Not as sporty as the Taycan, less muscular than the e-tron GT, less imposing than the EQS, not as minimalist as the Model S. And yet, the Lucid Air has the best of each! We tested it
The miracle occurs at a speed of 220 km/h, when the accelerator pedal is pressed again and a violent impact hits the lower back, causing the Lucid Air to jump forward, catapulting to 270km/hwhere the electronics finally intervene and put an end to the “scare”.
The miracle is called 1,111 CV. Lucid Motors, the Californian start-up also wants to sell its luxury electric sports sedan in Europe. But the price is high and the brand is still little known.
The creators, like the CEO Peter Rawlinson, come from Tesla; and the money comes largely from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The worldwide sales target was missed in the first quarter with just 1,406 deliveries. 18% of employees were recently laid off. But there is one small consolation: a great car has come out of all that.
The Lucid Air is a spacious space glider
With the airthe American automaker has created a wolf in sheep’s clothing, packed with powerful performance values in a sleek, futuristic sedan.
Discreet in design, the Lucid lacks the sportiness of a Porsche Taycan, the muscular contours of the Audi RS e-tron GTthe imposing appearance of the Mercedes EQS and the absolute simplicity of the Tesla Model S. But this newcomer takes the best of everything without simply copying it.
When entering this marvel of space, the ergonomically arranged instruments attract attention and present all important information clearly visible at all times, without distracting attention from what is essential: driving. There are control buttons for the most important functions, you don’t have to navigate through menus and submenus.
I immediately see myself surrounded by noble materials, from the perfectly crafted cowhide nappa from the Scottish manufacturer Bridge of Weir (leather supplier for luxury brands such as Aston Martin and Jaguar) to the decorative strips made of silver eucalyptus wood.
The Air shows that an electric car can be much quieter
Even without a start button, our Air is ready to drive. We start with the driving program “Smooth” more economical, which adapts to maximum comfort. The feeling is more of a luxury sedan than a sports car.
Driven in this way, the tour through the city and the countryside ends with an impressive test consumption of 16 kWh every 100 kilometers. And the certainty that electric cars can be even quieter. An almost ghostly calm surrounds the occupants. Unless they connect the audio system with Dolby Atmos, of course
On the German highway, I change from “Smooth” to “Swift” and the power delivery is impressive. The sedan becomes a sports car. The air suspension holds road bumps calmly, only short bumps cause some aftershocks, as is the case with most vehicles in this weight class.
“Sprint” mode unleashes 1,111 HP
The Air has almost infinite propulsion in the left lane with no speed limit, with small sprints in between. The chassis feels much firmer and provides the necessary stability. The noise of the wheels and the wind now audibly proves that you are traveling much faster. When switching to mode “Sprint”, the Air asks you: do you really want it? Even experienced car testers have rarely experienced the thrust that comes next: 1,111 hp.
If you find a station 300 kW, The charging time is 15 minutes for 400 kilometers, thanks to the platform with 924 volt technology and the air charging management system known as “Wunderbox”.
A range of 500 km on the highway at full speed is possible
The WLTP autonomy is 799 to 861 kilometers. In the summer of 2023, in the scorching heat of California and with three people plus luggage, we were able to travel almost 600 kilometers on a single charge. This time there are “only” almost 500, yes, at full speed on a German highway.
Yes, exclusivity, performance and battery size come at a price. The Lucid Air that we drive costs around 220,000 euros and it is expected that the basic version “Mashed potatoes” (430 HP) will be available from 2024 at a price that will be around 100,000 euros.
For comparison: a Porsche Taycan Turbo S (761 HP) costs in Germany from 197,740 euros and an Audi e-tron GT (476 HP) at least 107,800 euros. But less than 200 euros per CV suddenly seems like a fair price, for a fairytale car.
Factors to decide the purchase
A fairy tale, a miracle, a madness. Sometimes only words like these can describe a car that sets new standards in terms of driving, comfort and style. Even the price-quality ratio is correct.
