Lucid Air Grand Touring – Electric Car Review

Overview – Lucid Air Grand Touring

Lucid Motors is an American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer that has emerged as a notable competitor in the EV market, often drawing comparisons to Tesla, a well-established and pioneering electric car maker. Both companies focus on producing high-performance, luxury electric vehicles with cutting-edge technology and innovative designs. Lucid Motors released the 2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring sedan, a luxury electric vehicle for the modern age.

It features 819 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 516 miles with 19-inch wheels and 469 miles with 21-inch wheels. The $155,650 Grand Touring Performance model has 1050 horsepower and a range of 446 miles. The Lucid Air was first released as a limited-production Dream Edition, which has since sold out, but the Grand Touring and Touring trims are available. 

The Lucid Air is still a leading edge EV with incredible range, power, and efficiency. It bears a distinct design with a clamshell hood, clamshell trunk lid, slim LED lighting elements, and a long dash-to-axle ratio. It has improved its user experience over the past year without sacrificing its headlining qualities.

Lucid Air Grand Touring – Energy And Carbon Efficiency

The Lucid Air Grand Touring has a pretty low carbon emissions figures when compared to a few other vehicles . It produces 89 gCO2/mi (55 gCO2/km). This is a significant improvement on traditional gasoline-powered cars, which typically produce more than 200 gCO2/mi. The Lucid Air Grand Touring’s emissions figures are lower than some of the other electric vehicles listed, such as the BMW i7 xDrive60, Volkswagen ID5, and Jaguar I-Pace EV400, making it a more environmentally friendly choice. The Hyundai IONIQ 6 however beats it at 84 gCO2/mi.

EV Engine, Power and Performance

The Lucid Air is powered by dual electric motors, with 819 horsepower in the Grand Touring and 1050 horsepower in the Grand Touring Performance. The Grand Touring Performance can reach 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, while the Grand Touring can reach 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. It can be charged quickly with a DC fast-charging connection, which can add 300 miles in 21 minutes. Home charging is slower, but the Air can accept the highest rate of Level 2 charging, 19.2 kW, which can add about 75 miles for every hour the car is plugged in. It has three driving modes—Smooth, Swift and Sprint—to adjust the suspension, steering, and powertrain. 

The Air still has the longest-range electric car in production, and with the Sapphire model coming online in 2023 it will likely become the quickest and most powerful production sedan in the world.

Interior Comfort and Cargo Dimensions

The Lucid Air has a luxuriously trimmed cabin, with soft nappa-leather upholstery and textile-covered dash panels. There are several storage bins, including one hidden beneath the lower infotainment display screen, and the car has adequate cargo capacity with a deep well under the hood and a wide-mouthed trunk. 

Getting in and out of the Air can be a difficult task due to the low roofline. It does, however, have a good cargo hauling ability with 10.0 cubic feet of space in the frunk and 22.1 cubic feet of space in the trunk.

Infotainment, Tech and Connectivity

The Lucid Air has an impressive infotainment system, with a curved 34.0-inch display and onscreen graphics, but the software is still a work in progress. Lucid has promised over-the-air updates, and CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are in the works.  This may in fact be a deal-killer for the segment of customers who love to sync their phone media and car media!

Lucid’s UX 2.0 is an overhaul of its interface that it dubbed its largest over-the-air update to date. It is instant-on, there is no lag in its buttons, and it features a Highway Assist feature with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control. It also includes a bevy of enhancements such as the ability to open the frunk via a hard button on the left side of the gauge cluster and has added turn-by-turn directions to the right hand side of the digital gauge cluster.

Safety Features

The Lucid Air has not yet been crash tested, but it has several safety features, including regenerative braking modes, launch control, and a wireless charging pad. 

The adaptive cruise control system operates smoothly and the lane-centering feature helps keep the car centered in the lane.

Warranty Information

The Lucid Air offers a new car limited warranty that covers the car for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The electric drive unit, Battery Energy Storage System, and High Voltage Battery Pack are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Final Thoughts – Lucid Air Grand Touring

The Lucid Air is a groundbreaking electric car with excellence rooted in performance and efficiency. It offers a compelling blend of comfort and sport, with refined and borderline athletic road manners, and the design is both aesthetically pleasing and thoughtful. There are some drawbacks—the body squeaks and creaks, and the infotainment software is still a work in progress—but overall the Lucid Air is an impressive electric vehicle.

The Lucid Air is still a winner with a refined user interface joining its already winning formula. It is an attractive EV with incredible range, power, and efficiency.

Extra: More On Lucid Motors

One key area where Lucid Motors company stands out is in its focus on energy efficiency. The Lucid Air, the company’s flagship electric sedan, boasts an impressive EPA-rated range of over 500 miles on a single charge, surpassing Tesla’s Model S Long Range, which is also known for its exceptional range capabilities. This achievement can be attributed to Lucid’s proprietary electric drivetrain technology and battery management system.

Another point of comparison between the two companies is their approach to autonomous driving technology. While Tesla has been developing its in-house Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, Lucid Motors has opted for a partnership with Mobileye, an Intel subsidiary, to integrate their advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) into the Lucid Air. Both companies aim to achieve higher levels of autonomy in the future.

In terms of market strategy, Tesla has diversified its product lineup by offering a range of models at different price points, including the more affordable Model 3 and Model Y, which cater to a broader customer base. Lucid Motors, on the other hand, is currently focused on the luxury market segment with the Lucid Air, targeting customers seeking high-end electric vehicles.

In conclusion, while there are similarities between Lucid Motors and Tesla, such as their dedication to electric vehicle innovation and focus on performance, there are also differences in terms of energy efficiency, autonomous driving technology partnerships, and market strategies. Lucid Motors has the potential to become a strong competitor in the EV market, but it remains to be seen how it will perform against Tesla’s well-established presence and diverse product offerings.

Technical Specifications