Ever since Tesla burst onto the scene, Silicon Valley buyers and Wall Avenue financiers have dumped tens of billions of {dollars} into the rising EV market. To date, solely a handful of battery-car startups have really delivered any significant merchandise. Most have did not get previous the vaporware stage and are unlikely to outlive.
One of many notable exceptions is Lucid Motors which launched its first all-electric mannequin, the Air sedan, at first of the 2022 mannequin 12 months. It may appear odd to debut with a four-door passenger automotive in a market centered round SUVs and CUVs. However, with its distinctive design and unbelievable efficiency, Lucid planners are satisfied Air is the correct kind of introductory mannequin that can put a halo round merchandise but to return.
It’s actually a powerful car and have been all else equal, it might kick the Tesla Mannequin S off to the nook. No shock, actually, as a result of Lucid founder, CEO and Chief Technical Officer Peter Rawlinson was the chief engineer on the Mannequin S and the Air reveals he had a transparent imaginative and prescient of the place to go have been he requested to develop an all-new model of the Tesla flagship.
Overview
The Lucid Air is the primary product from California-based Lucid Motors. The automaker launched two super-premium variations a 12 months in the past, the Air Dream Vary version setting a benchmark of 520 miles per cost, whereas the Dream Efficiency package deal is likely one of the quickest manufacturing autos ever delivered to market, launching from 0 to 60 in simply over 2 seconds.
The Air Grand Touring provides a 3rd possibility that could be a wee bit extra inexpensive — if that time period can be utilized for a car beginning at $154,000. It’s a traditional grand tourer, distinctive, lavishly executed and exactly the kind of sedan you’d need to drive on an prolonged journey. And its estimated 446 miles per cost means vary anxiousness received’t be weighing on you must you intend a run from, say, Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Whereas not fairly as fast because the Dream Efficiency mannequin, the Air Grand Touring package deal I spent per week in remains to be blisteringly fast, even in its most snug “Clean” mode. For a bit extra spritely drive, it’s also possible to go for the upgraded Grand Touring Efficiency package deal.
Exterior
At a time when the roads are dominated by largely look-alike SUVs, the Lucid Air Grand Touring sedan is a refreshing standout.
Whereas aggressively streamlined — important to maximizing vary and efficiency — it’s no Prius. The Air is good-looking and stylish, clearly declaring you’ve arrived, very similar to traditional premium sedans such because the Mercedes-Benz Mannequin S.
As with most new EVs, it abandons the traditional grille. There’s no want for one for the reason that drivetrain, together with motors and batteries have been moved into the sedan’s skateboard-like platform. Beneath the power-operated hood there’s a modest-sized entrance trunk, or frunk. As a substitute of a grille, there’s an LED mild bar stretching corner-to-corner, with slit-like LED head, flip and operating lamps beneath.
The sedan boasts a coke bottle sweep to its silhouette, and the flowing roofline adopts a particular silver tone to distinction with the physique’s paint scheme. The roof flows properly into the again deck however does create a little bit of a compromise by limiting entry to the deep trunk.
Inside
The low and flowing roofline does lead to one other compromise. You’ll must duck a bit to climb into the cabin, particularly when you’re over 6 foot in peak. Surprisingly, when you’re sitting inside you uncover a cavernous quantity of house, each back and front. Though the Lucid Air (in its varied variations) is greater than 5 inches shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQS battery flagship, it gives considerably extra head and leg room. That’s all of the extra obvious within the cavernous again seat.
One of many Air’s most distinctive design options is a windshield that flows properly into the roof. And one of many quirkier particulars is the best way that required the solar visors to be glued on to the glass. The higher portion of the windshield has a UV and infrared coating that helps forestall glare.
There’s a decidedly high-tech really feel to the cabin, underscored by the assortment of screens that take over a lot of the instrument panel. The Air sedan’s DreamDrive infotainment system eliminates all however a handful of typical controls, although there’s a requisite quantity knob and the entrance seats have guide controls for fundamental actions. (However you’ll must dive into the principle infotainment display screen for issues like seat heaters, and to activate their therapeutic massage operate.)
In distinct distinction to the Tesla Mannequin S, the Lucid Air Grand Touring’s cabin has a refined look, with elegant supplies and properly executed coloration combos that assist justify the hefty price ticket.
Powertrain
For all of the reward that the Lucid Air Grand Touring mannequin deserves, what actually makes the all-electric sedan shine is its powertrain. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system was developed completely in-house, the undertaking led by CEO and Chief Technical Officer Peter Rawlinson. As the previous chief engineer for Tesla he knew precisely the place to start out from and has taken issues a powerful step ahead.
Every of the motors is surprisingly compact, particularly when you think about the ability they punch out. Within the Grand Touring mannequin I spent my time in they ship a mixed 819 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. That’s sufficient to launch you to 60 in a mere 3 seconds when you change to Dash mode — which additionally hunkers down the sedan’s energetic suspension, tightens up steering and backs off on “nanny” methods like digital stability management.
Do you have to go for the Grand Touring Efficiency package deal, nevertheless, the numbers leap to 1,050 hp and 921 lb-ft, reducing your 0-60 instances right down to round 2.6 seconds.
Equally spectacular, the Lucid Air, in its varied configurations, is the present EV mileage champ. The Air Dream Vary mannequin has an EPA score of 520 miles. The Grand Touring is available in at 446 per cost which nonetheless tops the very best any Tesla can muster by about 8 p.c. Throughout my time behind the wheel I didn’t have the prospect to “burn” utterly via a full cost however discovered the vary gauge to be dependable. As with every car, EV or gasoline, power effectivity drops if you’ve obtained a lead foot — as I do. However I anticipated to nonetheless get one thing near 400 miles on a cost regardless of repeated jack rabbit begins and extra-legal freeway speeds.
As soon as you must plug in, in the meantime, Lucid claims a few of the quickest cost instances, as properly, due to the sedan’s 900-volt electrical structure. Utilizing a 350 kilowatt public fast charger will get you an extra 300 miles in as little as 21 minutes, the automaker states. Utilizing a Stage 2 charger, it provides, will get an extra 75 miles in as little as an hour.
Security and Know-how
As you may count on, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is a high-tech tour de power. And all of it comes collectively via the DreamDrive system working the sedan’s varied digital screens. One, to the left nook of the instrument panel, controls important capabilities like headlights and windshield wipers. Twin touchscreens dominate the middle stack, controlling just about all different car capabilities, from audio to navigation, as properly seating and even the sideview mirrors and steering wheel.
There are a number of guide controls, together with entrance energy seat changes and cruise management. And, I used to be grateful for a guide quantity curler. However, to be trustworthy, it could possibly all be a bit overwhelming and, at instances, just a little bit cumbersome attempting to determine all of it out. In some situations, resembling adjusting seat heaters, you must dig via extra screens than I’d like — and when your butt is beginning to overheat, you need immediate aid.
The working system proved at instances just a little sluggish, as properly. And I sometimes needed to watch for the automotive’s proximity sensor to acknowledge I had approached the car, triggering the pop-out door handles. Likewise, it sometimes required a number of seconds to get the trunk to pop open.
Okay, that’s the draw back. The excellent news is that when you begin determining the right way to handle it all of the system begins to turn out to be intuitive. Take into consideration the primary few instances you needed to maneuver via your smartphone.
Lucid is promising a significant software program improve earlier than year-end. I’m hoping this may tackle a few of my greatest considerations. Because the DreamDrive system is completely reprogrammable, the replace ought to make it simpler to get the place you need to go a lot faster and extra merely.
I’d additionally strongly request a extra typical keyfob with actual buttons for the trunk, frunk and doorways.
Driving Impressions
Whereas the Lucid Air Grand Touring delivers the kind of acceleration solely a handful of conventionally powered sports activities vehicles can match, it truly is extra of a traditional tourer. In “Clean” mode, it’s quiet and cozy and soaks up just about each bump within the highway — one thing I got here to rapidly recognize contemplating the horrendous situation of Michigan roads.
With its snug seats and roomy inside, that is the kind of EV that I might take pleasure in taking over prolonged journeys, all of the extra so contemplating its important vary.
Switching to “Swift” I instantly observed a distinction in throttle responsiveness, steering really feel and the best way the sedan maneuvered on curvy roads like people who minimize via the appropriately named Hell, Michigan. Regardless of its hefty 5,236 kilos, the Grand Touring mannequin dealt with corners easily and exactly. It helps, after all, to have the batteries and motors housed in a skateboard-like platform that yields a decrease heart of gravity than many a Ferrari or Lamborghini.
In the event you’re in search of most efficiency you turn to “Dash” mode — which flashes up a warning display screen and asks in your consent earlier than going into impact. For good purpose. Very like the Observe modes discovered on some high-performance gasoline fashions, it both disables or limits nanny options.
For much less skilled drivers, frankly, this might get out of hand in a rush. For many who have the expertise and talent, nevertheless, it’s the actual deal. At simply 3 seconds 0-60, (2.6 seconds within the Efficiency package deal), the GT delivered an actual rush on launch and the thrills continued as I slalomed via some wickedly tight corners.
One other good characteristic: the extensively adjustable brake regeneration mode. This permits the car to recapture power usually misplaced throughout braking or coasting to increase vary. The Air Grand Touring gives two ranges of “1-Pedal” driving which mainly really feel like a gasoline drivetrain that’s been downshifted a number of gears. When you discover ways to use 1-Pedal mode you’ll solely hardly ever ever discover want to leap onto the brakes. I made your complete 30+ mile run via Hell and the neighboring countryside merely modulating the throttle.
2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Specs
Wrap Up
I had the prospect to go for a experience in a Lucid Air prototype almost two years in the past and had extraordinarily excessive expectations for the sedan as soon as I lastly had one parked in my driveway. Whereas I did discover a number of issues to grouse about — virtually completely with the all-encompassing infotainment system — I can say with no uncertainty that the sedan is essentially the most spectacular battery-electric car I’ve to date pushed.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring is blisteringly fast but additionally gives the kind of snug driving expertise you’d count on of a traditional grand tourer. It delivers sufficient vary to get you from Los Angeles to San Francisco or Boston to Washington, D.C. on a single cost. And when you do must plug in it powers again up with lightning pace.
The sedan has a particular design with out taking issues too far. The inside is impressively excessive tech but doesn’t forego the kind of particulars you’d count on of a product in its worth vary — in contrast to the Tesla Mannequin S.
As talked about, the infotainment system and some different particulars want some work. However there’s a significant software program replace coming that, I hope, will tackle a few of my considerations.
I’d have completely no downside recommending the Lucid Air Grand Touring mannequin (or different Air variants) to those who can afford the stiff price ticket. The GT begins at $154,000, the Air Vary and Efficiency fashions nearer to $170,000. There can be but extra variations to comply with for these on extra restricted budgets.
For a first-time entry, Lucid has merely hit it out of the park with the Air sedan.
2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring — Steadily Requested Questions
Is the Lucid Air higher than the Tesla Mannequin S?
In some ways the Lucid Air isn’t just newer however higher than Tesla. The Air is extra power environment friendly and gives higher vary — as a lot as 520 miles per cost on some variations, in response to the EPA. The Efficiency version successfully matches the pace of the quickest Mannequin S Plaid, and different variations are quicker than comparable Tesla variants.
Who makes the Lucid Air?
Lucid Motors is predicated in Newark, California, based in 2007 by a gaggle together with Peter Rawlinson, previously the chief engineer on the Tesla Mannequin S program. It launched its first product, the Lucid Air, for the 2022 mannequin 12 months.
How briskly is the Lucid Air Grand Touring?
The Lucid Air Grand Touring incorporates a two-motor, all-wheel-drive electrical powertrain producing 819 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. In Dash mode, it can launch from 0-60 in simply 3 seconds. The Grand Touring Efficiency package deal boosts the numbers to 1,050 hp and 921 lb-ft, whereas trimming the launch to 2.6 seconds.