Lucid Air Touring
While Tesla may be the best-known electric vehicle start-up, it’s not the only one shaking up the automotive establishment. Poised to carve out its own niche is Lucid. It may help that Peter Rawlinson, the California-based EV maker’s CEO and chief technology officer, was, in a former life, the man behind the development of the Tesla Model S.
There are more than a few similarities between the two. Like the Tesla flagship, the Lucid Air boasts a striking exterior design, a cavernous cabin, cutting-edge technology and standout performance. And like the Model S, the Lucid flagship is available in an expanding array of trims, from the “entry-level” Pure model to the blindingly fast Sapphire package.
Those who have a spare $249,000 lying around can lay claim to the fastest production car on the road with Sapphire edition’s 1,234 horsepower, which hits 60 in a neck-snapping 1.89 seconds. Those who can only cough up $85,900 will find that at “just” 620 hp, the Touring package (the sedan we tested) still delivers an impressive acceleration performance: 0-60 in 3.0 seconds. Equally notable, the 92.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack gets an EPA-rated 425 miles per charge, about 5 percent more than the most efficient Model S with its 100-kWh pack. Lucid, meanwhile, claims that using a public quick charger for as little as 12 minutes can add up to 200 miles.
With its battery pack and motors mounted below the load floor, the Lucid Air Touring boasts a low, sports car-like center of gravity. While it’s surprisingly nimble, the one complaint is that when using the lane-centering feature that’s part of the DreamDrive Pro option, it could be grabby and then suddenly release its grip. Eventually, Lucid plans to add a hands-free driving feature to justify the $10,000 package.
Over a decade after it debuted, the Tesla Model S is looking increasingly stale. The Lucid Air, by comparison, is fresh and striking, both outside and in. Stealing space normally devoted to an engine compartment, the cabin is positively cavernous and, without a driveshaft, it features a flat load floor. The interior is sleek and sophisticated, especially with the optional all-glass roof. Lucid Air’s digital display covers two-thirds of the instrument panel—but it can take some time to get used to the touchscreen. It operates virtually everything, even positioning the steering wheel and sideview mirrors. Surprisingly, it’s missing both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Despite such quirks, the handsome Lucid Air Touring is a joy to drive, blending limousine spaciousness with sports car performance and great range. EV buyers looking for true luxury should check it out.
