Karma Reveals 1100 HP Open-Source SC2 Electric Supercar Concept
Credit to Author: Jo Borrás| Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:20:08 +0000
Published on November 25th, 2019 | by Jo Borrás
November 25th, 2019 by Jo Borrás
Tesla Cybertruck. Lotus Evija. Ford Mustang Mach-E. Mercedes-Benz EQC. Such is the state of the electric car industry that a sexy, slinky, and all-electric GT coupe packing 1100 horsepower and capable of rocketing from 0 to 60 MPH | 96 km/h in less than two seconds built by one of the early innovators of electrification barely causes a blip in the automotive press. That’s too bad, because the all-new Karma SC2 Concept GT coupe deserves much, much better.
Images courtesy Karma
Karma (formerly Fisker) is using the new SC2 Concept as a means to sort of rebrand itself. Yes, the company still offers a few Revero variants and the Pininfarina-styled Karma GT, but it hopes that by making its engineering IP and vehicle platform “open source” it will be more. “Karma’s SC2 is a signpost to our future as a technology-driven brand. More than that, it previews our future design language, and is a thought-provoking expression of Karma’s future Intellectual Property and product offerings,” says Karma Automotive CEO Lance Zhou. “Our open platform serves as a test bed for new technologies and partnerships, where we are to provide engineering, design, technology and customization resources (that other companies cannot).”
Let’s assume, then, that you’re a wealthy MidEast oil magnate, you want to design your very own supercar, and you’re shopping vehicle platforms. What could you expect from the new, “open source” Karma platform?
For starters, there’s power. The Karma SC2 power train consists of both front and rear-mounted electric motors that deliver 800 kW, or about 1,100 HP. Perhaps more impressively, those electric motors are capable of generating nearly 14,000 Nm of torque, . Enough to blast the Karma SC2 Concept GT your boutique hypercar to 60 MPH | 96 km/h in just 1.9 seconds.
If you’re worried about more than straight-line speed, the Karma platform won’t let you down there, either. Karma-spec. carbon-ceramic brakes will haul you back down to safe speeds quickly, while a Formula 1 style, push-rod operated suspension system and Karma-developed torque vectoring differential will have your supercar cornering as if it were on rails. But, like, not like s***ty Amtrak rails.
Karma, in other words, plans to make things easy.
So, if you happen to be a bajillionaire looking to put your name on a boutique hyper exotic electric car, check out Karma’s official SC2 Concept photo gallery and press release, below. Everyone else, keep on scrolling and let us know what you think of the company’s new open source concept in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
KARMA AUTOMOTIVE UNVEILS TECH-FOCUSED SC2 CONCEPT AT AUTOMOBILITY LA AND LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW 2019
IRVINE, Calif. — Karma Automotive today launched its SC2 concept car during AutoMobility LA and the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. Featuring cutting-edge technology and design, SC2 is a bold demonstration of Karma’s emergence as a high-tech mobility incubator, embodying world class luxury design and Karma IP.
“Karma’s SC2 is a signpost to our future as a technology-driven brand. More than that, it previews our future design language, and is a thought-provoking expression of Karma’s future Intellectual Property and product offerings,” says Karma Automotive CEO Dr Lance Zhou. “Our open platform serves as a test bed for new technologies and partnerships, where we are to provide engineering, design, technology and customization resources others.”
A striking full BEV concept, SC2 delivers an impressive 1,100 HP and advances from 0 to 60mph in under 1.9 seconds. Front and rear mounted twin electric motors deliver 800 kW peak power, with 10,500 lb.-ft (14,000 Nm) wheel torque. SC2 provides 350 miles of pure electric range, and is equipped with carbon ceramic brakes, a push-rod operated racing suspension and a Karma torque vectoring gearbox. An ultrasonic dynamic regenerative panel gives SC2 high performance handling and hand braking expected in an electric hyper car. The result is a vehicle as adept at navigating the tight curves and adrenaline-inducing straights of California’s mountain, canyon and coastal regions as it suited to stun Hollywood’s elite along Los Angeles’s famed Rodeo Drive.
“SC2 presents an optimistic and bold message about Karma’s future as we enthusiastically accept the challenge of elevating experience-driven mobility,” says Karma VP, Global Design and Architecture, Andreas Thurner. “In creating SC2, we have enhanced the thrill of the open road through connected, interactive patented technology, beyond that of a traditional high-performance luxury vehicle.”
Through Karma’s one-of-a-kind Drive and Play® technology incorporated in SC2, automotive and gaming enthusiasts can re-live their previous drives through simulated driving experiences in their own vehicles. A triple high definition camera under the windshield and frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar sensors provide 360 capture of the car in motion, within a 3D environment. Simultaneously, SC2’s intelligent technology captures the entire driving experience in real-time; turns, braking, acceleration, light simulations, sounds, air temperature and audio playlist. After the drive, SC2’s adaptive laser projector replays the journey while the vehicle is parked, while a mounted smartphone acts as the cabin’s rear-view mirror; transforming SC2 into a driving simulator where the user can re-experience their drive and fine-tune their skills. Drivers can then share their Drive and Play® experience with others, and also stream drivers’ routes from around the world within their own vehicles, experiencing driving simulations at world-famous roads and race tracks.
“SC2’s extreme design and proportions are expressive of Karma’s unique intersections of technology, performance and luxury,” says Thurner. “We challenged ourselves to design a street-ready hypercar concept, using Karma’s in-house IP and components. Now, through Karma’s open-platform, SC2’s technology can be integrated into a variety of future vehicles.”
embodies Karma’s distinct design identity in its stance and surface. A bespoke Vapor Gray hand-painted body draws inspiration from the brand’s sleek, technology-focused future, while optimized aerodynamics leads the exterior design. Generous length from front axle to windscreen remains a distinct Karma design characteristic, while patented articulating hinge winged doors gently rising upward and forward to reveal a fiber optic headliner and stunning silhouette. Inside SC2, an I-shaped 120kWh battery is housed in the center tunnel beneath the dashboard and seats.
Long-range radars, cameras, and FMCW lidar sensors throughout ready SC2 for a safe and realistic autonomous future, while Karma’s Ultra Sonic Sensor Stalk technology supports launch control and regenerative braking, lending itself to a harmonious blend between regeneration and friction brakes. Vehicle entry is through fingerprint and facial recognition sensors. Inside the cabin, intelligent technology enhances the user experience: Biometric seats and steering wheel provide both control and comfort, 3D audio creates individual sound zones for driver and passenger, and electro chromatic glass shifts from clear to opaque for privacy and light sensitivity.
Beyond its growing technology story, Karma’s current momentum is also driven by a period of rapid product introduction, including the U.S. launch of its 2020 Revero GT luxury electric vehicle, to be followed by a new Karma global platform in 2021 and supported by a rapidly increasing retail footprint.
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Jo Borrás I’ve been involved in motorsports and tuning since 1997, and have been a part of the Important Media Network since 2008. You can find me here, working on my Volvo fansite, riding a motorcycle around Chicago, or chasing my kids around Oak Park.