The Dream Edition's EPA range is estimated at 520mi (840km), the longest on the market as of 2024[update].[1][4] The production model was unveiled in September 2020, and production began in late 2021.[5][6]
In November 2020, the Lucid Air Pure was announced with 406mi (653km) of projected range and 480 horsepower (360kW) and a starting price of US$77,400.[7] The range of trim levels includes Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Dream Edition.[7]
On September 28, 2021, Lucid Motors announced that production had begun, with the base Pure model expected in late 2022.[8] Deliveries commenced on October 30, 2021, with the first reservation holders taking delivery of Air Dream Editions in an event in California.[9][10]
History
The Lucid Air was conceived in the early 2010s, with a prototype unveiled to the public in 2016,[11] and the production version unveiled in September 2020, with production planned for 2021.[5][6]
Lucid contracted with Samsung SDI on December 2, 2016, to supply batteries.[12][13]
In 2016, Lucid Motors created a delivery van with the prototype of its electric powertrain for the Air using batteries from its former brand, Atieva. Known as "Edna", the delivery van contained two gearboxes, motors producing over 900hp (671kW) and an 87 kWh battery pack. Combined with all-wheel drive and other physical and software updates, Edna was able to achieve 0–60mph (97km/h) in 2.74 seconds and a quarter mile in 11.3 seconds.[14] According to Lucid Motors, Edna was used to test the real world performance of its powertrain, including "motor control algorithms, regenerative braking behaviors, accelerator pedal feel, and cooling strategies".[15]
In 2018, a modified Lucid Air prototype set an EV lap record of 1:41.67 at the Laguna Seca track, beating the Jaguar I-Pace's previous record of 1:48.18 by seven seconds.[16] The prototype Air was equipped with "Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires, modified high temperature brake pads and fluid, a 6-point roll cage and fire suppression system".[17]
In 2018, Lucid Motors closed a US$1 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to fund the Air production,[18] then expected to commence in late 2020 following the construction of the Lucid factory in Casa Grande, Arizona.[18] The factory investment was expected to reach US$675 million by 2025 when all phases are complete, with the first phase including a US$168 million investment in equipment and US$82 million to acquire property.[19]
By May 2019, the Air was available for pre-order in the United States and Canada, with plans slated for China.[20] In an interview, CEO Peter Rawlinson stated that China was projected as a significant market for Lucid Motors due to their intensive usage patterns, for which the Air is best suited.[21]
In a 2019 interview, Rawlinson outlined that the US$100,000-plus vehicle could be the first stage of a much bigger vision, which could achieve a level of energy efficiency that combined with a ubiquitous fast charging network, would counteract the need for larger batteries.[22] Rawlinson said that Lucid Motors aims to improve energy efficiency to 5mi/kWh (8.0km/kWh) compared to an industry average of 3mi/kWh (4.8km/kWh).[22] Rawlinson further predicted that the price of batteries was expected to drop to US$100 / kWh within the next decade, which he believes will enable Lucid Motors to produce a luxury EV for less than US$30,000.[22]
On June 30, 2020, Lucid Motors said that they expected the Lucid Air to be "the world's most aerodynamically efficient luxury car when it goes into production".[23] The company "achieved a new benchmark in aerodynamic efficiency for its luxury electric car … with tests recently completed at Windshear's advanced rolling-road wind tunnel, the automaker verified a coefficient of drag of 0.21."[23]
On May 5, 2022, Lucid Motors announced that it was raising prices of its luxury Air sedan beginning June 1. The price hikes would push the base price of the Air sedan up as much as 13%.[24]
In June 2024, Rawlinson announced that the Lucid Air (RWD) had achieved a record efficiency, covering 5mi/kWh (8.0km/kWh), up from its prior record-setting 4.7mi/kWh (7.6km/kWh).[25]
Overview
Rear viewInterior
Design
The Air has been designed to compete in the luxury sports segment against the Tesla Model S as well as high-line models from German car manufacturers.[26] Its goal is to match the ability of sport coupes,[27] but has a greater interior space, with a smaller external length and width.[28] The exterior design was led by Derek Jenkins.
On September 9, 2020, the Lucid Air was officially unveiled, and on November 24, 2020, Lucid Motors detailed the full range including the Lucid Air Pure, Touring, Grand Touring and Dream Edition.[7]
Range
The Dream Edition R's EPA range is up to 520mi (840km),[1] making it the longest range of any EV rated by the EPA.[29]
On November 24, 2020, the company-predicted range for all four models was announced: 406mi (653km) for the Lucid Air Pure and Lucid Air Touring, 503mi (810km) for the Lucid Air Dream Edition, and 516mi (830km) for the Lucid Air Grand Touring.[29][30] A 2022 test drive revealed that the Grand Touring model only managed 410 miles; however, this was still the first EV tested by Car and Driver to top 400 miles.[31] In 2024, Lucid Air broke the Guinness World Record for an EV driving through the most countries with a single charge – crossing 9 countries in 567 miles (912km).[32]
DreamDrive (ADAS)
On July 29, 2020, Lucid Motors announced DreamDrive, an Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) which will debut in the Air. The DreamDrive sensor suite has 32 sensors in total, including "14 cameras: Three forward-facing, four side- and rear-facing, four surround-view, a rear-facing, a rear-facing fisheye, and lastly, a driving monitoring one. There are five radar units. One is a forward-facing long-range sensor, and the other four are short-range ones. Twelve short-range ultrasonic sensors handle near-field detection, and lastly, a high-resolution, long-range, 125-beam (equivalent), forward-facing Lidar maps the three-dimensional space ahead of the car."[33][clarification needed]
Aerodynamics
The preproduction Air has a drag coefficient ofCd=0.21.[23] Later reporting from Motor Trend gives it as Cd=0.20 for the production version.[34] Rawlinson claims the Air has less drag than the Mercedes-Benz EQS due to a smaller frontal area.[35]
Powertrain
Lucid Air chassis at Lucid Studio in New York City
The entry level Air Pure will be equipped with a 88-kWh battery with rear wheel drive, capable of producing 430hp (321kW),[36]600N⋅m (443lbf⋅ft) of torque and 406mi (653km) of range.[37] The Air Dream Edition Range will have a 112kWh battery pack which will provide an estimated 520mi (840km) of EPA range. The Air Dream Edition Performance will have a combined output of 1,111hp (828kW) and will be able to accelerate from 0–60mph (0–97km/h) in 2.5 seconds.[27] In their most recent performance test, it achieved a top speed of 235mph (378km/h).[38]
As of 2021[update], the most efficient version on sale in the US, the Air Grand Touring with 19-in wheels, has an EPA rated energy efficiency of 26kWh/100mi (130mpg‑e).[1]
Later independent reporting on real-world testing (drag strip performance times) showed the 1,111hp (828kW) Air Dream variant achieving a 1⁄4 mile (402m) time of 10 seconds flat. The test providers noted that conditions on that particular day were suboptimal (colder than ideal temperature for example), leading them to speculate that 1⁄4 mile times closer to 9.8 seconds could be achieved under friendlier conditions.[citation needed]
Battery and charging
Lucid Air Electric Drive Unit and Battery
Lucid Motors plans to offer a nationwide charging plan to customers in the US through its joint agreement with Electrify America.[39] The 800-volt DC charging system, first used by the Porsche Taycan, allows variable voltages up to 1000 volts, and thus is fully compatible with Lucid's 924-volt electrical architecture.[40]
When used with a 300kW or higher charging station, the vehicle can gain 300 miles of range in 20 minutes.[41] The vehicle features a bidirectional rectifier capable of supplying up to 19.2kW (240V ~ 80A) of AC power that could power a home or other load.[5]
It upconverts 400-volt or lower power coming from a charger to its operating voltage. It downconverts the battery pack's 900 volts to 400 volts to power other loads in the vehicle or to charge another vehicle.[42]
The company claims that its 2170 cells differ significantly from normal lithium ion cells due to their tolerance of repeated cyclic fast charging and non-use for a prolonged period of time while maintaining capacity.[21]
The Lucid Air is also capable of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging, but only when using the optional RangeXchange[43] cable in conjunction with the second generation 40A Mobile Charging Cable.[44]
Features
Front trunkTail spoiler on a Lucid Air Sapphire
Other standard features include: "LED headlights, all the necessary hardware for autonomous driving, four high resolution screens (three of which are touch sensitive), 19-inch alloy wheels, 10-speaker sound system, 12-way power adjustment for the front seats with heating, front and rear trunk with a total luggage space of around 900 liters (32cuft), and over-the-air software updates."[27][45][46][47]
The Air can be optioned as a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain producing up to 1,111 horsepower (828kW) for the top of the range Air Dream Edition P.
Other options include: "active suspension, a panoramic sunroof, executive rear seats that can recline up to 55 degrees, a 29-speaker sound system with noise cancellation, 20 or 21-inch alloy wheels, and 22-way electric adjustment front seats with ventilation, dynamic bolsters and massage."[27][45][46]
Safety
Euro NCAP test results Lucid Air GT (LHD) (2022)[48]
Test
Points
%
Overall:
Adult occupant:
34.2
90%
Child occupant:
45
91%
Pedestrian:
42.2
78%
Safety assist:
13.5
84%
Awards and accolades
The Lucid Air has received several awards and honorary titles, such as:[49]
Car and Driver The quickest-charging EV Car and Driver has tested
SAE Automotive Engineering Lucid Motors’ home-grown technologies are setting the pace in electrification.
InsideEVs 2022 Record for longest range EV ever tested
InsideEVs 2022 Record-setting 70-mph range test
Edmunds 2022 Record for longest-range EV ever tested
Wards Auto 10 Best Engines & Propulsion System
Newsweek 2022 Best Super Luxury Car
Green Car Reports Best Car to Buy in 2022
Cars.com 2022 Top EV Pick for Luxury
Wards Auto 2022 Wards 10 Best Interiors and UX
U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Luxury Electric Car
Car and Driver 2023 Record for longest-range EV ever tested
U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Luxury Electric Car
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle whose propulsion is powered fully or mostly by electricity. EVs include road and rail vehicles, electric boats and underwater vessels, electric aircraft and electric spacecraft.
An electric vehicle battery is a rechargeable battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).
The Coda is a four-door, four passenger electric car once manufactured by Coda Automotive. After being rescheduled several times, deliveries to retail customers in the United States began in March 2012. The car was sold exclusively in California and only 117 units were delivered by April 2013.
The BYD Qin is a series of compact and mid-size sedans produced by BYD Auto since 2012. The Qin started out as the plug-in hybrid version of the BYD Surui, and was introduced in the Chinese market in August 2012. Currently, the Qin is available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), and previously an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.
Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. (康迪) is a Chinese battery and electric vehicle manufacturer. Kandi is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange with ticker KNDI. It was founded in 2002 in Jinhua, Zhejiang by Hu Xiaoming.
The Kia Soul EV is an all-electric subcompact hatchback manufactured by Kia and based on the Kia Soul. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2020 Kia Soul EV is 243 miles (391 km).
The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a battery electric subcompact hatchback manufactured and marketed by General Motors under its Chevrolet brand from late 2016 until mid-2021 and again from early 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, GM officials said they would discontinue the Bolt; after outcry, they announced plans but no date for a next-generation model.
The Porsche Taycan is a battery electric luxury sports sedan and shooting brake car produced by German automobile manufacturer Porsche. The concept version of the Taycan named the Porsche Mission E, debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Four years later, the production Taycan was revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. As Porsche's first series production electric car, it is sold in several variants at different performance levels, and may spawn further derivatives in future models. It is built on the J1 electric car platform shared with the similarly shaped Audi e-tron GT.
Lucid Group, Inc. is an American automotive and technology company that manufactures electric vehicles and supplies advanced electric vehicle powertrain systems. The company is headquartered in Newark, California. In September 2021, the company began producing the Lucid Air sedan at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. The company expects to begin production of its second model, the Lucid Gravity SUV, in late 2024. Lucid also supplies and develops powertrain technology to other automakers, including Aston Martin.
The Nio ES8 is a battery-powered full-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured by Chinese electric car company Nio. The ES8 was put into production in June 2018 for the Chinese market and on 30 September 2021 it was launched in Norway. The ES8 serves as the flagship full-size SUV.
The Audi Q8 e-tron is a battery electric mid-size luxury crossover produced by Audi since 2019. The e-tron was unveiled as a concept car at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The final production version was revealed in San Francisco on 17 September 2018, publicly debuted at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, and was first delivered in May 2019. It is the company's first battery electric mass production car. The Sportback variant, a coupe style of the e-tron, entered production in 2020.
The Nio ES6 is a battery-powered mid-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured by Chinese electric car company Nio.
The Fiat New 500, also known as the Fiat 500e is a battery-electric car by Italian manufacturer Fiat. The New 500 city car is manufactured at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy and is sold alongside the internal combustion Fiat 500 (2007), which continues to be manufactured in Tychy, Poland. It was scheduled to be launched at the Geneva Motor Show but that event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it was launched on 4 March 2020 in Milan.
The Cadillac Lyriq is a battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by the Cadillac subdivision of General Motors. As Cadillac's first fully electric vehicle, and the first GM production vehicle using the BEV3 platform, the Lyriq introduces a new version of GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.
The Nio ET5 is a battery electric Compact executive car manufactured by Chinese electric car company Nio.
The BYD Han is a full-size / executive sedan (E-segment) manufactured by the Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto since 2020, available in an battery electric variant and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. It is part of BYD's "Dynasty" series passenger vehicles, and gets its name from the Han Dynasty, the first golden age of Imperial China.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a battery electric compact crossover SUV produced by Hyundai since 2021. It is the first product to be marketed under the electric cars-focused Ioniq sub-brand, and the first model developed on the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a battery electric mid-size fastback sedan produced by Hyundai Motor Company. It is the second vehicle marketed under the electric car-focused Ioniq sub-brand after the Ioniq 5, and the fourth model developed on the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The vehicle was first sold in South Korea in late 2022, with deliveries in the United States beginning in March 2023.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is a battery electric full-size light duty truck unveiled by Ford Motor Company in May 2021 as part of the fourteenth generation Ford F-Series. Four models have been announced, and all models initially will be dual-motor, four-wheel-drive, with EPA range estimates of 240–320 mi (390–510 km). A commercial-grade version of the all-wheel drive (AWD) truck is sold in the United States, with higher-power/trim/range models also sold. The F-150 Lightning began production on April 26, 2022.
The BMW 5 Series (G60) is an executive car manufactured and marketed by German luxury automaker BMW since 2023. The lineup consists of the G60 saloon, G61 estate, and the G68 long-wheelbase sedan. It represents the eighth generation of the BMW 5 Series, succeeding the G30 model and the G32 6 Series liftback.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
