The Lucid Air is an electric car produced and sold by Lucid Motors. Unveiled in December 2016, it is designed to compete with existing brands in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, in particular the Tesla Model S, the Karma Revero, the Porsche Taycan, as well as other brands in the luxury car segment, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
The Air is one of just a few electric vehicles that are compatible with the super-speedy 350-kW DC fast-charging stations. Hooking up to one allows the Air to potentially regain up to 300 miles of range after just 20 minutes of charging. For home use, the Air has a powerful onboard AC charger that can also shorten charging times, assuming you’ve got a robust enough electrical setup. The Air’s battery pack can even be used as a power source for your home in case of a blackout, though at this time that functionality is not available.
Lucid Air Description
2022 Lucid Air front view
The 2022 Lucid Air is a large electric luxury sedan that’s available in four trim levels: Pure, Touring, Grand Touring and Dream Edition. The Dream Edition was a launch model limited to 520 units. What follows is a breakdown of what to expect from each trim.
The Air Dream Edition Range model has a marathon-like range of 520 miles on a full charge. This is the EPA’s estimate, and no other car currently comes close, the rival Tesla Model S included. The Dream Edition Range also ended up at 505 miles when subjected to Edmunds’ real-world EV range test. That’s still stellar even if it was a little short of the EPA figure. Then there’s the horsepower. Lucid says the Dream Edition Range produces 933 horsepower, and the Performance version goes all out with 1,111 hp.
Lucid Air and Tesla Model S side by side
Lucid Air Powertrain and Speed
Lucid’s electric vehicle platform is built around its compact 900-volt, drive unit that integrates the 650-horsepower electric motor, transmission, differential and three-phase AC inverter into a 163-pound package small enough to fit into a carry-on bag. Lucid credits the ultra-high voltage and its cutting edge silicon carbide transistor technology for the system’s incredible efficiency.
Lucid Air Platform
Under previous software controlled tests, Lucid Air reached a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h). While it doesn’t mean that it will be the top speed of the production version, it is more representative than the test without software limitations.
Lucid Air Models
(EPA)Grand Touring2022–21″ wheels: 469 mi (755 km) 19″ wheels: 516 mi (830 km)
Dream Edition RangeQ4 2021– (Limited Edition)21″ wheels: 481 mi (774 km) 19″ wheels: 520 mi (837 km)
Dream Edition Performance21″ wheels: 451 mi (726 km) 19″ wheels: 471 mi (758 km)
Lucid Air Specifications
Lucid Air, one of the most technologically advanced electric cars ever created. lest look at the specs.
The limited Dream Edition version is equipped with a 118 kWh battery pack, featuring 22 modules totaling 6,600 cylindrical cells 2170-type, similar to the Tesla Model 3/Model Y and Rivian.
The Grand Touring version has about a 6 kWh smaller battery – 112 kWh, which is not surprising at all. We expected several kWh difference between the two right when the EPA efficiency and range numbers were announced in September. At the time, the manufacturer was mentioning 113 kWh for all cars.
We believe that those cells are supplied by Samsung SDI, Lucid’s first supplier, announced in December 2016 In 2020, the company announced that the battery cells for “standard version” cars will be supplied by LG Chem’s LG Energy Solution.
The battery pack of such a size, combined with outstanding efficiency, is expected to provide a range of more than 500 miles (800 km) on a single charge. The 520 mile (837 km) EPA rating is an all-time record.
One of the Lucid’s key elements is the 900 V battery architecture, which allows for increased efficiency. It also makes it easier to deliver up to around 300 kW of charging power, which allows it to take just about 20 minutes to replenish 300 miles of range.
The top-of-the-line Dream Edition Performance, with 21″ wheels “on prepared track surface.” will accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 2.42 seconds. The quarter-mile time is 9.67 seconds at 149.87 mph.
Lucid Air Dream Edition specs:
118 kWh battery
22 modules
2170-type cylindrical cells (6,600)
>900 V battery system
EPA range:
- Dream Edition Performance (19″) – 471 miles (758 km)
- Dream Edition Performance (21″) – 451 miles (726 km)
- Dream Edition Range (19″) – 520 miles (837 km)
- Dream Edition Range (21″) – 481 miles (774 km)
0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) time
- Dream Edition Performance (19″) – 2.5 seconds
- Dream Edition Performance (21″) – 2.42 seconds; quarter-mile in 9.67 seconds @149.87 mph
- Dream Edition Range (19″) – 2.7 seconds
- Dream Edition Range (21″) – 2.74 seconds
top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h)
dual motor all-wheel drive
Dream Edition Performance – 1,111 hp (828 kW) and 1,025 lb-ft (1,390 Nm)
Dream Edition Range – 933 hp (695 kW) and 1,025 lb-ft (1,390 Nm)
on-board charger: 19.2 kW
fast charging at up to around 300 kW (about 20 minutes to replenish 300 miles of range)
Lucid Air Grand Touring specs:
112 kWh battery
>900 V battery system
EPA range:
- Grand Touring (19″) – 516 miles (830 km)
- Grand Touring (21″) – 469 miles (755 km)
0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) time
- Dream Edition Performance (19″) – 3.3 seconds
- Dream Edition Performance (21″) – 3.0 seconds
Top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h)
dual motor all-wheel drive
Grand Touring – 800 hp (596 kW) and 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm)
on-board charger: 19.2 kW
fast charging at up to around 300 kW (about 20 minutes to replenish 300 miles of range.
Lucid Air Interior
Despite Air’s mid-size exterior, the interior is surprisingly spacious, with proportions akin to a full-size sedan. This is made possible by our exclusive powertrain components, miniaturized to create space for stretching out. And it’s not just roomy, it’s also brimming with ultra-luxe features like available massaging seats.
Lucid Air’s rear cabin provides expansive space for three adults with segment-leading amounts of legroom.
Lucid Air Rear Cabin
An optional Executive Rear Seating Package (with later availability) will offer a jet-style experience for two that lets you recline way back.
Lucid Air PRICE
The Air is available in three flavors, starting with the top-trim Air Dream Edition with price MSRP range: $77,400 – $169,000. It’s got dual-electric motors – one per axle for all-wheel drive – the biggest battery pack and the full-fat 1,080 horsepower. The Dream Edition’s weight and 21-inch wheels cost it a bit of range, dropping down to 465 miles, but optioning the smaller 19s can bring it back to 503 miles. With great power comes a great big price tag, starting at $169,000 with delivery in Spring 2021.
Next off the line is the $139,000 Air Grand Touring in mid-2021. It also boasts dual motors and the extended battery, however, thriftier 800-horsepower tune and standard 19-inch wheels grant the Grand Touring the longest possible cruising range at the 517 estimated miles.
The Air Touring will join the lineup at $95,000 with a smaller battery pack and a single motor on its rear axle making 620 horsepower. It’ll do zero-to-sixty in 3.2 seconds, the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds and top out at 155 mph. Range steps down to 406 miles per charge. These are all still pretty impressive numbers.
Of course, the Air should qualify for a federal EV tax credit, which Lucid reckons will knock about $7,500 off the bottom line of all trim levels. Lucid’s roadmap also includes a base Air model arriving in 2022 to bring the starting price down to “below $80,000.” Presumably, it’ll have less power, a yet smaller battery or both, but power and range estimates are still yet to be determined.
Preorders for the 2021 Lucid Air open today in the US, Canada, Europe and the Middle East with a refundable $1,000 deposit for the Touring and Grand Touring or a $7,500 refundable deposit for the limited production Dream Edition.
The Lucid Air is the first high-end model that is expected to be sold in quite significant volumes, starting with 20,000 in 2022. In the 2023, it should be joined by an even higher-volume, large SUV – “Gravity.”
By 2025, both should be sold at over 120,000 per year (including 42,000 Air and 86,000 Gravity). At that point, the company hopes to introduce new models.
Lucid Motors was founded in Newark, California, near Silicon Valley. Lucid selected Casa Grande, Arizona, for its nearly 1-million-square-foot facility in 2016. In fact, it’s the first rural, dedicated electric vehicle factory located in North America.
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