Karma is no stranger to reinvention. The brand that once made waves with the Revero is now trying again with the Gyesera, a low-slung four-seat coupe unveiled at Monterey Car Week, alongside a sneak peek of the Amaris. It looks sharp, feels exclusive, and promises a unique take on hybrid performance. The catch is its price. At $165,000, it costs nearly twice as much as a Tesla Model S Plaid, which is significantly quicker. That raises the big question: who is Karma building this car for?
Tesla, Porsche, and the Price Problem
When stacked against its closest competitors, the Gyesera has a steep hill to climb. Karma claims it will do 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat. A Tesla Model S Plaid starts just under $100,000 and obliterates the Karma in straight-line performance with a time of under 2 seconds. Admittedly, the Plaid doesn’t have the same X-factor that Karma is selling. But even the Porsche Taycan Turbo — which is just $15,000 more than the Gyesera — not only outperforms it but carries a stronger prestige badge. Karma is clearly betting on exclusivity, rarity, and design flair to justify its higher price tag.
Karma's Redemption Arc
For Karma, this car is about more than being a sales success. The company's history is littered with promises cut short by reliability issues and financial turbulence. The Gyesera is being positioned as a clean slate. Lighter, more rigid materials, new tech, and an AI-driven diagnostics system are all meant to address past weaknesses and prevent more from popping up. In many ways, the Gyesera is less about taking market share from other luxury car makers and more about proving that Karma deserves to stay in the conversation.
Why It Matters
There's a lot to love about the new Karma Gyesera, especially the way it takes the less-traveled path. Instead of having oversized screens propped onto the dashboard, its digital display sits lower on the dash, out of sight – something the public has been yearning for. Its powertrain is another highlight. It makes use of a series hybrid setup. A series hybrid differs from the plug-in hybrids most buyers are familiar with. In a plug-in hybrid, both the gasoline engine and electric motors can drive the wheels, whereas a series hybrid setup uses electric motors to power the wheels, while a tiny gasoline engine charges the battery, almost like a generator. Not only is it efficient, but it's powerful too, with Karma claiming 566 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque.
On paper, it won’t beat Tesla or Porsche. But the Gyesera isn’t built for spec-sheet warriors. It’s aimed at buyers who value exclusivity, unconventional engineering, and individuality. Only time will tell if buyers can stomach this much of a premium to stand out from the crowd.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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