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Karma begins deliveries of the Revero luxury plug-in

If you missed out on the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, you can now get your hands on the revived, revised version, the Karma Revero. Karma Automotive has officially begun trucking the cars to showrooms, and the company held a "Delivery Day" ceremony to mark the occasion. While it's a big deal for the customers who had preordered the Revero, it's a transformative moment for Karma, as Chief Revenue Officer Jim Taylor points out. "Karma has moved from a product development company to an automotive manufacturer," he says. "We have completed the critical steps to become a true luxury vehicle OEM. The launch is a great accomplishment for our Company and all our team members." The range-extended luxury EV hasn't changed much since its first life under the oversight of Henrik Fisker. The Karma Revero has two electric motors providing the rear wheels with 403 horsepower and 981 pound-feet of torque. A 21.4-kWh battery provides up to 50 miles of electric-only driving range, while an onboard gasoline generator extends that range to 300 miles. It can do 0-60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 125 mph. It features 50:50 weight distribution and auto-leveling suspension for optimal handling. Karma has dealerships in Pasadena, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Miami, Palm Beach, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Montreal. Related Video:

Henrik Fisker moves on from designing hybrids to superyachts

Henrik Fisker has announced a number of projects since parting ways with his namesake hybrid automobile brand. Most of them revolve, as you might expect, around four wheels. He even did one with two wheels last year, but now he's branching out into superyachts. The partnership announced between Fisker and Italian shipyard Benetti will see the Danish designer pen a new line of yachts measuring 164 feet long. That's roughly the distance covered by ten Karmas parked end to end. Benetti is designing the essential architecture of the vessels, while Fisker will be responsible for its styling inside and out. His vision is previewed by the simple sketch above, sent to Autoblog by a Benetti representative, who tells us that the complete design will be presented this coming February at the Miami International Boat Show. Details are still to come, but Benetti says the superyachts will include "carbon fiber and other exotic materials, as well as optimized ocean views from all major cabins and use reclaimed wood, integrated solar panels and optional hybrid power." The design will be split across three decks incorporating a "beach club" at the rear, on-board spa, a pool, six guest cabins, accommodation for 11 crew members, and technological advancements including automated controls. The Benetti collaboration is just the latest in many upon which Fisker has embarked lately. His recent work includes the Galpin Rocket, the aborted Aston Martin Thunderbolt, and two new vehicles to be unveiled in Detroit next month. These in addition to noteworthy creations highlighting his portfolio including the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9, and, of course, his eponymous luxury hybrid sedan. While naval architecture may be new territory for Fisker, this isn't the first time we've seen an automotive designer dip his toes in the water to design a yacht. McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson, for example, recently revealed his own wooden runabout with electric power, and Ian Callum penned a concept speedboat for Jaguar. The design divisions at BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have dabbled in naval architecture as well, and both Bugatti and Aston Martin recently licensed their names to high-end motorboats too. However Fisker's design will be much bigger than most when it hits the open water.

Recharge Wrap-up: Model X pinch sensor update, Karma plans first store

Tesla has improved Model X pinch sensor function in its latest over-the-air update. As we've seen, the pinch sensors already stop the falcon wing doors from completely shutting when they sense an obstruction. Now, though, the doors retract slightly after the sensors are triggered. While the pre-update doors didn't appear to do as much damage to human fingers as they do to various foodstuffs, it definitely looked uncomfortable, especially when one's hand is stuck in the partially closed door. Now, any pinch that does occur should be brief. See the updated sensors at work in the video above, and read more from Teslarati. Karma Automotive will move to Kawasaki's former headquarters in Irvine, California where it will also open its first store. The revival of the now defunct Fisker will sell its Revero plug-in hybrid through both dealerships and company-owned stores like the one planned for its new two-building campus. The property owner, Bixby, had planned to renovate the site, but now says Karma will make its own improvements. Bixby said it was seeking, "a progressive-minded tenant that would value the unique configuration," and appears to have found just that in Karma. Read more at Electrek, or from the OC Register. San Francisco is asking residents for help in expanding its subways. Using an online tool called Subway Vision, users can draw their own subway lines and stations that they'd like to see built and submit them to planners. Listening to the public is a useful tool for the city because, as Grahm Satterwhite, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's principal planner, admits, "Transportation planners may be too close to a problem to see the solution." This approach allows the subway expansions to "reflect the vision of not just a few transportation planners, but of all San Franciscans," he says. Read more from FastCo.Exist. Toyota is continuing its commitment to Yellowstone National Park with a sustainable Youth Campus for environmental education. The automaker donated $1 million to Yellowstone for the facility, which is seeking Living Building Challenge certification. It will have onsite wastewater treatment for its locally sourced water usage, and will generate all of its electricity needs from photovoltaic panels, with excess to put back into the grid. The campus will have classrooms and residences for students and staff for its youth programs.