The Lucid Air unveiling was among the most spectacular in automotive history. This sleek, elegant, glass-topped spaceship, introduced the previous year, quickly established itself as one of the quickest, roomiest, and most opulent electric vehicles ever offered to the general public and the most efficient and longest-range models. After the Tesla Model S revolutionized the electric car market ten years ago, the Air ultimately outperformed it (with a 1,111-horsepower whoosh) in several categories. But this year, more affordable versions of the Lucids available in 2022 were introduced.
The 819-hp, 516-mile range Grand Touring ($139,650, including destination) and 1,050-hp Grand Touring Performance ($180,650), which provide almost as much power, content, and style, are still available through Lucid even if the first-generation Dream Editions are no longer available. Buyers may now choose between the 620-hp, 425-mile Touring ($109,050) and the 480-hp, 410-mile Pure ($89,050), which will be available shortly. Later this year, the tri-motor, 1,200-hp high-performance Air Sapphire (about $250,000) will be available. Importantly, Lucid has also been hard at work expanding its service network and enhancing the digital components of the automobile.
Indeed, not the only business to target Tesla’s top model, Lucid now has fresh competition. The Mercedes-Benz EQS debuted in 2022; in 2023, the midsize EQE and the BMW i7 will join the Genesis Electrified G80 and another Benz. The 195.9-inch long Air is smaller overall than the G80 and far smaller than the EQS or i7, yet seeming considerably more significant because of its low, elegant style. However, inside, the Air’s exceptional space efficiency results in full-size space, competing with the best in power, prestige, and price.
The Touring, Grand Touring, and Dream Edition Airs have all performed remarkably by extensive sedan standards, even if we haven’t yet driven the Pure. Even the Touring provides horizon-blurring acceleration and zero-to-60 timings of three seconds or less, and competent, relaxed handling that combines a comfortable ride with dependable grip and predictable reflexes. While getting into trouble with the Grand Touring’s immense power is easy, it is usually merely a smooth, effortlessly quick companion.
Additionally, you may drive for six or seven hours straight due to the incomparable range (between 410 and 516 miles), MPGe values (131 MPGe or more excellent on most variants), and quick charging times. Most drivers need a break after that many hours (or around 400 miles). If you can locate a 350 kW charger while you wait, you’ll return to 80% power in 30 minutes or less. The Lucid is also suitable for lengthy journeys because of its spacious rear seat, enough storage space, and attractive cabin with lovely accents.
Naturally, there are some problems as well. Like many modern EVs, the Air is too dependent on attractive but sometimes annoying touchscreens. The manufacturer has constantly improved it via over-the-air upgrades, most recently adding support for Apple CarPlay, but it is still a work in progress. Additionally, as this is a brand-new product from a young firm, some early issues have resulted in recalls. This beautiful, fashionable vehicle is a pioneer in EV technology. Everywhere you go, there are people around.
What’s New?
- The recently released Touring model is now available for purchase. It costs $109,050, including delivery fees, and has 620 horsepower and a range of up to 425 miles.
- The entry-level Air Pure, announced last year, will be available in 2023. It costs $89,050, or roughly $2,000 less than the Tesla Model S at the time of this writing, and comes with a solid roof instead of the panoramic top seen on earlier versions, 480 horsepower, and a range of up to 410 miles.
- A specialized high-performance vehicle with 1,200 horsepower and three electric motors, similar to the Tesla vehicle S Plaid, will be added by Lucid later this year. The new Sapphire will cost approximately $250,000 and boasts hypercar performance with 2-second zero-to-60 mph times and a 9-second quarter mile pace.
- On all versions save the Pure, a blackout-trim Stealth package is now available for $6,000; it comes with 20- or 21-inch blackout rims.
- Apple CarPlay is already a standard feature; earlier models will get it through over-the-air upgrades.
Performance: Lucid Air
One would anticipate that the “lesser” variants of the Lucid Air would seem sluggish after the 1,111-hp dust cloud that the Dream Edition left behind last year, but that isn’t the case. The 1,050-horsepower Grand Touring Performance can go from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, with the Grand Touring (819 hp) and Touring (620 hp) not too far behind. The Dream Edition can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
These Air variations have conventional dual-motor, all-wheel drive systems, and Lucid creates cutting-edge powertrains. The total weight of the electric motor, gearbox, inverter, and differential is just 161 pounds.
However, there will be two more Pure and Sapphire variants in 2023. The Pure will initially be offered with a 480-horsepower dual-motor arrangement. Still, it will be driven later in the year by a single-motor, rear-drive layout with 430 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a zero-to-60 speed of roughly 4.5 seconds, according to Lucid. On the other hand, the tri-motor Sapphire will have 1,200 horsepower and reach speeds that are on par with or faster than those of the tri-motor Tesla Model S Plaid.
Unless they’ve driven a Model S Plaid, many drivers will likely perceive all Air models, significantly the “slower” Pure, relatively fast. Especially in that case, the Air’s acceleration is wholly natural. It also feels surprisingly agile for a 5,000-pound vehicle, more like a BMW 5 Series than a large luxury barge, and the steering response is relatively decent by specific over-assisted EV standards.
The Air also offers a decent compromise between a generally smooth ride and somewhat quick responses on curvy roads. Although “Grand Touring” is in the name and is not a misnomer, this vehicle is not a sports car. There is some tire and road noise, but the Air is just as content to engage in aggressive driving and stoplight races as it is to chauffeur you about.
Its well-tuned regenerative brakes, which have two driver-adjustable levels, enable simple one-pedal driving. Most drivers (and undoubtedly those used to Teslas) will probably switch to one-pedal mode and keep it there, even if you don’t have to utilize the maximum regen setting.
Range, fuel economy, and charging
Even the lowest-range Lucid Air, the rear-drive Pure, offers a 410-mile rating, demonstrating how effective this vehicle is. The Air yields 131 and 140 MPGe with the most energy-efficient 19-inch wheels, 10 to 20 MPGe better than the (non-Paid) Model S and between 38 and 51 MPGe better than BMW, Mercedes, or Genesis.
Highway driving depletes range more quickly than stop-and-go driving, as is the case with the competition. Still, the Lucid has such a significant range advantage over its closest rivals (the Tesla Model S has a maximum range of 405 miles, the EQS of 340 miles, and the i7 of 318) that this is essentially insignificant. I only managed to reduce the Air Grand Touring’s efficiency from 91% to 32% over our six hours of mixed freeway and mountain road driving. The Grand Touring Performance has a rating of 446 miles, whereas the Grand Touring has a rating of 516 miles.
The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Performance versions employ a 112 kWh battery pack. In contrast, the Pure and Touring models have a 92 kWh battery pack, even though the battery packs’ internal components are identical. Even though Level 2 charging at home (which takes eight to nine hours to complete) is preferred by most owners, setting “in the wild” is not difficult thanks to The Air’s 900-volt design and advanced heat management system.
The Air can add 300 miles of range in about 20 minutes if you find a 350 kW fast charger. The vehicle charged quickly, even in my less-than-ideal real-world experiences, going from 29% to 79% in 36 minutes on a 150 kW charger the next day to 32% to 80% in 29 minutes on a 350 kW charger. Every vehicle from Lucid comes with three years of free, fast charging at Electrify America outlets.
Safety and driving assistance:
The Lucid Air has a top five-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP). This EU organization conducts comparable testing despite not being evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which performs similar tests. Additionally, the carmaker offers many active safety technologies, such as automated emergency braking, blind spot alerts, automatic parking, collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control with lane centring and stop-and-go functionality.
Lucid has also created a very effective sensor array for all this technology, including the first production-car lidar unit in the automotive industry. This device is included in the optional ($10,000) DreamDrive Pro system. That consists of the hardware for a potential Level 3 assisted-driving system and adds surround view monitoring and highway assist. However, that system isn’t yet complete, and although the Lucid’s different features all perform relatively well, rivals like the i7 and Model S provide a bit more capability.
Comfort and Space
The Air is almost the same size as a Honda Accord, so its inside space exceeds the latter’s. The driver and passenger will find the front seats pleasant thanks to their power, heating, and ventilation features. A massage function is also available. Few people will be upset with the somewhat elevated driving posture.
There is just an enormous quantity of land, much more than Lucid’s stated figures. Although the Grand Touring’s back legroom is rated at 35.8 inches, or roughly the same as that of a BMW 3 Series, in practice, it is considerably bigger and comparable to huge vehicles like the i7 and the (gas-powered) Volvo S90. There is plenty of room for car seats and enough room for a person of 6-foot-4 height to move about. Although there are options for four or five seats, similar to the Bentley Flying Spur, this vehicle is intended as a highly comfortable four-seater.
The sleek interior design and glass top on versions other than the Touring and Pure give the cabin a more open, breezy feel than most rivals. Although we’d be cautious about white carpeting in a vehicle, the materials seem high quality. They will immediately get filthy.
Infotainment: Lucid Air
The Lucid Air features several panels, similar to many of its rivals, including an eye-catching 34-inch, 5K display in front of the driver (three screens combined, plus a left-hand pad). Reminiscent of Bentley’s spinning centre display, a second, tablet-like “Pilot Panel” on the centre stack may be pulled out of sight with a touch. The menus and displays seem fantastic, but infotainment is where the Lucid falls short the most.
There are, thankfully, buttons for volume and temperature settings, manually adjustable vents, turn signals, and shift stalks, and thankfully, there is no strange yoke. However, the left-hand screen controls the wipers and defrosters and is inconveniently distant and inaccurate. The displays are sometimes sluggish, and several complicated options exist. Minor tweaks might be challenging, and acclimating to the system will take some time. Both speech recognition and the premium audio system are pretty mediocre. The company’s digital key system and smartphone app are helpful, but only to a certain extent.
The car control interfaces are still native, but Lucid has just incorporated standard Apple CarPlay (not available at Tesla), which could help cover some of these difficulties. This issue will improve since Lucid can beam out updates over the Air at any moment, but there will be a learning curve.
Storage and cargo space:
The Lucid Air boasts enough cargo capacity due to a giant “funk” and smart clamshell-like back trunk. The rear box gives 16.1 cubic feet of storage, the frunk adds 10 more, and the small electric drive components assist in making the most of the available space. Low load height in the rear trunk is particularly beneficial for bulky or heavy things.
The Tesla S and Mercedes-Benz EQS are both bigger cars with hatchbacks, but they lag significantly behind BMW, Genesis, and the Mercedes-Benz EQE in that segment. Their folding seats provide more excellent cargo space overall but only slightly more when the seats are in position, and they lack the Lucid’s low loading height.
As with the Tesla S, Lucid has included a considerable quantity of in-cabin storage, and when the central tablet retracts, there is even a little more than in that car.
Design: Lucid Air
The key to improving range is aerodynamics, and the Air features one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production vehicle ever made—only 0.197, just behind the slick 0.200 of the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The Lucid is beautifully elegant, thanks partly to its contrasting roof rails, glass top, stylish wheels, and sophisticated lighting characteristics, in contrast to the EQS, an amorphous tablet on wheels. It attracts many comments and admiring glances from spectators.
Unlike Tesla’s frigid blandness and subpar materials, the Lucid’s interior is attractive, well-furnished, and pleasant. Although the inside of the Air has been a well-made work of art in all the models Forbes Wheels has examined, there have been some early fit-and-finish difficulties similar to those at Tesla. The many interior design styles are named after places in California, such as “Santa Monica,” which includes open-pore wood, perforated Nappa leather, glittering chrome, Alcantara, and an excellent high-touch combination of alpaca wool and recycled plastic yarn.
The Lucid Air 2023: Is It Worth It?
Although large electric luxury vehicles are not inexpensive, Lucid has a lot to offer in comparison. Unquestionable design, a range that leads its class, energy efficiency, abundant space, and technological innovations are all positives.
The most expensive Grand Touring Performance ($180,650) provides the fastest speed, while the comparably luxurious Grand Touring ($139,050) provides the most range. These versions also have a glass roof, all available interior colours, and various luxury extras. If you want the whole experience, the Grand Touring is your best option. It isn’t much slower than the Performance, has the most excellent available electric vehicle range, and is equipped with almost all the top-notch equipment.
However, the $109,050 Touring (all prices include a $1,650 destination charge) will be the sweet spot for most purchasers. The Grand Touring comes standard with specific equipment that is optional here ($4,500 for the glass roof). However, even without that, the Touring still delivers astonishing Performance and various interior colour and fabric options. Notably, it is less expensive than the i7 despite costing almost the same as the EQS 450 4Matic.
The price of the new Pure ($89,050) is considerably more reasonable and comparable to that of Tesla’s base Model S. Although Tesla’s pricing reductions have increased the gap between the S and higher-grade Lucids, this basic model is still a strong rival for the regular S. It offers a superior interior compared to that vehicle. Additionally, the Electrified G80 and Mercedes-Benz EQE cost less than this Air, the only one to beat most of the competitors on pricing.
Of course, legacy companies have more firmly established service infrastructure, but over the last two years, Lucid has been constantly constructing new service facilities. The Lucid also has a comparable warranty to Tesla’s, with a coverage period of 5 years or 50,000 miles and a powertrain guarantee of 10 years and 100,000 miles.
How much does insurance for Lucid Air cost?
Lucid Air’s insurance premiums vary since it is still a new vehicle. The cost of coverage is high, but the same is true for the other cars in this class. An average yearly premium for a 30-year-old female driver with a clean record is around $4,300. Comparatively, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 costs $5,383, the Tesla Model S costs $4,436, and the Porsche Taycan Turbo costs $6,534.
Verdict
The Lucid Air is still a miracle in the world of electric cars a year after its introduction. It combines supercar speed, limo-like space, and unrivalled range in an indisputably elegant vehicle. Additionally, it has more varieties than first, including the more affordable Pure and Touring models and (eventually) the high-performance Sapphire with 1,200 horsepower. The Air is a very competent vehicle that offers horizon-blurring acceleration in luxurious comfort. However, its computer interfaces are difficult to understand and, like the vehicle itself, are still in the early stages of development from a new company.
