New Lucid Air is the world’s most powerful electric saloon

This is the Lucid Air. It’s the first motor vehicle from the fledgling Silicon Valley-based mostly pure-electric vehicle company, Lucid Motors – and the complete task is a confluence of outrageous data and substantial-stakes promises.

When it reaches the US market upcoming 12 months, the luxury all-electric saloon will present fresh new levels of competition for the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan – although Lucid Motors claims that the Air will blow its rivals out of the drinking water, in conditions of both of those effectiveness and efficiency.

The Lucid Air’s powertrain capabilities an electric motor on just about every axle, which the company says provides a most blended output of one,080bhp. Which is plenty of, says Lucid Motors, for a 0–62mph time of two.5 seconds, a top velocity of 168mph and a quarter mile time of 9.9 seconds – which is a lot quicker than the McLaren P1. Lesser versions will also be readily available, with possibly 620bhp or 800bhp.

The company says that the flagship product will be driven by an in-house developed 113kWh battery pack, which offers a most selection of 517 miles on the American EPA check routine.

This heady selection determine is assisted out by the Air’s aerodynamics, which Lucid Motors says are improved than any other luxury motor vehicle on sale today. The saloon has a drag coefficient of just .21, which would make it a lot more slippery than the Tesla Model three, Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and even the efficiency-focussed Toyota Prius.

To top points off, the American business promises that its new luxury saloon will be the world’s speediest charging electric motor vehicle, with the capability to get better up to 20 miles for each minute when plugged into a DC speedy-charger. In the genuine environment, Lucid Motors says this interprets to all over 300 miles of selection for just 20 minutes of charging.

The cabin is dominated by an huge 34-inch curved 5K screen, which “floats” higher than the dashboard and capabilities controls for all the things from the car’s exterior lighting to its navigation and media capabilities.

In the centre console, there’s an added exhibit for the car’s cabin and drivetrain capabilities which, at the touch of a button can be retracted into the dashboard to expose a concealed storage bin. To offset the electronic displays, there’s a several solid metal rotary dials, such as a volume roller for the steering wheel and alloy toggle switches for the car’s weather controls.

New 2021 Lucid Air: trim-levels and specs

The Lucid Air line-up is break up into 4 styles. There’s a base-product, Air Touring, Grand Touring and a hugely specced Aspiration Version variant – although specs for the entry-level choice are however to be verified. 

The current cheapest Air Touring product is priced from $ninety five,000 (all over £72,950) – and it comes as typical with the firm’s 620bhp electric powertrain, a set of aerodynamically-productive 20-inch alloy wheels, a alternative of metallic paint finishes and a selection of leather-based upholstery colours.

Lucid Motors’ upper mid-selection Grand Touring product is priced from $139,000 (all over £106,000) and capabilities the company’s 800bhp powertrain, together with 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, an 800W high quality stereo technique and future-completely ready hardware to assist Stage three autonomous driving capability, which should enable the motor vehicle to suppose total manage of its capabilities on motorways with no the driver’s supervision.

The flagship Aspiration Version is priced from $169,000 (approximately £130,000). It’s driven by the most potent one,080bhp electric drivetrain and adds to the Grand Touring model’s specification with special Nappa leather-based upholstery, a exclusive Eureka Gold paint finish, bespoke 21-inch alloy wheels and an improved audio technique.

Potential buyers can also select from a several optional extras, such as all-climate floor mats and a chilly climate offer which contains heated rear seats and heated windscreen wipers.

Reservations are now open for consumers in North America and choose European marketplaces, with Lucid Motors requesting a refundable $one,000 (all over £770) deposit for the base product, or a $7,500 (approximately £5,750) deposit for the flagship Aspiration Version variant. Initial deliveries for North American consumers are anticipated to get there in Spring 2021. 

Want a much less expensive way of electric motoring? Check out the ideal applied electric cars and trucks in this article…