This is the most anticipated electric car since the Tesla Model S – and that’s no understatement. It’s called the Lucid Air, a pure EV from a Silicon Valley start-up with huge ambitions, motorsports pedigree (they supply batteries to Formula E) and personnel who know what it means to really rock the world. CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson was previously vice president of vehicle engineering at Tesla and chief engineer of the Model S project, the clean-sheet design that founded Tesla and set Tesla on the path to becoming the world’s most valuable automaker.
In what must feel like a past life, Rawlinson was also chief engineer at Lotus Cars and chief engineer at Jaguar. That’s quite a journey. Now imagine if Lucid could create a car with a technology shift as profound as that of the Model S, coupled with the dynamic brilliance of a Lotus or the very best Jaguars. The world as we know it would never be the same again? Well, here is the very first attempt. No wonder the launch cars are called the Dream Edition.
Specifications and prices
This is the one where it’s all about performance at the expense of range: the Dream Edition P, for “Performance. In the official WLTP calculation of range in Europe, it only comes out to a score about 490 kilometers better than a Taycan Turbo S. Yes, this is really the one that takes less into account range. The Porsche achieves only 370 kilometers compared to the Dream P’s 861 kilometers. This in itself is an incredible statistic, but combined with the Lucid’s power advantage, it is hardly believable. This rather elegant-looking sedan is powered by twin engines with a combined output of 1111 horsepower.
The Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance out costs € 222,000 including delivery, making this Arizona-built EV one of the most expensive on the market. Lucid’s other version, the €165,000 Air Grand Touring. The Grand Touring has slightly less power than both Dream Edition versions, but still has a maximum range of 783 kilometers and comes with essentially the same features as the Dream (the main differences are limited to color schemes and interior trim).
The cheaper Air models will eventually follow the Grand Touring, with the Pure starting at 115,000 euros including delivery. These variants should still offer impressive performance – the Pure with twin engine and all-wheel drive promises 480 hp of power and a range of 725 kilometers – but expect less standard equipment and a less luxurious interior.
Frankly, I find that a bit disturbing. As more electric cars enter the market, it will become easier and easier to find comparable features and performance anywhere. The Dream Edition is a fantastic, smart luxury sedan that deserves its six-figure price tag, and we hope that moving the Air to a lower market class doesn’t make it harder to justify it against established competition.
Battery and range
The Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance is powered by one or two of Lucid’s compact electric motors, powered by battery modules in 300-cell groups with a heady voltage of 900 volts. This model offers 1,111 horsepower and a claimed drag coefficient of 0.20. During our test to quickly charge the battery from 10 to 90 percent, we saw a peak speed of 249 kilowatts, with an overall average speed of 135 kilowatts.
The Lucid Air has a skateboard-like structure and a 112kWh battery pack with 6600 cells, operating on a 900V system for added efficiency. It is powered by dual motors and has a time of 2.7 seconds to 100 km/h . It also has Bilstein Damptronic Sky dampers, Akebono six-piston front calipers and four rear calipers.
However, the drive units – one for each axle – are pretty special. Consisting of an electric motor, inverter and integrated transmission and differential, each unit weighs 74 kilograms and produces up to 670 horsepower. Lucid claims this is 45 percent lighter and 59 percent more powerful than the competitor’s equivalent. A complete drive unit fits in a standard airline rolling suitcase. Although Brussels Airlines might whine a bit about the weight. This remarkable “miniaturization,” all proprietary technology, has resulted in the most powerful propulsion units on the market, coupled with the most efficient batteries. The motors rev up to 20,000 rpm. They also contribute to the fantastic interior space and huge additional front luggage space. An owner (or rather passenger) of a Taycan would feel like he had just moved from a studio to a penthouse suite.
Exterior
Traditional performance car manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes must make a crucial design choice at the outset. Do they develop an EV that blends into their existing gasoline cars or do they deviate from the rest to create something innovative? Most opted for the former, while Lucid took a very different path with the design of the Air Dream Edition. This vehicle had no gas counterparts to borrow design elements from, allowing Lucid to embrace the lack of cooling-related styling elements. This prominent focus on clean, fluid design paid off with an extremely smooth drag coefficient of just 0.21, making it one of the most aerodynamic EVs on the market.
The dimensions of the Air Dream Edition are 4975 mm long, 2198 mm wide and 1410 mm high. The wheelbase is 2960 mm. The Air Dream Edition comes standard with 21-inch wheels. The luggage compartment of the Air Dream Edition offers 456 liters of storage space and another 202 liters of storage space under the trunk.
Interior
The Air’s interior features premium materials and curved door panels to enhance its spacious feel. The interior also features a large, curved screen reminiscent of that of the Porsche Taycan. The rear seat offers plenty of legroom and is positioned low for ample headroom under the pinched roofline. The trunk lid has a huge cargo area of 32 cubic feet.
The Lucid Air offers a luxurious grand touring sedan experience, with an airy interior thanks to the seamless windshield that transitions into a full glass roof, and the driver’s and passenger areas are finished in different colors. The sweeping main display features 5K resolution, a tasteful color palette and a logical interface, and the central, portrait-oriented “Pilot Panel” provides access to a host of other functions. Interior space has also been increased thanks to the miniaturization of drive units and ultra-efficient batteries.
Technology and entertainment
The Lucid Air’s entertainment system manages to be both futuristic and user-friendly, which is not often the case. A curved 34-inch screen called the Glass Cockpit is prominently mounted behind the steering wheel and is essentially three touch screens in one. The touch screen on the left manages basic car functions, such as the headlights, door locks and wipers. The middle touch screen is an instrument panel with information on speed, load level, gear position and safety warnings. The touch screen on the right controls media, radio and navigation functions.
It is pleasing to the eye and doesn’t take long to get used to, thanks in part to its simple layout, fancy graphics and quick responses. It is also accompanied by another touch screen, the Pilot Panel, which slides into the center of the dash when not in use and provides more space for functions such as seat adjustment and climate control. Above it are a pair of physical buttons for audio volume, air temperature and fan speed, so you don’t have to rely on a tap or swipe to control each function.
The Dream edition features a 34-inch display with glass cockpit, Pilot Panel touchscreen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Spotify, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, HD Radio and a 10-speaker stereo system but can be upgraded with a 21-speaker surround sound system
Extra features that are still part of the standard include keyless entry and automatic climate control
The Lucid Air receives over-the-air (OTA) software updates that help fix problems and roll out new features. However, some updates must be performed by a Lucid mobile technician or by a service center.
The front seats of the Air are smooth and supportive, and the adjustment options make it easy to find a comfortable seating position. Taller occupants will find plenty of head and legroom in the front. Outward visibility is also excellent in all directions. The rear seats are also plush and long-lastingly comfortable, and this space feels airy, especially with the available Glass Canopy windshield, which extends from the hood all the way to the center of the roof. Still, the rear headroom can be a bit cramped for some passengers.
Faux leather upholstery is standard. Upgrades include genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with massage functions, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and power rear sunshades.
