS6 when for a quick example a similar price of $90,000 to $120,000 full electric like Lucid Air would be way better option, more spacious, more quiet silent ride, with more usable luggage space since no engine under front bonnet and it can travel on long distances between charging points !?
@@mountainjeff no, the network is expanding with additional funding, and there will be some exclusive Tesla stations in congested areas. Tesla also has many more ports in each station compared to EA and others, and reliability is much higher.
@@jckdnls9292 There are many factors. You need to build a car that appeals to people at a price point they are willing to pay. The challenge for new companies is that the price per car is always higher so people will often settle for something they like a little less for a cheaper price. At the end of the day, all cars will get you from point A to point B. Luxury car manufacturers rely on a small segment of the population for all their revenue and it is a crowded market. If we become much wealthier in the next few years, the market space will increase. Unfortunately we aren't on that trajectory today. All luxury markets are impacted the hardest whenever there is an economic downturn.
No. You're confused. It's the i8 drivetrain in a vehicle designed by a Danish con artist, with American Taxpayer footing the loss and now being shilled by a salesman who has the gift of making fools think that the turd smells like a rose.
I mean... Yes and no... They both got the B38, but the rest of the drive train is completely different. If the i8 had over 500hp maybe it couldve been considered a super car when it was released, but it barely had over 350.
One of these, albeit and older model but not the fiskar, pulled into my valet lane and it literally stopped traffic. Everyone was stopping and talking about it. Its a beautiful car in person.
Beautiful lines on this car. The power train is exactly the correct way forward for now. Precisely why Edison is doing it with their semi truck development.
Have you not heard or seen the Tesla Semi, in a recent competition it beat all comers travelling over 1000 miles, hybrid vehicles are really old technology now. Dump the pump, go EV. When will people learn that fossil fuel is FINITE (that means for all those overpaid VPs in exxon mobil that very soon there won't any more oil / gas to come out of the ground.) Does anybody on the other side of the pond know the tale of the goose that laid golden eggs, a cautionary tale, read and weep.
GM is usually a head of the game, and then drops the ball. The Volt was the answer, 35 to 50 miles range on electric, then a 1000 cc engine kicked in to power the generator to power the electric drive motors. If my commute daily to work is 22 miles, I never have to use any gas, (except to refresh and keep the system operative). And on the weekend I need to drive the 200 miles to Lake Tahoe, I jump in and go. No range anxiety ever. Now we need one that appeals to the masses with affordability, design and comfort. Very few can afford the Karma Revero GS6. Is this rocket science. The car is beautiful, to bad no one can afford it. You know what they say, "Karma is a _____.
It’s a wonderful color and looks like a jaguar. Honda runs its hybrids systems the same way as this car does but not to the extent that this vehicle does but using the same idea by using the engine as a generator to produce electricity.
It does almost nothing for range since the 1.5 liter engine cannot provide enough energy to keep 500 hp on tap. Now if you are going down hill at 45 mph then maybe you can go further on down the road on just the generator.
@@azgman6439 you don't need 500hp all the time, it charges while normal driving. It does 360 miles between charge and gas - then a 5 minute fill up like a regular car.
I am happy to see the new fresh and beautiful look of the car. Very impressive. Good luck to Marques. Your knowledge , attitude and optimism should keep you on the safe side. Thank you Mr Leno for shedding the light on a well deserved vehicle.
It will be interesting to see what Jay thinks of the Edison semi truck and the planned pickup truck conversion that follow the same thinking of engine powering a generator to make it move
Between Edison, this Karma, the Ramcharger and fanatical i3 REx & Volt owners, the Average Joe is finally waking up to how brilliant series hybrids can be: -14,000+ miles all-electric annually. - Lighter, cheaper battery - Light, simple ICE generator - No transmission - No range or charge anxiety. - No need for billion$$ spent on a public charging network to cover every eventuality.
I've owned a series electric (Cadillac ELR) for more than five years and I love it. I bought a silver '14 in 2016 and lost it in the hurricane Harvey floods of Houston. While getting back on my feet (first floor of my house flooded, along with all my vehicles) I found that I really REALLY missed the ELR. I had very good transportation (flood refurbished my Cadillac CTS wagon) and a house that I was rebuilding. I couldn't justify the expense of buying another ELR intellectually but... I bought my second ELR five months after the flood and I've never regretted it. Two weeks after taking possession of the car, I drove it 1,500 miles and the car never missed a beat. My longest "recharge" period was five minutes at the local gas station with the best price for premium. Series electric cars are the way to go. Smooth, quiet power for local commutes and a smooth enough gas engine for long road trips. That the car is drop dead gorgeous is just a bonus (sure, keep telling yourself that)
Right on!😎 Not having to use charge stations, for ridiculous charge times helps. Big issue will be, is that the batteries are going to be expensive to replace. Very few repair locations. The weight will wear out suspension, sooner than one hopes.
I enjoyed the vibe of the conversations in the car. It was like watching two buddies that hang out every weekend. 😌 Thank you for all of the light - and the light that you attract - to this world ❤ A 41yo car enthusiast and USMC vet near the NC coast 😌 (PS. I wasn’t supposed to stay up late on school nights but I did - partly to watch your show on my 13” Emerson TV in the 90s ☺️)
Fisker went under and tesla is the most valuable car company in the world selling millions of EVs a year. They are doing the same as Fisker did and expecting a different result which is total madness. Now Fisker has relaunched as an EV only brand, looks like they learned their lesson.
Just a correction @Jay Leno Garage, it wasn't a Chevy Volt engine, but it was from GM. They used the 2.0L Turbo 4 from the Pontiac Solstice GXP, but it was still mated to generator as a series hybrid. I don't think the motors/drive unit came from GM.
I was going to post this correction. I have one of the fisker engines brand new in the crate in my shop. I bought it from an engine distributor and got it for a good price. It isn't a Gen one lnf, but rather a gen3 lnf with lhu/ldk sand cast block so It is a much better engine than the foam cast one currently in my cobalt that has a nice hole in the side of the block. The company I bought it from bought out all of Fiskers engines when they shut down.
I like the brief history lesson. He left out the part of the Chinese company that bought the assents of Fisker, reverse engineered the stufff they didn’t own…..then started Karma motors and branded it an American company.
That 4 door design that swoops to hide the backdoors is pretty good. It still looks overly long, but in comparison to something like the panamera, I think it looks better.
am i understanding this correctly ? it has a heavy engine just to charge the batteries ? does that not take away the mileage because of the weight of that engine ?
Depends on your definition of 'heavy.' An aluminum 3-pot isn't exactly a cast-iron V8 lump. Storage batteries are quite heavy. On board charging reduces the number of batteries required, and reduces total weight.
Finally Jay mentions something I've noticed for decades - the most colorful State in the country with the Car culture of LA.Burbank/Hollywood where I live tends to have over 90% greyscale colored cars - white, grey, silver, charcoal, black on and on SO boring. I looked in my apt parking lot the other day and it totaled 23 cars, NONE in color. Drones. 👀
I've seen one of these, they look amazing. I live in a cold city in Canada, so it's amazing one made it up here. Naturally I thought it was a Fisker that somebody found cheap, now I know!
So good to see the Karma get another chance. Always loved the first iteration but reliability doesn't seem ideal looking at owners forums. There was also a lookalike from China or something with crazy horsepower, not sure what happened with that one
Well... About Karma Automotive Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility located in Moreno Valley, Calif., and , Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East.
It's a shame they dropped the distinctive front grille from the original Fisker Karma. That was the the best part of the design IMHO. It looks really plain now.
In my opinion, this hybrid type is the way to go. Full electric creates more problems than it tries to solve. It looks great too! It's not the colour for me, but its not a Prius!
This is the only way to go, as far as I'm concerned. You're using already existing infrastructure, not destroying the planet in different ways (mining rare-earth minerals in slavery conditions), and saving money and the environment by using so little gas. A total win-win in my books! Thanks to Marques for keeping this car valid, and sharing it with us, and thanks to Jay and the crew for another great episode! Happy New Year to you all! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
This is definitely the future......being in this industry, having the flexibility of alternative fuels while having the torque of the electric motors will be the future in which Lemans without refueling could be the possible. It doesn't seem to be that far enough. Shout out to karma to even go for a project like this when all major manufacturers are going for all electric mobility when clearly is a hazard for the enviornment.
It's interesting that they're doing a petroleum generator/electric hybrid. It's certainly not a new concept, locomotives have been doing it for almost a century. If they can bring the price down to where they can offer this in a $50K car instead of a $150K car, I think this addresses a lot of the concerns that people have around range anxiety, charging infrastructure availability and whether the current grid infrastructure can sustain an all electric market. I hope they're successful with the halo models to be able to offer more reasonable ones in the future.
Didn't watch the video? Or, missed the part where the CEO talks about how they just want to be in the premium segment of the market? They have no plans to ever make a $50,000 car.
This is old technology, and modern EVs have so many advantages over this vehicle, especially as charging infrastructure improves. This will be another bankrupt Karma company soon.
@@jamespaul2587 How? If everyone owned an EV our grid would melt. No worries about waiting for a charger. No issues with broken chargers. It isn't "old tech". Have you driven one? I have. They're luxury - unlike anything else.
@petebrown6356 no, do some actually research, the grid can easily handle EVs which are primarily charged overnight. Some can even be used to send power back to the grid during peaks, reducing strain and need for peaker plants
@@jamespaul2587 I worked for an engineering company that did a study on exactly this. You have no idea what you're talking about. If everyone had an EV and started charging their EV's at night the grid would melt. You tell others to "do research"...yes, I have, I worked with the team that did the study. Now go an educate yourself and stop assuming you know it all - you know less than you think.
Marcus seems to get it regarding how we power cars. He said we don't have the infrastructure to charge all the cars we are told to have. Its true. Hybrids are a good start i think. I have a hybrid Tundra and it is awesome.
Company still 100% owned by Wangxian of China, and have been laying-off employees left right and centre in recent years. The car is essentially an old BMW i8 clad in a body that seems a copy of an Aston Martin with some added Tesla-influenced bits.
The body is a copy of the Fisker Karma, and it resembles an Aston because Heinrik Fisker designed several models of Aston Martin, as well as the BMW Z8, before he started his own company
Both good points. I think the idea is good, but if it's china owned, I will always look elsewhere. That CEO needs to organize a buyout by american investors.
And...? I'm still driving my '00 TDI (~650 miles per tank). Haven't been looking at new cars since then. Do you like your new Caddy? Are you comfortable with pure EV? Have you done any road trips?
Full electric makes more sense. Fewer parts, less sophisticated… This thing has a BMW engine generator in it for Goddsakes. You don’t wanna have to repair that.
I have been an avid follower for many years. I remember an episode some yrs ago, where a former auto-CEO, perhaps Bob Lutz? introduced this form of power-generation. I wonder why it hasn´t used more than it has. I think it is a very clever idea. Thanks again, Jay.
Because it's not the most efficient method. An engine directly coupled to the wheels via a gearbox or a planetary like in the Volt is more efficient than using a combustion engine to generate electricity to power an electric motor. You're losing 5% making the electricity and then another 5% converting it into rotation via the drive motor. I bet overall it's more like 15% total loss.
Great car but also a great guest. I always appreciate seeing people come on your channel who represent the brand in the industry in a positive manner. And he has mom living at home with him! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I like that this guy isn't trying to upsell it. He knows it's not the top dog, but he's not trying to be, just proud of what it is and honest. That's gonna get him far.
yeah I think so
Exactly, you don't need to be at the top of every stat sheet to have a good product. This dude knows that so he's just looking to making a good car and isn't trying to bs about it.
Yeah, it's like, Toyota is the biggest car company because they specialize in the best of best fastest fanciest sports cars, right? Not really!
Little company in Canada, called Edison Motors
Building hybrid semi trucks. Using electric drive axles, diesel generator in place of original engine & transmission.
Pretty interesting how well it's been progressing...
Developing re-fit kits for full size pickups, making them hybrid electric drive.
No. It wont.
Nothing but respect for a man who takes care of his mom.
😂
I love that with as much money as Jay has he is still at least annoyed by high gas prices.
I agree... Jay seems like a pretty humble guy.
IT LOOKS LIKE A KIA STINGER
@@WINWINJACKPOTS because he didnt always have money
Still remembers his Massachusetts upbringing ;-) When you start hitting 68 (me), you start thinking how things were better when you grew up, and Jay is 73...
So true... I think Jay worked at McDonald's in the 1960s, if I recall. @@memorimusic420
Loved the look of the original Fisker Karma and love the updated Karma Revero. Marques' cool transparent demeanor adds to me wishing them much success.
Blah, blah... Woke
Another sucker who thinks the turd is a rose.Again. Damn..
This guy is the ceo you want at the helm of your company. Damn good presenter
it's a Chinese billionaire who owns the company...
It ain’t a jay leno video without him mentioning “back in the day” 20 times Love you jay
Probably the most impressive thing in this episode isn’t the car - it’s their CEO. Huge emotional intelligence, great product knowledge and enthusiasm.
I would definitely buy from Karma Automotive. Marques seems like the real deal, for sure.
You wouldn't be saying that if the CEO was white.
@@WINWINJACKPOTS dude, you should wait for customer reviews, not CEO hype.
I watched the video and he seemed nice. Same with Jay. That's all, but yes, customer reviews are everything. I agree! @@paladro
If you base your judgement on buying a car on the CEO is so nice. That is sad!!!
24 min 21 seconds is all it took and I love this guy. Something with Marques' personality shines through his aura, I can not explain it but I would love to work for this man. I wish him and his family all the success and good health possible all from 24min 21 seconds.
I like this Karma because it has its own character- Not another Tesla "dolphin", or loaf of bread of dullness like some manufacturers. The Karma has some rare style.
Too bad that style doesn't show very well in puke green and black.
Ugly as sin is not really a style.
@turboturtle9083 brother, if your puke looks like that, get to a hospital
@@turboturtle9083puke green? If your puke looks like this , you should head to the emergency room bud.
@@turboturtle9083btw, that green would be called Olive Green. Military calls it OD green (Olive Drab).
this CEO has a good head on his shoulders. He presented the car really well.
Marcus is such a cool guy! I really hope he and his car company, Karma, achieve great success! I'm a big fan of hybrid cars!
The only sedan that actually looks like a sports car. Love what they did with exterior updates, but the lines and body proportions are absolutely timeless.
IT LOOKS LIKE A KIA STINGER
frontend has Corvette vibes. 👍
No sports car is MASSIVE like this. This looks no better than a 4 door Kia Stinger. 👀
@@BuckingHorse-Bull this car design came out in 2012. The Kia Stinger came out in 2017. So that means the Kia Stinger looks like the Karma.
Maserati Quatroporte did the euro 4-door/sportscar look first... still good value for money
The interior is gorgeous as well as the outside. Wish other EV's used leather like this.
I like the part of the episode where they showed the interior
@@CalvinHikes I'm sure Doug Demuro will play with the knobs and buttons.
Im just reacting to what I could see from them sitting in it.
Intelligent choice for a propulsion system. Trains have been using engines to produce electricity for the high torque electric motors for many decades. Here, you've got a tried and true BMW engine instead of two room sized diesels, performing the same task. Jay said he's gone 700+ miles using no gas. It's amazing...
If seven bucks a gallon sends shivers down Jays spine.just imagine what it does to me ! Lol Got to love Jay he is still a common guy .
He's part of the reason you're paying so much. He's a Biden voter.
Still $2.50 a gallon here in Ohio.
@@sociopathmercenary I live in Missouri it’s about $2.70 . I wish Trump was back at one point it was $1.25 when he was in office .
@@Leonard-hk1nfYou can't really count the covid shutdown when they couldn't sell gas as fast as they were producing it so they basically had to give it away at cost. And the US is actually producing more gas today then it did under trump.
@@Leonard-hk1nfduring covid and with get go points I got it at 19 cents a gallon. I kept that receipt.
7 dollars sends shivers down my spine... That's why I love J.
Now it's time to talk about the interior. Marques mentioned luxury. That is a luxurious interior. Aluminum body and chassis, BMW powerplant, Brembo brakes and 2 electric motors sounds very good to me. No frunk, no problem. That's a trunk big enough for a vacation... Excellent work all the way around...
Thanks Jay for showing us this latest generation of hybrid in a very good looking package with the CEO Marques.
Absolutely beautiful vehicle. Love the 4 door. Nicely done Karma! I could not own an electric only vehicle. Hybrid would be the only way.
ильдар автоподбор посмотрел это видео 100%
Happy new year Jay and fellow garage fans.
This kind of power plant makes sense to me more than full elec or hybrid. I3 small displacement or a small industrial diesel driving generators would fit the needs of a vast majority of people.
That style of technology has worked for locomotives and submarines for decades, why can’t it be applied to cars?
This young man is really prideful. He is proud about his position in this company, & you can tell he puts every fiber of his being into increasing the marketability of these vehicles. My friend i hope you're in good health & thriving 🙏
A new year means new hope, new light, new encounters and new paths to happiness. All the best! A happy and wonderful new year 2024
I'm glad to see a car company go this route. Best idea yet. You locomotives have been doing this same thing for decades. The huge diesel engine only powers a huge generator providing electricity for each traction motor. The regeneration that slows you down they call dynamic braking. Love, love the Karma. 👍🏿
I would buy a car from this guy all day long. He’s passionate about his product and everything he’s done with this car makes perfect sense. Most importantly, it’s American made.
Assembled in the USA, BMW engine & other parts from overseas 😁
Chinese owned...
About Karma Automotive
Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility located in Moreno Valley, Calif., and owned by Chinese clean energy conglomerate Wanxiang Group, Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East.@@Gray-beard
@@Gray-beard I didn’t know that. I’ve only just seen these on this video and the CEO there made it seem like it was an American company.
@@johndoran3274 the engineering is in California, it's manufactured in California, many of the suppliers are USA.
I'm so glad they saved the design of the Karma, it deserves to live on
That's basically how Submarines run, since WWII and Diesel-Electric Locomotives as well: Internal combustion engine, driving a generator, that charges a battery and/or directly powers electrical motors.
This is what the class 8 truck industry needs. There is so much potential.
Edison Motors
What a spectacular insane 2022 Karma Revero, it looks sort of a Maserati Ghibli with the same body design. Good work Jay!
This car is a living example showcasing the poweer of proportions in automotive design
Great looking 4 door..agreed
Nice Car. Not having range worry is worth every penny.
Many Tesla owners have no range worries either, and their charging network will soon be available to other brands.
Don't get fooled this car still need expensive maintenance service costs for lots of parts in that engine, oil changes, pulleys, rubber belts, rubber hoses, sparkplugs, oil filter, oil pump, water pump, fuel filter, fuel pump and list go on.. way above the electrical parts and will increase the servicing & owning costs over same period of let's say 5-10 years compared with a full ev.. So then from the start what would be the point of this hybrid Karma GS6 when for a quick example a similar price of $90,000 to $120,000 full electric like Lucid Air would be way better option, more spacious, more quiet silent ride, with more usable luggage space since no engine under front bonnet and it can travel on long distances between charging points !?
@@poplaurentiu4148 exactly, and the more modern and practical Lucid vehicles aren't selling either
@@jamespaul2587 That actually means less stations available for Tesla drivers.
@@mountainjeff no, the network is expanding with additional funding, and there will be some exclusive Tesla stations in congested areas. Tesla also has many more ports in each station compared to EA and others, and reliability is much higher.
I have always loved that car. It is so sad that they are struggling.
It's sad that they don't make a product that appeal to people?
@@jckdnls9292
There are many factors. You need to build a car that appeals to people at a price point they are willing to pay.
The challenge for new companies is that the price per car is always higher so people will often settle for something they like a little less for a cheaper price. At the end of the day, all cars will get you from point A to point B. Luxury car manufacturers rely on a small segment of the population for all their revenue and it is a crowded market. If we become much wealthier in the next few years, the market space will increase. Unfortunately we aren't on that trajectory today. All luxury markets are impacted the hardest whenever there is an economic downturn.
@@jckdnls9292 Have you driven one? I have.
@@petebrown6356 not that one, but I've rented about 15 diff exotic cars during my life, after a while, they are all the same.
It is the BMW i8 drivetrain in a Danish costume ;) with American entrepreneurial spirit!
No. You're confused. It's the i8 drivetrain in a vehicle designed by a Danish con artist, with American Taxpayer footing the loss and now being shilled by a salesman who has the gift of making fools think that the turd smells like a rose.
I mean... Yes and no... They both got the B38, but the rest of the drive train is completely different. If the i8 had over 500hp maybe it couldve been considered a super car when it was released, but it barely had over 350.
One of these, albeit and older model but not the fiskar, pulled into my valet lane and it literally stopped traffic. Everyone was stopping and talking about it. Its a beautiful car in person.
Beautiful lines on this car. The power train is exactly the correct way forward for now. Precisely why Edison is doing it with their semi truck development.
Have you not heard or seen the Tesla Semi, in a recent competition it beat all comers travelling over 1000 miles, hybrid vehicles are really old technology now. Dump the pump, go EV. When will people learn that fossil fuel is FINITE (that means for all those overpaid VPs in exxon mobil that very soon there won't any more oil / gas to come out of the ground.)
Does anybody on the other side of the pond know the tale of the goose that laid golden eggs, a cautionary tale, read and weep.
This was a terrific interview. Enjoyed the video.
GM is usually a head of the game, and then drops the ball. The Volt was the answer, 35 to 50 miles range on electric, then a 1000 cc engine kicked in to power the generator to power the electric drive motors. If my commute daily to work is 22 miles, I never have to use any gas, (except to refresh and keep the system operative). And on the weekend I need to drive the 200 miles to Lake Tahoe, I jump in and go. No range anxiety ever. Now we need one that appeals to the masses with affordability, design and comfort. Very few can afford the Karma Revero GS6. Is this rocket science. The car is beautiful, to bad no one can afford it. You know what they say, "Karma is a _____.
Overall a great looking car. Cool they went hybrid to kind of set themselves apart.
It’s a wonderful color and looks like a jaguar. Honda runs its hybrids systems the same way as this car does but not to the extent that this vehicle does but using the same idea by using the engine as a generator to produce electricity.
It’s a sensible hybrid , like a train ! And it’s not making musk any money … I like it 😊
Using a gasoline generator to power the electric motors solves completely any range limitation. The new Karma solution is super smart.
It does almost nothing for range since the 1.5 liter engine cannot provide enough energy to keep 500 hp on tap. Now if you are going down hill at 45 mph then maybe you can go further on down the road on just the generator.
@@azgman6439 you don't need 500hp all the time, it charges while normal driving. It does 360 miles between charge and gas - then a 5 minute fill up like a regular car.
@@azgman6439 When do you need 500hp all the time? It keeps charging the batteries as you're cruising.
I am happy to see the new fresh and beautiful look of the car. Very impressive. Good luck to Marques. Your knowledge , attitude and optimism should keep you on the safe side. Thank you Mr Leno for shedding the light on a well deserved vehicle.
It will be interesting to see what Jay thinks of the Edison semi truck and the planned pickup truck conversion that follow the same thinking of engine powering a generator to make it move
Exactly my thought. Jay needs to see and drive the blue truck. 👍
Between Edison, this Karma, the Ramcharger and fanatical i3 REx & Volt owners, the Average Joe is finally waking up to how brilliant series hybrids can be:
-14,000+ miles all-electric annually.
- Lighter, cheaper battery
- Light, simple ICE generator
- No transmission
- No range or charge anxiety.
- No need for billion$$ spent on a public charging network to cover every eventuality.
That is one of the more impressive guests/company guys you've ever had on the show. Dude is the definition of cool cucumber lol. Love it
I've owned a series electric (Cadillac ELR) for more than five years and I love it. I bought a silver '14 in 2016 and lost it in the hurricane Harvey floods of Houston. While getting back on my feet (first floor of my house flooded, along with all my vehicles) I found that I really REALLY missed the ELR. I had very good transportation (flood refurbished my Cadillac CTS wagon) and a house that I was rebuilding. I couldn't justify the expense of buying another ELR intellectually but... I bought my second ELR five months after the flood and I've never regretted it. Two weeks after taking possession of the car, I drove it 1,500 miles and the car never missed a beat. My longest "recharge" period was five minutes at the local gas station with the best price for premium.
Series electric cars are the way to go. Smooth, quiet power for local commutes and a smooth enough gas engine for long road trips. That the car is drop dead gorgeous is just a bonus (sure, keep telling yourself that)
Good looking car. Has a Jaguar type feel to it. I really like the color combination too.
Right on!😎
Not having to use charge stations, for ridiculous charge times helps.
Big issue will be, is that the batteries are going to be expensive to replace.
Very few repair locations.
The weight will wear out suspension, sooner than one hopes.
I enjoyed the vibe of the conversations in the car. It was like watching two buddies that hang out every weekend. 😌
Thank you for all of the light - and the light that you attract - to this world ❤
A 41yo car enthusiast and USMC vet near the NC coast 😌
(PS. I wasn’t supposed to stay up late on school nights but I did - partly to watch your show on my 13” Emerson TV in the 90s ☺️)
I like that they kept the concept of the Fisker and just improved it. Electric cars still aren't as practical as gas, as mentioned, so great idea.
Fisker went under and tesla is the most valuable car company in the world selling millions of EVs a year. They are doing the same as Fisker did and expecting a different result which is total madness. Now Fisker has relaunched as an EV only brand, looks like they learned their lesson.
Not something id pay six figures for, but looks and sounds impressive. MUCH better than the old fiskers
It looks exactly like the old Fisker
I like it, maybe if they had a coupe it would be a sportier version.
The brown interior, is beautiful. 💙💯👍
I think the original Fisker Karma still looks much better but this does sound better for sure
Well yeah, that was 15 years ago.
@@25Soupy 11
Marques is a very likeable fella. The brand is in good hands 🫡
Jay, my hat's off to you for continuing to showcase products built in America!
Just a correction @Jay Leno Garage, it wasn't a Chevy Volt engine, but it was from GM. They used the 2.0L Turbo 4 from the Pontiac Solstice GXP, but it was still mated to generator as a series hybrid. I don't think the motors/drive unit came from GM.
even worse
I was going to post this correction. I have one of the fisker engines brand new in the crate in my shop. I bought it from an engine distributor and got it for a good price. It isn't a Gen one lnf, but rather a gen3 lnf with lhu/ldk sand cast block so It is a much better engine than the foam cast one currently in my cobalt that has a nice hole in the side of the block. The company I bought it from bought out all of Fiskers engines when they shut down.
Look forward to the day when gas prices are IRRELEVANT !!!
4 doors and still looks good 👍
That's a beautiful car. Love that color. This is a hybrid I could embrace. Gas to power the generator doesn't scare me like going full EV.
Also, the IC engine is always running at it's optimal rpm so is super efficient compared to an engine rowing through the gears.
Man I wish I found this video sooner I’m a karma and fisker tech here in Indiana love both cars so much love people finding out about our cars
I like the brief history lesson. He left out the part of the Chinese company that bought the assents of Fisker, reverse engineered the stufff they didn’t own…..then started Karma motors and branded it an American company.
Jay Leno doesn’t give us a lot of credit
I like it and I agree the series hybrid is the way to go. No stress.
I can't decide if it looks like Porsche tried to make a Tesla, or if Tesla tried to design a Porcsche... But it looks beautiful
I was thinking if Porsche made a Maserati Quattroporte
It is essentially a 10+ old design though...
Still looks good.
That 4 door design that swoops to hide the backdoors is pretty good. It still looks overly long, but in comparison to something like the panamera, I think it looks better.
am i understanding this correctly ? it has a heavy engine just to charge the batteries ? does that not take away the mileage because of the weight of that engine ?
Depends on your definition of 'heavy.' An aluminum 3-pot isn't exactly a cast-iron V8 lump. Storage batteries are quite heavy. On board charging reduces the number of batteries required, and reduces total weight.
Finally Jay mentions something I've noticed for decades - the most colorful State in the country with the Car culture of LA.Burbank/Hollywood where I live tends to have over 90% greyscale colored cars - white, grey, silver, charcoal, black on and on SO boring. I looked in my apt parking lot the other day and it totaled 23 cars, NONE in color. Drones. 👀
For me, the fact that Karma Automotive is Chinese-owned is a deal breaker.
I've seen one of these, they look amazing. I live in a cold city in Canada, so it's amazing one made it up here. Naturally I thought it was a Fisker that somebody found cheap, now I know!
We're still trying this Karma thing? It's over guys lol
I can see myself in one of these! The practicality, the beautiful look. Very well done Karma
I'm not doing a full electric at this time so I have been looking for a hybrid, this is going to the top of the list.
Happy New Year!
Do not buy a stupid hybrid. Buy a Tesla.
@@InSaN3ViSioN Pure electric is stupid - it doesn't scale, our grid can't handle it.
So good to see the Karma get another chance. Always loved the first iteration but reliability doesn't seem ideal looking at owners forums. There was also a lookalike from China or something with crazy horsepower, not sure what happened with that one
Well... About Karma Automotive
Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility located in Moreno Valley, Calif., and , Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East.
It's a shame they dropped the distinctive front grille from the original Fisker Karma. That was the the best part of the design IMHO. It looks really plain now.
I agree. The original was very distinctive.
The silhouette is anything but plain.
I agree the front grille is ugly.
In my opinion, this hybrid type is the way to go. Full electric creates more problems than it tries to solve. It looks great too! It's not the colour for me, but its not a Prius!
This is the only way to go, as far as I'm concerned. You're using already existing infrastructure, not destroying the planet in different ways (mining rare-earth minerals in slavery conditions), and saving money and the environment by using so little gas. A total win-win in my books! Thanks to Marques for keeping this car valid, and sharing it with us, and thanks to Jay and the crew for another great episode! Happy New Year to you all! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
But, it is still an EV so yes you’re still mining those minerals.
Love the series hybrid concept. Especially for cold weather markets like where I live.
Jay has a Tesla Plaid... but doesn't take it on road trips because charging time sucks. Yep, he's keeping it real.
This is definitely the future......being in this industry, having the flexibility of alternative fuels while having the torque of the electric motors will be the future in which Lemans without refueling could be the possible. It doesn't seem to be that far enough. Shout out to karma to even go for a project like this when all major manufacturers are going for all electric mobility when clearly is a hazard for the enviornment.
It's interesting that they're doing a petroleum generator/electric hybrid. It's certainly not a new concept, locomotives have been doing it for almost a century. If they can bring the price down to where they can offer this in a $50K car instead of a $150K car, I think this addresses a lot of the concerns that people have around range anxiety, charging infrastructure availability and whether the current grid infrastructure can sustain an all electric market. I hope they're successful with the halo models to be able to offer more reasonable ones in the future.
Didn't watch the video? Or, missed the part where the CEO talks about how they just want to be in the premium segment of the market?
They have no plans to ever make a $50,000 car.
This is old technology, and modern EVs have so many advantages over this vehicle, especially as charging infrastructure improves. This will be another bankrupt Karma company soon.
@@jamespaul2587 How? If everyone owned an EV our grid would melt. No worries about waiting for a charger. No issues with broken chargers. It isn't "old tech". Have you driven one? I have. They're luxury - unlike anything else.
@petebrown6356 no, do some actually research, the grid can easily handle EVs which are primarily charged overnight. Some can even be used to send power back to the grid during peaks, reducing strain and need for peaker plants
@@jamespaul2587 I worked for an engineering company that did a study on exactly this. You have no idea what you're talking about. If everyone had an EV and started charging their EV's at night the grid would melt. You tell others to "do research"...yes, I have, I worked with the team that did the study. Now go an educate yourself and stop assuming you know it all - you know less than you think.
Marcus seems to get it regarding how we power cars. He said we don't have the infrastructure to charge all the cars we are told to have. Its true. Hybrids are a good start i think. I have a hybrid Tundra and it is awesome.
What's the point of the electric if you're still using a gas engine to charge the electric. This still goes against the environmental aspect.
When Jay hears "get up and go" in *any situation, he will step on the gas 😂
Company still 100% owned by Wangxian of China, and have been laying-off employees left right and centre in recent years.
The car is essentially an old BMW i8 clad in a body that seems a copy of an Aston Martin with some added Tesla-influenced bits.
The body is a copy of the Fisker Karma, and it resembles an Aston because Heinrik Fisker designed several models of Aston Martin, as well as the BMW Z8, before he started his own company
@@dapeach06 - I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info.
Both good points. I think the idea is good, but if it's china owned, I will always look elsewhere. That CEO needs to organize a buyout by american investors.
What a stupid logo
@@keepitthoro6768 - Oh I don’t know, I’ve seen worse manufacturer’s logos. Karma’s basically resembles a big blue button.
To me the appearance is between an Aston Martin and the Tesla model-S just my opinion. ICE- Forever!!
I’d take a Lucid over this.
However, I just bought a Cadillac Lyriq AWD Luxury 3
And...? I'm still driving my '00 TDI (~650 miles per tank). Haven't been looking at new cars since then.
Do you like your new Caddy? Are you comfortable with pure EV? Have you done any road trips?
I had a 13 Volt, it was an awesome car. Plug-in hybrid is a great way to go.
Great looking car.
You have been very blessed and will never shiver at gas being $7 a gallon.
I hope this does better than its predecessor.
Its already a flop lol
@@KosherFinance data please. It's not even on sale yet - it's being improved for a new release.
It seems like redesigning it may have been a waste of money since the old model already looked amazing!?
Full electric makes more sense. Fewer parts, less sophisticated…
This thing has a BMW engine generator in it for Goddsakes.
You don’t wanna have to repair that.
BMW's are mechanically totalled by the time the warrany runs out. Karma doesn't pick up their phones!
Great video and great conversation. The president seems like a good dude.
Now that is where we SHOULD have gone.
I have been an avid follower for many years. I remember an episode some yrs ago, where a former auto-CEO, perhaps Bob Lutz? introduced this form of power-generation. I wonder why it hasn´t used more than it has. I think it is a very clever idea. Thanks again, Jay.
Because it's not the most efficient method. An engine directly coupled to the wheels via a gearbox or a planetary like in the Volt is more efficient than using a combustion engine to generate electricity to power an electric motor. You're losing 5% making the electricity and then another 5% converting it into rotation via the drive motor. I bet overall it's more like 15% total loss.
Great car but also a great guest. I always appreciate seeing people come on your channel who represent the brand in the industry in a positive manner. And he has mom living at home with him! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Name suggestion for the unannounced two-door coupe: Chameleon.
Fisker ... the feline of the auto industry ... blowing through its nine lives
What are you saying?
Jay's right - really sporty looking car for a 4-door - design blends it in well
Glad to see a EV that does not need a life line attached to it.
If I wanted a EV this is the set-up I'd consider, not a plug in.
You what?? It is a plug in! It's essentially an ev for people that are generally nervous for no reason
LOL....Sure it is.@@adamfry1125
@@adamfry1125 lol it's FAR from 'no reason'. There's LOADS of people that don't want to deal with charging stations.
He has 100 cars and shivers at 7 dollar gas. Wow
cHiNeSe owned
Designed 15 years ago by Henrik. Still turns heads 👌