[polerad]

Lucid Air EV Projects 517 Miles of Range; We Saw 458 Miles on a Real-World Ride-Along

The startup's electric sedan gets a Tesla-beating (by far) EPA-estimated range. We rode along as the prototype got close to achieving it.

www.caranddriver.com

Watching this space as Lucid is an interesting startup that’s basically a Tesla spinout
Their first offering is a Model S/Taycan (and Polestar 4?) competitor. I’m guessing will be around $100k and seems comes with a ~500mi real world range (!!!)

Will see if they can actually pull it together to make deliveries and if they’ll make a Model3/P*2 tier version.

 

[GDank]

Insane ... I love technology!

 

[tng]

An acquaintance I know was recently hired as a line worker for the Lucid factory. Lucid raised $1B in Saudi venture money and the funds raised are apparently enough to see the vehicle reach production.

 

[polerad]

I (quickly) went through the Lucid Air reveal. Definitely impressive range, acceleration and charging, and it looks like they have actual designers, hardware engineers, and manufacturing experts working for them.
So seems like Tesla, but with key people in place to plug some of the (sometimes literal) holes Teslas have.

Only thing is, the initial models are well north of $100k, getting close to $200k
Porsche can charge that because they make cars that drive like a Porsche - and while I went through it quickly, I didn't see/hear anything about brakes, suspension, or chassis in the ~hour long reveal video.
Merc, Audi, etc can charge that for sumptuous luxury combined with great driving performance and dynamics - and while the video of the prototype looked better than Tesla, still didn't look IMO quite to the hyper-luxe standard to justify the price
Even the bargain basement model is $80k and its details aren't available yet - but looks like it doesn't come with a pano roof and probably other features that are standard on the Kia Niro that's half that cost.

I'm sure there are folks who will pay that premium because it's new and shiny. I guess I'm more hoping that they can license their powertrain (if it is the real deal) to an OEM that does proper design and manufacturing of the rest of the car, because I'm suspicious that they're falling into Tesla's mindset that range, charging, and straight-line acceleration are the end-all-be-all

 

[GDank]

If I had that kind of money I would be putting a deposit down today!

 

[polerad]

Got a better look at the Lucid Air here. It certainly looks beautiful and strikes a nice balance of minimalism, with actual buttons/knobs for things like stereo volume, HVAC, etc. The materials do look nice - they somehow didn't come across as nice in their release video I posted before. And I feel less strongly about the need for a hatch on it seeing the space in the frunk and trunk and how it can be reconfigured.

And its app seems ready! And has 2 cup holders up front!

Would love if the ~$80k edition coming in a couple years gets a pano roof, has a tow bar option, and retains >300 mi range.

And, you know, for them to actually make it to and through production and initial deliveries.

Yay for competition!

 

[GDank]

Think of it as your car after the polestar 😄

 

[polerad]

Think of it as your car after the polestar 😄

Would be lying if I said I didn't configure the current base $95k Touring version and note that with the federal incentive that becomes 'only' $87.5k.... and wonder if I truly needed that kidney....

Have to say I do prefer Polestar's design aesthete nonetheless. Chances that they can merge the Precept's design with the Air's powertrain???
[and make a version that is somewhere in the realm of affordable?? I mean, I'll take Silicon Valley 'affordable'....]

 

[polerad]

Bjorn's P*2 banana box video led me to his rundown of the Lucid Air:

I love the idea of Lucid licensing their drive train to other manufacturers. What if you could take the P*2 and plop it onto the Lucid platform?
More compact system could more cargo front and back, no rear 'transmission' hump, and potentially less weight with even high motor kW, and looking at it maybe even higher battery kWh and higher charging kW with V2G capability (and V2V if you use Bjorn's 'gay cable' 😂 )
I'd def pay some level of premium if the 2024 model year P*2 has something like that!

 

[julianm]

Lucid’s configurator is getting some press.

And this crazy 3D thing loads much faster for me than any Polestar account pages. 😅

 

[polerad]

Lucid’s configurator is getting some press.

And this crazy 3D thing loads much faster for me than any Polestar account pages. 😅

The Air is clearly more a Model S, Precept, Taycan, etron GT competitor than a Model 3 or P*2 competitor.

I played around with its configurator. The config I would get already bumps up to $90k. And with the latest Model S price cuts and the fact that the Model S is here and past the initial model issues that the Lucid Air will surely have (they all have them...), Lucid will need to win with fit/finish and design. Given their launch video didn’t mention anything about chassis, brakes, or suspension in its “performance” section, and just highlighted 0-60 and 1/4 mi times, I’m guessing Lucid is basically a Tesla metoo company and will have all the same warts.

Either way I look forward to checking out their showroom here if/when Covid lets us!!

 

[julianm]

Oh it’s certainly a Model S competitor, not Polestar 2. But that probably puts it a little more in the future Precept category.

Given that Polestar hasn’t really come close to besting the Model 3 in range, and sort of doesn’t really get there in acceleration, I expect the same with Precept. So maybe the way to think about this is Lucid is taking on Tesla on tech specs (range, acceleration), where Polestar is taking it on from fit, finish, comfort.

 

[ProfessorCook]

I'll just point out again that car and driver got a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds with the Polestar.

 

[julianm]

I'll just point out again that car and driver got a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds with the Polestar.

Sure, that’s the “sort of doesn’t really get there” on acceleration spec — C&D got 4.0s with the Model 3 spec I have (LR + accel), and 3.5s with the Model 3 Performance. I know we all know specs aren’t everything—that’s why we’re here. But we also can’t claim Polestar 2 beats Model 3 on most raw EV specs.

It seems to me in general like Lucid might be trying for beating Tesla on specs, and Polestar is not.

 

[polerad]

It seems to me in general like Lucid might be trying for beating Tesla on specs, and Polestar is not.

Completely - Lucid is a Tesla clone. Let's see if they have the same pitfalls.
Can't help myself and will check out their showroom in Valley Fair in a couple weeks when work allows

Meanwhile Polestar is prioritizing different things. <5 s 0-60 is plenty. 200 mi highway in somewhat cold weather is just fine for me.
I'm glad they instead put engineering into chassis, suspension, and brakes - even for the nonPP spec - and have a minimalist but not nihilist interior.

 

[julianm]

What will be interesting is seeing how much emphasis Precept places on performance specs vs handling and luxury.

I think they meant for Polestar 1 to really calibrate us on where the brand will place itself, but it was too confusing for me. Precept might do a better job, since it’ll be clearer where it fits between the Model S, the Lucid Air, the Porsche Taycan, etc.

 

[Amanda]

Just as another data point; an acquaintance of mine had pre-ordered a Lucid Air. I mentioned that I'd pre-ordered a P2; she went and looked at the web site and press coverage, and switched. She actually got hers a week or so before I took delivery of mine, and loves it. Even with a rocky start, Polestar has the advantage of actually being in production.

 

[polerad]

Had the opportunity to swing by a Lucid showroom today to check out the Air. Couldn't sit in it because covid, but had enough to make the following notes:

Interior does look really nice. Very premium feeling. The pics online made me worry it wouldn't turn out right and even seem cheap (a la Tesla...), particularly the 2-tone scheme, but it looks nice. Couldn't play with the dash display or check out the seats though. Am a bit worried how the sun shade would work out given the pano roof is contiguous all the way from the hood to the center beam.

The exterior really doesn't do it for me though. In being slaves to aero they basically were left with a fairly formless mass of car. And the 2-tone combo with the brushed aluminum roof pillars did look cheap to me. Which is a shame because the interior was def nice.

Massive amounts of storage both front and back. But it has a sedan lift gate, not a hatch opening for the back.
The folks there had no knowledge about any tow package or how roof rails would work so really unclear how, e.g., would haul bikes or anything bigger than could fit into the massive frunk or trunk. They mentioned you could get a surfboard in with the rear seats down.... so I asked what happens if you have >2 adults to haul and their gear? silence.

And with that, overall I do wonder why they bothered opening and staffing showrooms now. The staff had little knowledge about most questions. And they seemed even less prepared compared to the Polestar PopUp staffers when I accosted them right after they opened - and the Lucid Studio has been open for quite some time. And the car there clearly wasn't a production model or even near-production. A lot of things came with the disclaimer like "in the production model this might be different...".

I definitely get the impression they will have a long list of launch issues, a la what we've had with Polestar, but without whatever backup Volvo provides. 10/10 would hold off on getting one for a year or 2 unless you really like beta-testing. Not that I intend to actually get a brand new EV from a startup so soon after doing that just a couple months ago. This was more sating my curiosity.

 

[GDank]

Nice write up @polerad

I doubt the EU (or UK) will see one for 2-4 years ... I like them, but way outside my budget for now.

 

[ProfessorCook]

I also point out (again) that BEV technology will always be improving. Like computers, if you are always waiting for the next great thing, you'll never have gotten started.

At some point, you have to say, "This, right here, is pretty great, and it's going to do what I need for quite a few years. Let's go!"