Karma prices its first battery-electric sedan above the competition

Karma has put its name on the list of companies seeking to end Tesla's monopoly over the electric luxury sedan segment. It hasn't unveiled the GSe-6, its entry into the segment, but it has already announced pricing information.

Tentatively due out in 2021, the GSe-6 will start at $79,900 before taxes, various fees, and applicable incentives enter the equation. For context, the Model S it's aimed at now carries a base price of $69,420, and buyers can no longer claim incentives, while the recently-introduced Lucid Air starts at $77,400 before available tax breaks.

Paying for a car after it's been fully unveiled is passé, so motorists willing to roll the dice on the first electric Karma can secure an early build slot by sending a refundable $100 deposit. What they'll get in exchange remains shrouded in darkness; we haven't seen the GSe-6, though the preview images published by the Chinese-owned, California-based firm suggest it's closely related to the Fisker Karma-turned-Karma Revero.

Its specifications are under wraps, too. Karma quotes a driving range of up to 300 miles, a battery pack with a capacity of up to 110 kilowatt-hours, and a zero-to-60-mph time of "fast enough." Standard features will include connected-car capabilities, internet-connected radio, 21-inch wheels, and "other vehicle enhancements."

Three variants named GSe-6, GSe-6 Luxury, and GSe-6 Sport, respectively, will be offered. The base model will come in New Dawn Silver exterior paint, and an interior color called Palisades. Luxury variants will receive Sage Green exterior paint, 22-inch wheels, Burnt Orange calipers, and a Palisades Ceramic interior. Selecting the Sport model will add West Coast Yellow paint, different 22-inch alloys, and carbon fiber interior trim.

Karma pledged to publish additional details about the GSe-6 in the coming months, and production is scheduled to begin in 2021. Although the company's ride hasn't been smooth so far, it announced plans to introduce a full range of electric models in the coming years, including a pickup and an SUV built on the same basic platform.