Karma Automotive has unveiled its latest Tesla-rivalling concept car dubbed the SC2 at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. The concept is hot on the wheels of the Tesla Roadster, and comes with a number of astonishing — and worrying — power figures for the Elon Musk-helmed manufacturer.
A striking full BEV concept, Karma 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 hypercar. 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.
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 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.