Professionals: BIG energy; unbelievable vary, effectivity and charging speeds; spacious, useful and high-tech inside
Cons: It ain’t low-cost; software program glitches; questionable reliability as first-time carmaker
In case you’re the kind of one who loves speaking in regards to the state-of-the-art (clean) you simply introduced dwelling, who eagerly solutions questions like, “That’s so cool, what’s it?” and the stream of inevitable follow-ups, boy are you going to like the Lucid Air. Not solely will its elegant, futuristic exterior draw consideration in all places you go, however there’s a lot about this revolutionary electrical automotive that’s cool, completely different, game-changing and simply plain-old particular that you simply’re sure to have extra solutions than questions. Certainly, there was an excessive amount of to share in our Lucid Air first drive evaluate, so we dug even deeper in a separate piece about its spectacular engineering.
So, what precisely is a Lucid? It’s a brand new, impartial automotive firm whose chief engineer beforehand directed engineering at Tesla, and whose chief designer beforehand labored at Audi after which Mazda when each had been making their best-looking vehicles. Lucid is headquartered within the San Francisco Bay Space, and the vehicles are inbuilt Arizona. So yeah, it’s an American automotive.
Its most spectacular engineering aspect is its motor unit. It’s shockingly compact, liberating up inside and cargo area. It’s shockingly highly effective, with variations starting from “simply” 480 horsepower all the way in which as much as, ahem, 1,050 horsepower (the limited-edition Sapphire does higher than 1,200). And but, it’s shockingly environment friendly. That 1,050-hp monster returns an EPA-estimated effectivity ranking of 30 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (or 111 miles-per-gallon equal), which is similar as a 201-hp Kia Niro EV. Think about a Dodge Demon 170 getting the gasoline effectivity of a Prius. That effectivity, mixed with state-of-the-art battery packs (and numerous them) end in vary that doesn’t simply beat different EVs, however most gasoline tanks. The worst vary estimate is 410, whereas its greatest is 516.
Then there’s the adept suspension and steering tuning, the inside that’s richly detailed and elegantly designed, the in-car tech that’s in abundance, but not the only focus in design or performance, and the beneficiant passenger area and twin cargo areas that higher the capability of many SUVs. As we mentioned, we might be right here for some time. Principally, the Lucid Air is sort of a factor. It is also a really costly factor, and because it’s so new, don’t be shocked if there are some software program glitches (we skilled some) and a few reliability points (it’s a new carmaker in spite of everything). Oh, and much and plenty of questions.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Vary
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What are the Lucid Air inside and in-car expertise like?
For a automotive that begins at almost $90,000, you’d hope a luxurious automotive would have a particular inside, and the Lucid Air doesn’t disappoint. Supplies and construct high quality have been glorious within the three check vehicles we’ve sampled, and we very a lot appreciated the three design motifs impressed by completely different locations in California (although we fear in regards to the light-colored carpets). There are additionally a number of ambient lighting packages, however they’re delicate, in contrast to the disco happening inside a Mercedes EQS.
The design is clear and trendy, but there are nonetheless bodily buttons for the local weather controls, window switches, gear selector and switch alerts. A lot of the automotive’s features are operated by touchscreen controls, however fairly than one jumbo display screen as in most vehicles immediately, the Lucid splits features between two interconnected screens built-in superbly into the sprint (fairly than simply bolting an enormous TV to the sprint). A 3rd touchscreen that controls lights and windshield wipers is positioned about the place they’ve traditionally been, to the left facet of the steering wheel.
It’s a system that typically is sensible when you clue into the 2 heart screens being related, and Lucid has already launched over-the-air updates for performance enhancements, so what we’ve skilled up to now isn’t essentially everlasting. That’s factor, as a result of we skilled some glitches within the software program that hopefully will likely be addressed with future updates, although none had been critical.
How large is the Lucid Air?
This can be a large, full-size luxurious sedan. Nonetheless, due to distinctive packaging benefits of the Lucid’s compact motors and EVs usually, it’s even larger inside than you would possibly count on. Again seat legroom could be immense, and headroom is extra beneficiant than in a Mercedes EQS. We mentioned “could be” as a result of the Grand Touring’s further battery packs mainly fill the backseat footwell. This raises the ground, which leaves backseat occupants’ ft awfully near the identical stage as their butts. It’s like sitting in an SUV’s third row, albeit with the entrance seats forward miles away. We’d additionally warning in opposition to the $4,000 “Glass Cover” roof, because the tinting begins too low on the windshield, and there’s no shade to completely block the solar. You shouldn’t must put on a hat whereas driving a sedan.
Cargo area is exclusive, to say the least. The trunk lid is sort of a nice large clamshell on the again of the automotive that opens to disclose an uncommon slot-like area that’s shorter in peak than the standard trunk. A whole lot of baggage gained’t have the ability to sit on their sides. Actually dig deeper, although, and also you’ll discover an enormous under-floor compartment large enough to carry a roll-aboard suitcase with room left over. There’s then a equally distinctive frunk, accessed by the power-operated hood. It first seems to be a large, shallow area, however it too has a deep under-floor space that when the ground is eliminated permits for 2 roll-aboards.
What are the Lucid Air’s vary and efficiency specs?
On the time of this writing, full specs for the bottom Lucid Air Pure weren’t out there. That can have a single rear motor, however that’s mainly all we learn about it.
The Pure AWD (pictured under) has two motors that collectively produce 480 horsepower with an estimated 0-60 time of three.8 seconds. That’s insanely fast regardless of there being no less than 4 efficiency ranges past it. EPA-estimated vary is 410 miles. Its most DC fast-charging charge is 250 kilowatts, which is extraordinarily fast (few are higher), theoretically recouping 200 miles of vary in solely quarter-hour. The max AC dwelling charging charge of each Lucid is nineteen.2 kW, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of the standard dwelling charger. The Air also can energy your house or recharge one other electrical automotive.
The Touring’s two motors produce a mixed 620 hp, and Lucid says it’ll hit 60 in 3.4 seconds. At this level, we should always point out that 0-60 occasions actually don’t correctly convey the quantity of acceleration on faucet with these absurd energy ranges. Finally, they’re restricted by the traction offered by tires. The Touring has the least quantity of vary amongst Air fashions, with both 425 miles (19-inch wheels) or 384 miles (20- and 21-inch wheels). Its most DC fast-charging charge can be 250 kW.
The Grand Touring produces 819 hp and hits 60 in 3 seconds. Crucially, it additionally provides 4 battery packs that improve vary to 516 miles with 19-inch wheels, and 469 miles with 20- or 21-inch wheels. The draw back of these further packs is described within the part above. Most DC quick charging goes as much as 300 kW, and theoretically permitting you to recoup 200 miles in 12 minutes.
The Grand Touring Efficiency produces 1,050 hp and may hit 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Vary stands at 446 miles for the reason that 21-inch wheels are commonplace. It has the identical fast-charging charge.
Lastly, the Lucid Air Sapphire produces “1,200-horsepower plus” and has a 0-60 time of “below 2 seconds.” Vary was nonetheless to be decided on the time of this writing. It has the identical 300 kW fast-charging charge.
What is the Lucid Air wish to drive?
Sure, it’s quick. And once you have interaction the “Dash” driving mode (after agreeing that you simply acknowledge the inherent dangers of doing so), it turns into snap-your-head-back, holy-cow, laugh-out-loud fast. And that’s simply the Touring mannequin. The Grand Touring, Grand Touring Efficiency and Sapphire simply get nuttier.
It’s the remainder of the driving expertise that’s in the end extra essential, although, and the Air delivers in droves with a superbly damped journey that strikes a just-right stability between consolation and response. The steering is exact, although Lucid’s claims that it benchmarked a 911 GT3 and E39 BMW M5 make it sound quite a bit higher than it’s. This can be a large automotive with terrific dealing with for an enormous automotive, however we wouldn’t enterprise to name it a sport sedan, and that’s completely OK. One of many nice issues in regards to the Lucid Air is how genuine it feels, as in it’s not making an attempt to emulate one other automotive model. It seems like its personal factor, for the higher.
What different Lucid Air evaluations can I learn?
Lucid Air First Drive Evaluation: New child on the town beats everybody up
That is our evaluate of the Grand Touring and Grand Touring Efficiency, particularly, however options in-depth details about its engineering and design.
Why the Lucid Air is greater than the sum of its eye-popping specs
A deeper dive into the Lucid’s engineering, design, software program and inside. You will need to learn this so you will have tons to gush about to your folks. (Additionally, can you notice High Gear’s authentic Stig, Ben Collins, within the under picture?)
What’s the Lucid Air value?
The Lucid Air is bought on-line, so actually, your greatest guess for the most recent pricing and choices is on the corporate web site the place you may construct the automotive and reserve one. You can even purchase already-built vehicles.
Pricing for every mannequin is indicated under (as of March 22, 2023), together with the $1,650 vacation spot cost.
Pure: $89,050Pure Twin Motor: $94,550Touring: $109,050Grand Touring: $139,650Grand Touring Efficiency: $180,650Sapphire: $250,650
You’ll be able to learn extra about what you get with the Air Sapphire right here. It’s pictured under.
What are the Lucid Air security scores and driver help options?
Each Lucid Air consists of the DreamDrive suite of driver help programs. This consists of ahead collision warning, entrance and rear computerized emergency braking, entrance and rear cross-traffic warning, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, automated parking management (parallel and perpendicular), parking sensors, driver inattention warning and adaptive cruise management. The DreamDrive Professional system ($10,000!) features a surround-view parking digicam system, a blind-spot digicam that shows within the instrument panel, lane-centering steering help for the adaptive cruise management, and most notably, future-ready {hardware} for an enhanced adaptive cruise management system that may enable for hands-free driving. Automobile sensors additionally get an improve. It’s frequent for lane-centering help to simply be included with adaptive cruise management today, so it’s disappointing it’s a must to pay a lot to get it and look forward to an much more superior system that’ll arrive TBD.
The Air has not been crash examined by a 3rd celebration.