Automotive

Lucid's fast-charging 1080-hp, 500-mile electric sedan debuts for real

Lucid's fast-charging 1080-hp, 500-mile electric sedan debuts for real
The Lucid Air Dream Edition will be the first to launch, bringing 1,080 hp and 2.5-second 0-60 acceleration
The Lucid Air Dream Edition will be the first to launch, bringing 1,080 hp and 2.5-second 0-60 acceleration
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Lucid Motors Air: now turning heads of weird drifters in barren deserts everywhere
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Lucid Motors Air: now turning heads of weird drifters in barren deserts everywhere
The Lucid Air Dream Edition will be the first to launch, bringing 1,080 hp and 2.5-second 0-60 acceleration
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The Lucid Air Dream Edition will be the first to launch, bringing 1,080 hp and 2.5-second 0-60 acceleration
The Lucid Air Dream Edition is available in a model-exclusive Eureka Gold paint
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The Lucid Air Dream Edition is available in a model-exclusive Eureka Gold paint
Lucid Motors revealed the production-ready Air this week ahead of an official launch in Spring 2021
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Lucid Motors revealed the production-ready Air this week ahead of an official launch in Spring 2021
Lucid Motors aims to lead the market in range, power and fast-charging capability
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Lucid Motors aims to lead the market in range, power and fast-charging capability
The Air will eventually start under $80,000, but the first-to-launch Dream Edition will cost considerably more with its base price of $169,000 before tax credits
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The Air will eventually start under $80,000, but the first-to-launch Dream Edition will cost considerably more with its base price of $169,000 before tax credits
In addition to the Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
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In addition to the 1,080-horsepower Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
After years of development, Lucid Motors is preparing to begin production
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After years of development, Lucid Motors is preparing to begin production
Lucid's micro lens array headlamps create thousands of directible light channels
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Lucid's micro lens array headlamps create thousands of directible light channels
Lucid will add the base-level Air later on, but for now, it releases details about the Dream Edition, Grand Touring and Touring versions
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Lucid will add the base-level Air later on, but for now, it releases details about the Dream Edition, Grand Touring and Touring versions
Lucid has focused much development into making its electric powertrain as space-efficient as possible toward maximizing cabin and cargo space
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Lucid has focused much development into making its electric powertrain as space-efficient as possible toward maximizing cabin and cargo space
The new Air has a top speed of 168 mph
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The new Air has a top speed of 168 mph
Lucid Air model breakdown
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Lucid Air model breakdown
Three rear seats
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Three rear seats
The central touch control panel retracts away
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The central touch control panel retracts away
The highly digital cockpit of the Lucid Air electric sedan
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The highly digital cockpit of the Lucid Air electric sedan
The lower touch panel and physical controls over it provide easy-access interior control for driver and front passenger
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The lower touch panel and physical controls over it provide easy-access interior control for driver and front passenger
At the wheel of the all-new Lucid Air
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At the wheel of the all-new Lucid Air
The Air offers plenty of light with its large windshield and glass roof
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The Air offers plenty of light with its large windshield and glass roof
No traditional gauges here; the Lucid Air relies on a fully digital instrument panel
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No traditional gauges here; the Lucid Air relies on a fully digital instrument panel
Looking straight down the 34 inches of curved glass instrument panel that comes standard on the Air
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Looking straight down the 34 inches of curved glass instrument panel that comes standard on the Air
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
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Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
View gallery - 28 images

There's been a whole lot of "believe it when we see it" in the burgeoning electric vehicle market throughout recent years, and Lucid Motors has been one of the poster children of that phenomenon. But the Silicon Valley company is now ready for the world to see and believe. Nearly four years after we first became familiar with the term "Lucid Air," Lucid reveals its production-ready sedan ahead of a Spring 2021 delivery start. With space-optimized luxury and available hypercar power on tap, the Lucid Air promises to be a sedan quite unlike the typical neighborhood family four-door.

Save for the sharp new "Eureka Gold" finish available for the flagship Dream Edition, the production Lucid Air looks much the same as the prototype has for the past four years, not a bad thing as it's a clean, attractive design with a market-leading drag coefficient of 0.21.

On the numbers side, there are some small shifts and additions, including a nominal bump in range-topping power, which rises from the even 1,000 hp quoted previously to 1,080 hp in the Dream Edition. More interesting for everyday drivers are the range estimates, which top 400 miles (644 km) for all three Air models detailed this week, rising right up to a previously unheard-of 517 miles (832 km) for the mid-level 800-hp Air Grand Touring with available AeroRange mileage-extending wheel/tire package. We look forward to seeing what shakes out when the EPA puts the Air range and efficiency to the test.

In addition to the Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
In addition to the 1,080-horsepower Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models

Integral to all trims of Air sedan is Lucid's "Space Concept," which involves shrinking down the electric powertrain package to create a "full-size luxury-class interior" within the smaller dimensions of an aero-optimized sport sedan capable of serious performance. The space-enhancing design also gives the Air an abyss-like 280-liter frunk that Lucid calls the biggest in its class, teaming with the trunk for 739 liters of total cargo space.

"It’s relatively easy to achieve more range by adding progressively more batteries, but gaining ‘dumb range’ that way increases weight and cost and reduces interior space," Lucid Motors CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson explained last month. "Lucid Air has achieved its remarkable range whilst also reducing battery size through its in-house technology, resulting in a breakthrough in overall vehicle-level efficiency."

The Air offers plenty of light with its large windshield and glass roof
The Air offers plenty of light with its large windshield and glass roof

The Air is based around a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive architecture with 113-kWh battery pack. Depending upon model, that battery power gets funneled toward either mileage-maximizing efficiency or performance-boosting power. On the 1,080-hp Air Dream Edition, it translates to a 2.5-second 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) time and consistent quarter-miles as low as 9.9 seconds, according to Lucid. Top speed is listed at 168 mph (270 km/h).

Lucid credits its 900-V+ electrical architecture and custom lithium-ion cells with empowering the fastest charging tech in the business, estimating charging rates as quick as 20 miles (32 km) per minute. Buyers can get a very practical 300 miles (482 km) of range in a mere 20 minutes of pit stop time when plugged into a DC fast charger. Lucid US buyers will enjoy three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America's network of fast-charging stations. Lucid will also offer an available bi-directional home charging station.

The chart below fills in some other specs plus base prices of each Air model:

Lucid Air model breakdown
Lucid Air model breakdown

The Dream Edition will be the first model to launch, with deliveries planned for Spring 2021. Along with its high-powered, performance-sharpened tune, the limited edition model will come standard with Lucid's 32-sensor Level 2/Level 3 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). It will also include a luxurious "Santa Monica" interior with full-grain Bridge of Weir leather, silvered Eucalyptus wood accents and special badging.

Speaking of the interior, the Lucid Air does away completely with any hint of analog instruments, interfacing instead with a 34-in curved "Glass Cockpit" 5K display. Physical controls aren't entirely unwelcome, though, as a selection of precision-milled switches and rollers hangs over the retractable central touch display. Amazon Alexa voice control is also available for operating in-vehicle features like navigation, infotainment and climate control and connecting with cloud features like smart home control.

No traditional gauges here; the Lucid Air relies on a fully digital instrument panel
No traditional gauges here; the Lucid Air relies on a fully digital instrument panel

Lucid plans to finish construction on its Casa Grande, Arizona production facility by the end of 2020 and begin production of customer cars in early 2021. After the Dream Edition rolls out in spring, the Grand Touring will follow in Summer 2021 and the Touring model later in the year. The base-level Air, which Lucid doesn't seem to have quite figured out beyond a "below $80K" price tag, will follow in 2022. Reservations are available now in the US and Canada, along with select European and Middle Eastern countries. The Dream Edition requires a $7,500 refundable deposit, the other models $1,000.

Looking beyond the Air, Lucid has also provided a sneak peek at its next vehicle: an SUV with what looks like an available custom rooftop cargo box. You can see more teaser images beyond the one below in the photo gallery.

Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV
Lucid Motors gives a sneak peek of its SUV

Those who want to purchase a vehicle in person will have to wait a little longer. Lucid plans to build 20 of its own direct-sale and service centers in major metropolitan markets throughout 2021. Announced locations include Los Angeles, San Jose, Miami, New York City and Washington DC Metro.

We suppose that leaves some "wait and see" left to play out.

Source: Lucid Motors

View gallery - 28 images
11 comments
11 comments
Daishi
Tesla's stock price these days should help Lucid lure investors but I think they still have a long way to go. I get their business model of starting with the most expensive model first but they still have to finish the factory and produce these with a base price of $170k. All the on board systems and electronics are going to be a first release so it's possible that the people who are first in line are going to be beta testing for them and there is a chance support could just go away if the company goes bankrupt. Lucid is not building their own charging network which means most 3rd party charters you find aren't going to be anywhere near their theoretical max charging speeds. The car looks nice though.
Rakkasan
80k base price. Hopefully I strike oil
guzmanchinky
This is the first Tesla Model S competition I've seen...
Daishi
@Rakkasan The 80k base version probably won't ship for a couple years and the industry isn't at a stand still. Some of these new electric car companies are in a race against Tesla's ability to close the gaps in their own product line (Roadster, Model Y, Cybertruck etc.). I'm sure Lucid could make some headlines being quicker than the Model S Performance but Roadster will steal some of their thunder when it launches. Rivian is more like a traditional truck than Cybertruck but Tesla might offer another smaller truck later that's more traditional looking. Yes there is a market for other electric car companies but the window is closing a bit and it will start to get harder to launch new electric car companies as the gaps are filled in with new models.
christopher
@Rakkasan - you mean lithium and cobalt, right?
Eddy
Would have thought that with that performance the Air Dream edition would have better-supporting seats in the rear even if it meant going down to 2 seats as the rich generally only have 2 kids and the car will probably spend a lot of its time sideways on corners.
sanjsrik
Who is the target audience for this? The silicon valley douchebag? This is so out of the price range of so many people and the charging stations don't even exist in a lot of locations (such as NYC, having THREE in NYC, isn't exactly convenient) and where they do, they're usually being hogged for hours.

The pricetag is ridiculous. The car itself is asking to be stolen. Who would buy this thing?
DavidB
Those rear seats look about as comfortable as a park bench.
jimglaze
"production-ready" haha, can you say "hype" and that's the polite word. How about a "production" review as in review a a car that has rolled off a production line. "We suppose that leaves some "wait and see" left to play out," ya think?
ljaques
Expensive competition for Elon, eh? Looks like a very nice vehicle and has great range.
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