LOS ANGELES — The Lucid Air had a formidable inaugural 12 months. The all-electric sedan garnered its justifiable share of optimistic evaluations and accolades, proving that its comparatively new carmaker has been listening to the small print in a means that few different upstarts do.
The Lucid Air boasts some actually spectacular engineering and throws round some large numbers, particularly its present most output of 1,050 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time below 3 seconds. Add a bladder-busting estimated vary of 516 miles, and this large luxurious sedan is almost unassailable amongst extra established EVs. There’s, after all, one other large quantity to contemplate, and that is worth. Fashions vary from just under $90,000 to over $140,000.
So what’s subsequent for Lucid? In a phrase, extra. Extra energy, extra efficiency, and never surprisingly, more cash. The Air Sapphire is the brand new pinnacle of the lineup, including a second electrical motor to the rear axle, rising output to 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 pound-feet of torque, and chopping its zero-to-60 time to 1.9 seconds. In the meantime, the value climbs steeply to 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 {dollars}. Fortunately, the engineers noticed match to improve the Sapphire with carbon ceramic brakes to get this 5,000-plus pound car slowed down, together with wider high-performance tires and a sport-tuned suspension to maintain it on the pavement.
The Sapphire title will function Lucid’s efficiency division, just like how BMW has its M Division and Mercedes-Benz has AMG. I took this final variant for a brief however informative drive in Los Angeles and got here away duly impressed.
Sensibly, I had each intention of beginning out the drive cautious, then ramping up the aggression as I discovered the braveness and confidence. Lucid’s Director of Automobile Dynamics, David Lickford, had different concepts.
“Foot to the ground,” he mentioned as we had been solely a block or two into the drive. I instantly stomped the accelerator, launching the Sapphire from 35 mph to I-don’t-know-what faster than I might gasp and giggle.
“That was in Easy mode,” Lickford continued, “so that you’re solely getting 700 hp or so.”
A fraction of a mile later, he let me know that he is partaking the Sapphire mode, which unleashes extra of its efficiency potential, although fortunately traction and stability management stay engaged. Monitor mode is offered, however we by no means delved into that on this road drive. As we approached a freeway onramp, he directed me to ground it once more as soon as we straighten out. I complied, however L.A.’s infamous site visitors allowed for under a second or so of absurd acceleration.
That wasn’t sufficient to completely consider the Sapphire’s energy, nevertheless it gave me a chance to get on the brakes with some aggression. A lot as there was no shimmy below acceleration, there wasn’t any drama below onerous braking, both. It simply executed all of my instructions with out protest or hesitation.
Earlier than I knew it, it was time to begin making our means again to the staging location, however a winding hillside highway lay between us and our vacation spot. Consistent with the previous couple of miles, Lickford inspired me to wring out the Sapphire within the curves. As soon as once more choosing the sportier drive modes, he directed me to “actually give it some energy by way of the turns to get a really feel for the torque vectoring.”
As we approached an uphill left sweeper, I stored my foot on the accelerator with simply sufficient strain to keep up the Sapphire’s velocity and steadiness. A clean tip of the steering wheel revealed how far more agility is in reserve. The nostril of the massive sedan eagerly pointed into the bend and for a quick second of steady-state cornering, it settled into the asphalt whereas easily shrugging off the ruts and bumps. Again into the throttle and I might really feel the load shift towards the rear, giving me much more confidence to push more durable. The bespoke Michelin Pilot 4S rubber by no means made a lot as a restricted squeal. They only tracked fantastically from bend to bend.
The drive thus far already satisfied me the Lucid Sapphire was one thing particular, however there was yet another shock in retailer. At a left-turn sign, the enabler within the passenger seat mentioned, “Midway by way of the flip, ground it.”
In my thoughts, I am imagining an embarrassing tank slapper, akin to a Mustang leaving a Automobiles & Espresso gathering simply earlier than its wheels are tucked below the physique by a curb. I figured he knew what he was doing, so I obliged. With my palms able to react to a probably career-affecting crash, I floored it.
The Sapphire, once more, simply executed. It hunkered down for a cut up second and shot us out the opposite aspect. No wheelspin. No oversteer. All I needed to do was steer as if I hadn’t carried out probably the most boneheaded maneuvers, on goal, no much less. Because the steering wheel unwound, the facility elevated and earlier than I knew it, my passenger started repeating, “Brake, brake brake,” as we got here up on the following flip.
Let’s unpack what simply occurred. Regardless of many years of driving expertise and spinning extra occasions than I care to confess, the Sapphire defied physics and blew me away. It is a testomony to the good programming and tuning of the traction and stability management programs together with these two rear motors. These programs monitor numerous information factors 1,000 occasions a second, expertly reacting with extra energy right here and fewer energy there.
It’s harking back to the C7 Corvette’s efficiency traction modes that had been supposed to make monitor driving simpler for much less skilled pilots. That system would reduce the facility till the wheel straightened, then launch the throttle restrictions. It was clunky and felt extra like a crutch than a driver’s support. The Sapphire’s does one thing related, however the distinction is, it is really good.
Simply as issues acquired actually fascinating, the drive was over, leaving me curious as to how the Sapphire will react to a racetrack. With a bit of luck, we’ll discover out quickly.
All of this efficiency does have a worth, and I’m not simply referring to the greenback indicators. The Sapphire’s journey high quality is firmer than the usual Air, however not in the least harsh. The distinction is delicate and could possibly be equated to the supporting mannequin’s Sport mode. The meatier tires, rear spoiler, and greater brakes and wheels additionally have an effect on vary. EPA estimates put it at 427 miles, which is clearly fairly a couple of lower than the 516 attainable with the Air Grand Touring, however nonetheless higher than most gasoline-powered vehicles not to mention electrical ones. Lucid neatly provides extra aerodynamic wheel covers to make up for a few of these losses on longer highway journeys.
For the preliminary run of Sapphires, configurations are notably restricted. It solely is available in a hanging metallic midnight blue paint scheme, and the panoramic glass roof is just not obtainable. There are additionally no choices, as this mannequin is actually absolutely loaded. We’re advised different paint selections are within the works for the long run, although. In contrast to another exorbitantly priced luxurious automobiles from Bentley or Maybach, Lucid doesn’t supply a customization program. Then once more, in the event you can drop 1 / 4 million on a automotive, you also needs to be capable of afford to rent a craftsperson to change your Sapphire to your explicit choice.
As spectacular and galvanizing because the Lucid Sapphire is, it presents some thought-provoking questions. Who is that this car for? Who would legitimately wish to put an enormous luxurious car on a racetrack, and if they do not, why would they trouble contemplating one? Is it a case of, “For those who construct it they may come,” or is that this merely one other strategy to assert monetary dominance over your annoying hedge fund neighbor and their lowly Lucid Air Grand Touring? These questions are finest answered by the few that may afford one, however I’m glad the Sapphire exists.
That additionally begs the query of what the Sapphire’s competitors is. The Tesla Mannequin S Plaid is a logical rival with 1,020 hp, however its construct high quality and total efficiency land nicely in need of the Lucid’s. It does value lower than half of the Sapphire, although. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S comes shut with a worth that flirts with $200,000, however “solely” makes 750 hp. The associated Audi RS e-tron GT rings in at $145,000 and produces 637 hp. For one thing extra within the Sapphire’s dimension class, the Mercedes-AMG EQS prices $150,000 and churns out 751 hp. For those who’re extra about status than efficiency, maybe the Rolls-Royce Spectre is within the playing cards. Priced at $420,000, that ought to preserve the neighbors quiet for some time.
With all of this in thoughts, the Lucid Air Sapphire is in a category of its personal. There’s merely nothing that delivers comparable efficiency, vary, luxurious, consolation, and refinement in a single package deal.
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