A Week With: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring

Ever since Tesla burst onto the scene, Silicon Valley buyers and Wall Avenue financiers have dumped tens of billions of {dollars} into the rising EV market. To date, solely a handful of battery-car startups have truly delivered any significant merchandise. Most have did not get previous the vaporware stage and are unlikely to outlive.

One of many notable exceptions is Lucid Motors which launched its first all-electric mannequin, the Air sedan, in the beginning of the 2022 mannequin yr. It may appear odd to debut with a four-door passenger automotive in a market centered round SUVs and CUVs. However, with its distinctive design and unimaginable efficiency, Lucid planners are satisfied Air is the best type of introductory mannequin that may put a halo round merchandise but to return.

It’s actually a formidable automobile and had been all else equal, it could kick the Tesla Mannequin S off to the nook. No shock, the truth is, as a result of Lucid founder, CEO and Chief Technical Officer Peter Rawlinson was the chief engineer on the Mannequin S and the Air exhibits he had a transparent imaginative and prescient of the place to go had been he requested to develop an all-new model of the Tesla flagship.

Overview

The Lucid Air is the primary product from California-based Lucid Motors. The automaker launched two super-premium variations a yr in the past, the Air Dream Vary version setting a benchmark of 520 miles per cost, whereas the Dream Efficiency bundle is likely one of the quickest manufacturing automobiles ever delivered to market, launching from 0 to 60 in simply over 2 seconds.

The Air Grand Touring provides a 3rd possibility that could be a wee bit extra reasonably priced — if that time period can be utilized for a automobile beginning at $154,000. It’s a traditional grand tourer, distinctive, lavishly executed and exactly the type of sedan you’d wish to drive on an prolonged journey. And its estimated 469 miles per cost means vary nervousness gained’t be weighing on it’s best to you propose a run from, say, Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Whereas not fairly as fast because the Dream Efficiency mannequin, the Air Grand Touring bundle I spent every week in remains to be blisteringly fast, even in its most comfy “Clean” mode. For a bit extra spritely drive, you may as well go for the upgraded Grand Touring Efficiency bundle.

Exterior

At a time when the roads are dominated by largely look-alike SUVs, the Lucid Air Grand Touring sedan is a refreshing standout.

Whereas aggressively streamlined — essential to maximizing vary and efficiency — it’s no Prius. The Air is good-looking and stylish, clearly declaring you’ve arrived, very similar to traditional premium sedans such because the Mercedes-Benz Mannequin S.

As with most new EVs, it abandons the traditional grille. There’s no want for one for the reason that drivetrain, together with motors and batteries have been moved into the sedan’s skateboard-like platform. Underneath the power-operated hood there’s a modest-sized entrance trunk, or frunk. As an alternative of a grille, there’s an LED gentle bar stretching corner-to-corner, with slit-like LED head, flip and operating lamps beneath.

The sedan boasts a coke bottle sweep to its silhouette, and the flowing roofline adopts a particular silver tone to distinction with the physique’s paint scheme. The roof flows effectively into the again deck however does create a little bit of a compromise by limiting entry to the deep trunk.

Inside

The low and flowing roofline does lead to one other compromise. You’ll should duck a bit to climb into the cabin, particularly if you happen to’re over 6 foot in peak. Surprisingly, when you’re sitting inside you uncover a cavernous quantity of area, each back and front. Regardless that the Lucid Air (in its numerous variations) is greater than 5 inches shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQS battery flagship, it provides considerably extra head and leg room. That’s all of the extra obvious within the cavernous again seat.

One of many Air’s most distinctive design options is a windshield that flows effectively into the roof. And one of many quirkier particulars is the way in which that required the solar visors to be glued on to the glass. The higher portion of the windshield has a UV and infrared coating that helps forestall glare.

There’s a decidedly high-tech really feel to the cabin, underscored by the assortment of screens that take over a lot of the instrument panel. The Air sedan’s DreamDrive infotainment system eliminates all however a handful of standard controls, although there’s a requisite quantity knob and the entrance seats have handbook controls for primary actions. (However you’ll should dive into the principle infotainment display screen for issues like seat heaters, and to activate their therapeutic massage perform.)

In distinct distinction to the Tesla Mannequin S, the Lucid Air Grand Touring’s cabin has a refined look, with elegant supplies and effectively executed shade mixtures that assist justify the hefty price ticket.

Powertrain

For all of the reward that the Lucid Air Grand Touring mannequin deserves, what actually makes the all-electric sedan shine is its powertrain. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system was developed solely in-house, the undertaking led by CEO and Chief Technical Officer Peter Rawlinson. As the previous chief engineer for Tesla he knew precisely the place to start out from and has taken issues a formidable step ahead.

Every of the motors is surprisingly compact, particularly when you think about the facility they punch out. Within the Grand Touring mannequin I spent my time in they ship a mixed 819 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. That’s sufficient to launch you to 60 in a mere 3 seconds if you happen to swap to Dash mode — which additionally hunkers down the sedan’s lively suspension, tightens up steering and backs off on “nanny” programs.

Do you have to go for the Grand Touring Efficiency bundle, nevertheless, the numbers leap to 1,050 hp and 921 lb-ft, slicing your 0-60 instances all the way down to round 2.6 seconds.

Equally spectacular, the Lucid Air, in its numerous configurations, is the present EV mileage champ. The Air Dream Vary mannequin has an EPA ranking of 520 miles. The Grand Touring is available in at 469 per cost which nonetheless tops one of the best any Tesla can muster by about 8 %. Throughout my time behind the wheel I didn’t have the prospect to “burn” fully by way of a full cost however discovered the vary gauge to be dependable. As with every automobile, EV or fuel, power effectivity drops while you’ve received a lead foot — as I do. However I anticipated to nonetheless get one thing near 400 miles on a cost regardless of repeated jack rabbit begins and extra-legal freeway speeds.

As soon as you should plug in, in the meantime, Lucid claims a few of the quickest cost instances, as effectively, due to the sedan’s 900-volt electrical structure. Utilizing a 350 kilowatt public fast charger will get you an extra 300 miles in as little as 21 minutes, the automaker states. Utilizing a Degree 2 charger, it provides, will get an extra 75 miles in as little as an hour.

Security and Know-how

As you may count on, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is a high-tech tour de power. And all of it comes collectively by way of the DreamDrive system working the sedan’s numerous digital screens. One, to the left nook of the instrument panel, controls essential capabilities like headlights and windshield wipers. Twin touchscreens dominate the middle stack, controlling just about all different automobile capabilities, from audio to navigation, as effectively seating and even the sideview mirrors and steering wheel.

There are a couple of handbook controls, together with entrance energy seat changes and cruise management. And, I used to be grateful for a handbook quantity curler. However, to be trustworthy, it might probably all be a bit overwhelming and, at instances, just a little bit cumbersome attempting to determine all of it out. In some cases, corresponding to adjusting seat heaters, you need to dig by way of extra screens than I’d like — and when your butt is beginning to overheat, you need immediate reduction.

The working system proved at instances just a little sluggish, as effectively. And I often needed to look forward to the automotive’s proximity sensor to acknowledge I had approached the automobile, triggering the pop-out door handles. Likewise, it often required a couple of seconds to get the trunk to pop open.

Okay, that’s the draw back. The excellent news is that after you begin determining find out how to handle it all of the system begins to grow to be intuitive. Take into consideration the primary few instances you needed to maneuver by way of your smartphone.

Lucid is promising a serious software program improve earlier than year-end. I’m hoping it will deal with a few of my largest considerations. For the reason that DreamDrive system is solely reprogrammable, the replace ought to make it simpler to get the place you wish to go a lot faster and extra merely.

I’d additionally strongly request a extra standard keyfob with actual buttons for the trunk, frunk and doorways.

Driving Impressions

Whereas the Lucid Air Grand Touring delivers the type of acceleration solely a handful of conventionally powered sports activities automobiles can match, it truly is extra of a traditional tourer. In “Clean” mode, it’s quiet and cozy and soaks up just about each bump within the highway — one thing I got here to rapidly admire contemplating the horrendous situation of Michigan roads.

With its comfy seats and roomy inside, that is the type of EV that I might get pleasure from taking up prolonged journeys, all of the extra so contemplating its important vary.

Switching to “Swift” I instantly seen a distinction in throttle responsiveness, steering really feel and the way in which the sedan maneuvered on curvy roads like people who reduce by way of the appropriately named Hell, Michigan. Regardless of its hefty 5,236 kilos, the Grand Touring mannequin dealt with corners easily and exactly. It helps, after all, to have the batteries and motors housed in a skateboard-like platform that yields a decrease middle of gravity than many a Ferrari or Lamborghini.

For those who’re on the lookout for most efficiency you turn to “Dash” mode — which flashes up a warning display screen and asks on your consent earlier than going into impact. For good purpose. Very similar to the Monitor modes discovered on some high-performance fuel fashions, it both disables or limits nanny options.

For much less skilled drivers, frankly, this might get out of hand in a rush. For individuals who have the expertise and talent, nevertheless, it’s the actual deal. At simply 3 seconds 0-60, (2.6 seconds within the Efficiency bundle), the GT delivered an actual rush on launch and the thrills continued as I slalomed by way of some wickedly tight corners.

One other good function: the extensively adjustable brake regeneration mode. This permits the automobile to recapture power usually misplaced throughout braking or coasting to increase vary. The Air Grand Touring provides two ranges of “1-Pedal” driving which mainly really feel like a fuel drivetrain that’s been downshifted a number of gears. When you learn to use 1-Pedal mode you’ll solely hardly ever ever discover want to leap onto the brakes. I made all the 30+ mile run by way of Hell and the neighboring countryside merely modulating the throttle.

2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Specs

Wrap Up

I had the prospect to go for a journey in a Lucid Air prototype practically two years in the past and had extraordinarily excessive expectations for the sedan as soon as I lastly had one parked in my driveway. Whereas I did discover a couple of issues to grouse about — virtually solely with the all-encompassing infotainment system — I can say with no uncertainty that the sedan is essentially the most spectacular battery-electric automobile I’ve up to now pushed.

The Lucid Air Grand Touring is blisteringly fast but additionally provides the type of comfy driving expertise you’d count on of a traditional grand tourer. It delivers sufficient vary to get you from Los Angeles to San Francisco or Boston to Washington, D.C. on a single cost. And when you do should plug in it powers again up with lightning velocity.

The sedan has a particular design with out taking issues too far. The inside is impressively excessive tech but doesn’t forego the type of particulars you’d count on of a product in its worth vary — not like the Tesla Mannequin S.

As talked about, the infotainment system and some different particulars want some work. However there’s a serious software program replace coming that, I hope, will deal with a few of my considerations.

I’d have completely no downside recommending the Lucid Air Grand Touring mannequin (or different Air variants) to people who can afford the stiff price ticket. The GT begins at $154,000, the Air Vary and Efficiency fashions nearer to $170,000. There shall be but extra variations to observe for these on extra restricted budgets.

For a first-time entry, Lucid has merely hit it out of the park with the Air sedan.

2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring — Incessantly Requested Questions