Lucid Aims to Be the Next Big EV Automaker
Lucid Motors will soon release its first model, the Air, which is taking aim at Tesla's dominance of the EV market.
Promising Outlook
At the moment, Tesla dominates the world of EVs and holds the vast majority of market share in the segment. But there are many contenders vying for a piece of that pie, including Lucid Motors, which is run by Peter Rawlinson, the former VP of Engineering at Tesla. The company has actually been around since 2007, and its first product - the Lucid Air - looks incredibly promising. Meanwhile, the launch version of the Air, dubbed the Dream Edition, has already sold out.
Photos: Lucid
Multiple Variants
The Lucid Air comes in three other variants aside from the Dream Edition, which starts at $169,000 - Grand Touring ($139,000), Touring ($95,000), and Pure ($77,400). Deliveries of the Dream Edition are currently expected to begin in the second half of 2021, pushed back from the first half because Lucid is determined to avoid the quality issues that have plagued Tesla launches in the past.
Photos: Lucid
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Impressive Numbers
The Air is undoubtedly an attractive-looking machine, but the numbers behind it are even more impressive. The top-of-the-line Dream Edition is said to produce a total of 1,080 horsepower - good enough for a 2.5-second 0-60 time and 9.9-second quarter-mile, along with upwards of 500 miles of range. And it's also capable of adding 300 miles of charge in just 20 minutes when placed on a DC fast charger.
Photos: Lucid
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Varying Output
The entry-level Air Pure features a single electric motor producing 280 horsepower powering the rear wheels. The rest of the lineup features two electric motors and all-wheel drive with varying levels of output. The Touring offers up 650 horsepower, while the Grand Touring produces 800 ponies. Each is underpinned with an air suspension and a low center of gravity for solid handling performance as well.
Photos: Lucid
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Talking Range
Even the base Air Pure will provide an impressive range of 406 miles, which is the same distance the Touring will travel on a charge as well. The Grand Touring achieves the best rating of 517 miles, which also tops every EV currently on the market, while the Dream Edition is expected to come in around 465-503 miles. All models come with three free years of charging at Electrify America stations.
Photos: Lucid
>>Join the conversation about the Lucid Air right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Luxury Car
In spite of its lofty performance figures, the Air is at its core a luxury car. The cabin looks fantastic and is fitted with loads of fine materials and advanced technology, ample rear-seat legroom, a glass roof, and multiple touchscreens/digital screens including a retractable screen beneath the main infotainment unit.
Photos: Lucid
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Finding Fault?
If nothing else, the Lucid Air is a serious competitor to the Tesla Model S, something that it has lacked for the nearly decade it's been on sale. With handsome looks, luxurious features, and impressive performance, it'll be hard for even the stanchest EV detractor to find fault with the Air if it delivers on all of these promises in the real world.
Photos: Lucid
>>Join the conversation about the Lucid Air right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!