When Lucid debuted the Air Grand Touring, its bladder-busting 516 miles of vary made it the longest-legged electrical automobile in America. For 2024, although, the EPA tightened up its vary testing, making it more durable for a lot of EVs to maintain their most vary figures. Nevertheless, because of some intelligent tweaks to the Air’s powertrain, battery, and warmth pump, Lucid was capable of preserve the sedan’s EPA-estimated 516-mile vary and hold its vary crown.
Lucid did not say precisely what has been accomplished to enhance its electrical powertrain or cell expertise, however a big a part of the work has to do with higher thermal effectivity, serving to the Air squeeze each final drop of vitality from the battery. A technique Lucid improved thermal effectivity was through the use of the upgraded warmth pump from the Air Sapphire, the triple-motor, 1,234-horsepower ultra-performance EV.
Let me activate my infomercial voice to say “However wait, there’s extra!” Along with its diesel-like 516 miles of vary, the Lucid Air Grand Touring now costs 15-30% sooner at DC charging stations, because of improved battery preconditioning. Whenever you’re en path to a charging station utilizing the automotive’s navigation, it would robotically precondition the battery for charging, enabling sooner costs. Lucid did not present precise DC fast-charging figures for the up to date Air Grand Touring, however the 2023 mannequin was able to regaining 300 miles of vary in 21 minutes. If the brand new software program can drop that underneath 20 minutes, prospects needs to be completely satisfied.
Regardless of its spectacular vary, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is not any slowpoke. With 819 horsepower from two electrical motors, it might probably get from 0-60 mph in three seconds flat. Clearly, utilizing such efficiency can have adversarial results on that 516-mile vary, however it’s good to have that duality: it may be an electricity-sipping EV or a four-door supercar slayer, relying in your temper.
It nonetheless does not come low-cost, although. If you would like the longest-range EV within the U.S., you may have at hand over $111,400. No one ever stated setting benchmarks was straightforward on the pockets.
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