Southern California-based OEM Karma Automotive has announced that its new 2020 Revero HEV will use a BMW TwinPower Turbo in-line three-cylinder engine to power an onboard electric generator and enhance overall vehicle performance.
For the 2020 Revero, Karma’s engineering team completely redesigned the all-electric powertrain. After extensive evaluation, the team selected the BMW engine as the optimal choice to support the new and more powerful high-voltage NMC lithium-ion battery pack and a new, transversely mounted, twin-motor rear drive module.
BMW started working with Karma in 2015 to help develop the onboard generator systems used in the company’s new Revero.
“BMW 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,” said Bob Kruse, chief technology officer at Karma. “We created a world-class electric vehicle drive system that delivers the performance and packaging requirements of the new Revero.”
The enhanced technology improves the 0-100km/h performance, hitting that mark in 4.5 seconds, making the 2020 Revero nearly a full second faster than the model it replaces.
The 2020 Revero, along with Karma’s Pininfarina-designed concept car and its all-electric Vision concept car, will form a three-part product announcement at Auto Shanghai 2019 showing Karma’s short, medium and long-term vision.