Lucid’s debut model, Air, has been described by its engineers as the world’s most “aerodynamic luxury car,” with a drag coefficient of just 0.21; that’s 0.01 less than the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class to give you some perspective.
The model offers an unrestricted top speed of more than 230 miles per hour (that’s around 370 kilometers per hour), which makes it the fastest electric production car on sale. By comparison, the Rimac C Two can reach a top speed of 415 kilometers per hour, but Rimac will only make 150 of them, and they’ll retail for around $2.4 million when they eventually enter manufacturing. The Lucid Air, on the other hand, is a consumer vehicle designed to be sold en masse: it’s the first real Tesla competitor.
Although breakneck speeds should not be a priority in modern saloons, Lucid has said that the Air could cover a quarter-mile sprint in 9.9 seconds, making it the first EV saloon to break the ten-second barrier, and what’s more impressive is that the company has confirmed it can be achieved on a “consistent, repeatable basis,” rather than just on warm days on a clear stretch of tarmac. The company has confirmed that the model will be sold in four trim levels, with the standard starting at just $52,100 – it will feature a single electric motor and offers a 240mile range from a 75kWh battery pack supplied by Samsung. A Touring model, on the other hand, offers power of up to 612bhp, range to 406 miles and the list price is $87,500, whilst the Grand Touring offers 789bhp and costs around $130,000 after tax breaks. For those looking for the most souped-up model, the 1065bhp output is priced at $161,500. It’s called the Dream Edition, can reach 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, is a four-wheel drive, and offers bespoke interior design trimmed in leather and eucalyptus wood with 21-inch wheels. Lucid has said its top-spec model will be strictly limited edition but hasn’t revealed numbers.
What’s most impressive about the Lucid Air is that each model is capable of offering 300 miles of range on a 20-minute charge at a DC fast charger, making it the “fastest-charging electric vehicle ever offered” and serving let another blow to Tesla. As consumers are more conscious of their time and range than ever before, these figures will be most welcome. The model first premiered back in 2016, and very little has changed since then, with the EV retaining its distinctive wraparound front light bar, using a ‘microlens array’ system that features thousands of digitally controlled ‘light channels’, and thanks to the model’s long, low silhouette, overhangs and curved edges, the Air lives up to its name and offers aerodynamic efficiency, evident when compared to similar-spec models from other auto manufacturers.
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