Is {that a} minivan? Is {that a} wagon? Is that an SUV?
The reply to those questions so as is not any, type of, and sure. The Lucid Gravity is the startup automaker’s upcoming crossover SUV, however in some ways it redefines the style when it comes to packaging, design, and the way it drives.
Right here’s what I discovered after an ever-so-brief stint behind the wheel of an early alpha construct prototype earlier than it headed to the crusher.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Lucid’s electrical SUV can be a chameleon
All of it comes right down to the angle during which the Lucid Gravity is considered. The camo-clad prototypes I noticed in varied phases of growth made it more difficult to decipher its proportions. It’s type of wild what a bunch of tape will do to a automotive’s visible look.
From the aspect the Gravity appears to be like like a squished SUV or a bulked-up wagon. The lengthy greenhouse, cab-forward proportions, and tall beltline add to the overgrown wagon really feel in a great way. This isn’t going to be one other automotive cosplaying an SUV.
From the rear, from the fitting angle, there’s a critical Chrysler Pacifica likeness. And I imply that as a praise to each the Gravity and Pacifica. Each are fairly sharp automobiles for his or her respective lessons and have some issues in widespread. The Gravity could be the primary crossover SUV in historical past with a third-row seat that tucks right into a rear effectively.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Essentially the most SUV-like angle is when trying on the Gravity head-on. It’s visible mass, and peak, are probably the most obvious, particularly when parked subsequent to a slinky, low-slung Air. The entrance finish’s peak is accentuated by the vertical LED gentle pipes sitting at each corners.
I additionally get a robust sense that, simply as with the Air, the Gravity can be a car the place coloration issues tremendously when it comes to the way it appears to be like and its perceived presence.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Gravity rides on air
The oldsters at Lucid weren’t prepared to completely focus on varied packaging of various trims and choices, however the Gravity I drove rode on a three-chamber air suspension. Launch vehicles will all seemingly characteristic this method, which is able to seemingly be the costliest and superior. Inexpensive fashions will make the most of a single-chamber design I didn’t get to expertise.
As I opened the door to the alpha construct Gravity prototype, which was a suspension and platform mule, the automotive didn’t get up. One among my engineer chaperones requested me to shut the door and let him reset the automotive. I opened the door a second time and the Lucid got here to life. Type of.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The prototype digital gauge cluster immediately lit up with some warning lights. There are fastened digital buttons on the left much like the Air sedan, plus primary controls displaying the local weather management temp and steering wheel adjustment controls. The dashboard had some wrapping on it in order to not look haggard; the gauge cluster was lacking its again plate; and the middle touchscreen didn’t hassle to return to life. And the hacked-together inside featured the requisite (for any growth car) crimson cease button—in case we shortly wanted to close every thing down.
As I slid into the driving force’s seat a Lucid spokesperson famous these weren’t even the Gravity’s seats. These have been seats ripped out of an Air as a result of the prototype Gravity seats have been wanted in a more recent mule being examined on the street.
This translated to a seating place that wasn’t production-correct, and it meant that my view of the 34.0-inch curved OLED digital gauge cluster was obstructed by the squircle steering wheel meant to assist the state of affairs.The steering wheel itself was a prototype and the touchpads on both aspect have been blanks. It felt completely different than something I’ve ever used to steer earlier than. The squircle form is flatter than what’s used within the Chevrolet Corvette, whereas the diameter felt excellent and proportional to the car. It’s a greater idea than a yoke if a automotive isn’t going to have a steer-by-wire system with solely 180-degrees of steering enter.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The suspension tune and powertrain’s output was managed through a pc hooked immediately into the automotive’s techniques through an ethernet cable from the rear seat by an engineer. As I guided the Gravity prototype out of Lucid’s car parking zone I requested which mode the powertrain and three-chamber air suspension was in. “It’s equal to Easy within the Air,” the engineer responded—referring to the softest setting. Within the Gravity, this may carry within the neighborhood of 500 horsepower, which is 60-70% of the powertrain’s output.
I punched it with the accelerator matted to the ground and the Gravity’s dual-motor powertrain launched us again into our seats because the overgrown wagon took off. I let up shortly as this was a public street. By my very own estimation, 60 mph got here in lower than 4.0 seconds. It’s fast even in its slowest setting.
Navigating to a faster-moving four-lane suburban street I picked up the tempo a bit. Cresting a hump within the street, admittedly with most likely a bit an excessive amount of velocity, induced the steering to go gentle and numb because the suspension unloaded and the mass went up. The touchdown was easy and managed.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Air Sapphire affect in Gravity experience and dealing with
The engineer sitting within the entrance proper seat informed me the workforce goals to scale the experience and physique management from ulta luxurious and mushy—softer than within the Air sedan—to extremely sporty with wonderful physique management much like that of the Air Sapphire. “Breadth of functionality” is the secret, I used to be informed.
The engineering workforce had me drive to a aspect street with a pointy left-hander that led right into a straight after which a sweeping right-hand flip. This all led into a protracted straight street that ended with a car parking zone. The workforce mentioned I might hustle the Gravity by all this to see the breadth of the present suspension tuning and practicality of the squircle steering wheel.
My first crack at this makeshift street course was with the suspension and powertrain cranked to 11, or what can be often known as Dash mode in an Air. Earlier within the drive I used to be warned the automotive was “low on juice” so I’d by no means get the complete beans. Complete output ought to test in at over 800 hp in Dash mode.
The suspension stored the Gravity shockingly upright with little physique roll regardless of the velocity at which we have been going across the flip. It partly felt like an overgrown Porsche Cayenne, or one thing one may discover rolling out of the Mercedes-Benz AMG buildings. The within wheels clawed on the pavement and I might really feel the push and pull of the facility shifting because the Gravity hustled across the first nook. The second nook was extra sweeping and the Gravity was clearly able to rather more than this street might present me.
Whereas initially all Gravitys can be twin motor–one at every axle delivering all-wheel-drive—a triple-motor mannequin with Sapphire badging is predicted sooner or later. The Lucid workforce was mum on the subject, however did inform me that classes from Sapphire’s torque vectoring are being utilized to the Gravity by the digital stability management system and brake system plus the rear motor.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The prototype rolled on the Gravity’s mid-spec staggered 21-inch entrance and 22-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin all-season tires, however it lacked the rear-wheel steering system manufacturing vehicles may have with the three-chamber air suspension. Which means the manufacturing automotive may have a fair sharper turn-in than what I skilled.
The engineer within the rear seat of the Gravity clicked a number of keys on the pc because the prototype neared the start of this make-believe street course once more. “OK, we needs to be in one thing much like the bottom Easy mode once more” he mentioned. No one seemingly cared if I punched it, so I did. Because the Michelins clawed the Gravity’s weight noticeably shifted rather more than the primary time because the softer suspension parameters allowed much more lean, and I had no alternative however to maintain the velocity decrease because the physique rolled. Whereas nonetheless managed, the Gravity immediately made me extra conscious of its heft.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Lucid Gravity appears like an Air wagon
Regardless of the wrong seating place, I did get a stable sense of what it feels wish to be contained in the Gravity on the street. The view from the entrance seat again by the rear window jogged my memory of driving a wagon. That was largely as a result of form of the rear window itself, which is compressed as a result of squished roofline. Notice that the prototype didn’t have a third-row seat in it, and the second-row seats weren’t production-spec.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The view ahead, the location of the entrance pillars, the huge windshield into the glass roof, and the general really feel from the driving force seat jogged my memory of an Air that has been supersized. If a futuristic sport wagon that rode a bit too excessive existed, this could be it.
Strolling away from my temporary stint within the early suspension and chassis Gravity prototype one factor grew to become clear: No different electrical automotive available on the market drives like or appears to be like like this factor. It’s seemingly going to ship household consolation for a each day commute and sporty driving dynamics for the great distance residence in a method no different electrical seven-seater delivers but.