Lucid Air EV

Lucid Air Sapphire deliveries commence

About two months ago, Lucid Motors officially revealed its new top Lucid Air Sapphire version and last week the company announced the start of mass production. Now, the first customers are getting their high-performance luxury sedans.

Lucid celebrated the delivery of its first units at Sonoma Raceway in California with a special guest - Ben Collins - who took one of the Lucids for a test drive. The company didn't say how many Sapphires it was able to produce and deliver to customers but judging by the photos posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), there are at least five units on the streets already.


 
Nice, another car for them to lose thousands on per unit.
 
Mark the date: Lucid Gravity SUV coming on November 16 to break range records

Lucid Motors just unveiled the date for its next big thing - the Lucid Gravity SUV. Mark your calendars for November 16, which is when the all-electric luxury SUV is expected to make its grand debut at the LA Auto Show.

The Lucid Air sedan got a lot of love since its market launch in late 2021, but the Gravity is set to takes things up another notch.

For those hungry for a glimpse of this anticipated marvel, the teaser image, aptly titled "Gravity Makes Contact," gives us a sneak peek of the vehicle's rear. At first glance, the SUV bears a notable resemblance to the Lucid Air. The Lucid website also provides us with a smattering of concept images that titillate the imagination, though we'll only get the full visual meal in about a month's time.

Lucid recently revealed that Gravity has entered its road testing phase in the US, the final checkpoint before its official 2024 release.

Actual production of the Lucid Gravity isn’t set to start until late 2024. With sales hovering around a consistent 1,400-1,500 units per quarter for the Air, Lucid's hopes seem pegged on the belief that the Gravity will pull in more customers, given the general consumer preference for SUVs over sedans. Meanwhile, to keep the momentum, Lucid is baiting potential buyers with 18-month lease offers on certain Lucid Air models.

 
Lucid Air Sapphire sprints past Tesla Model S Plaid

The world has been waiting for this electric car showdown for a while now. Lucid Motors, in a demonstration of automotive prowess, finally showcased the capabilities of its Lucid Air Sapphire. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Sonoma Raceway in California, the EV faced its much-discussed rival: the Tesla Model S Plaid.

Driven by Ben Collins, known to many as the enigmatic "Stig" from the popular British show, "Top Gear", the Lucid Air Sapphire achieved a speed of 249 km/h and completed the quarter-mile run in a mere 8.989 seconds.

In comparison the Tesla Model S Plaid managed the distance in 9.23 seconds.

The Air Sapphire features a tri-motor powertrain, delivering a jaw-dropping 1,234 horsepower and 1,939 Nm of torque. Zero to 60 mph is covered in 1.89 seconds per official numbers.



 
Lucid Motors considers enhancing audio experience with Apple and Amazon Music

California's very own Lucid Motors seems to be gearing up for an audio extravaganza. A fresh job listing on Lucid's LinkedIn suggests they are on the lookout for a Senior Product Manager. This new recruit will be spearheading the integration of Apple and Amazon Music into the carmaker's proprietary infotainment system.

The job listing's description hints that both the Air and the forthcoming Gravity SUV might soon be treated to in-built controls dedicated to these music streaming giants.

However, Lucid isn't entirely new to the Apple ecosystem. All Air EVs come equipped with both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay as a standard feature. This means the addition of Apple and Amazon Music would be complementary rather than revolutionary. Meanwhile, Tesla aficionados are still juggling between streaming platforms and their trusty Bluetooth connections.

 
Lucid Air's RangeXchange brings Vehicle-to-Vehicle charging


Lucid Motors introduced RangeXchange, a new charging adapter the enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging. Lucid Air owners with the latest firmware can share their charge with other EVs, by simply hooking the two with the new cable.

At its core, RangeXchange utilizes Lucid's bi-directional charging technology, embedded in every Lucid Air through its proprietary Wunderbox system. The adapter allows energy to flow from the Lucid Air's battery pack to another EV, effectively turning the car into a mobile charging station.

The speed of RangeXchange is notable. It can transfer energy at a rate of up to 9.6 kW - enough to get a stranded EV to the nearest DC charger in a few minutes. The actual range gained is dependent on the efficiency of the receiving EV and environmental factors. This means that in a pinch, a Lucid Air owner can lend a helping hand to a fellow EV driver, reinforcing the sense of community within the EV ecosystem.



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The Lucid Gravity SUV looks awesome and has 440 miles of estimated range

Don’t expect to see it on the road before the end of 2024, though

Considering how much we dig the Lucid Air sedan, our expectations for the company’s next EV – the Gravity SUV – have been pretty high. And now Lucid has finally pulled the wraps off the Gravity at the Los Angeles auto show this week, well, we definitely like what we see. This SUV looks to have fixed many of the Air’s ergonomic drawbacks while adding a lot more space for passengers and cargo.

The California-based EV maker isn't confirming many of the Gravity's specs just yet, only saying the SUV uses "the next generation of Lucid's proprietary, ultra-compact powertrain technology". 900-volt architecture will allow for fast charging speeds, likely as high as the Air's 300kW. Lucid says the Gravity will be able to accelerate to 60mph in less than 3.5sec, and it can tow 6,000 pounds. Probably not at the same time, natch.

As for the all-important question of range, Lucid is aiming high. Given the company’s track record of putting up incredible real-world mileage, we aren’t surprised. Lucid estimates the Gravity will be able to go at least 440 miles on a single charge. For comparison, that’s over 100 miles more than Tesla’s longest-range Model X. Hot damn.

As for the design, the Gravity doesn’t stray too much from the Air – not that that’s a bad thing. We love how the hatch uses a clamshell design like the Air’s trunk, and the roofline is practically identical between the two vehicles. Lucid says the Gravity has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.24, which makes it incredibly aerodynamic – especially for an SUV.

 
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