Lucid Group, Inc.

 

A new model is introduced for the electric vehicle market almost every day, which has become very popular choice of drivers in recent years. However, a small number of them can go to the mass production line right away, and most cannot go beyond being prototypes.

After being introduced as a prototype in 2016, Lucid Air seemed like it was going to share the faith of many EV prototypes that didn’t make it. Now everything changed with some help from investors and the Lucid Air finally gets its chance on the production line. In this article, we would like to talk to you about the design, features, and price  of this luxury minded electric sedan. 

Before moving on to the features of Lucid Air, we should talk about Lucid Motors' CEO, Peter Rawlinson, who previously worked at Tesla. The experienced name successfully performed his duty at Lotus for many years, then made his name as the chief engineer of the team that developed the Tesla Model S. 

Relying on Lucid Air, Rawlinson said, "We have produced the best electric car ever. This car, which we designed for the future in terms of sustainable energy sources, raises the bar in the electric vehicle concept. We have succeeded in pushing technology and performance forward by pushing the limits."

 

Exterior Design

Lucid Group, Inc.

 

When we look at the design of Lucid Air, we can see that not much has changed from the prototype unveiled five years ago. It’s 195 inches long and 76 inches wide, so the dimensions are pretty close to its main rival, Tesla Model S. 

Combining simple and modern design, Lucid Air's front section features a thin louver and LED lighting enclosed in a single frame. In addition, there are vertical air intakes on the sides of the bumper and the area where the sensors work together with the driver assistance systems in the lower part.

When we move to the side of the Lucid Air, we see the hidden door handles that we frequently encounter, especially in luxury-oriented mass-production models. This detail not only adds modern air to the car but also positively affects aerodynamics. 

Air's charging port is located on the left front fender, and the dual-tone large wheels, which can be preferred up to 21 inches, also contribute to the car’s sporty side. At the rear, the one-piece taillight extends throughout and includes the Lucid lettering logo. 

Lucid is an exquisite vehicle that has a delicate design. That’s why they strongly suggest their buyers to get protective covers for their vehicles. They already partnered up professionally with the highly established cover company, the Coverking. 

You can find the outcome of this partnership on Lucid’s own store and they will be ready for sale soon. Click here to take a loot at the indoor car cover and click here for the outdoor version. You can also check out the Coverking’s own catalog for Lucid specific options like the Satin Stretch and Moving Blanket.

 

Interior Design

Lucid Group, Inc.

 

The simplicity in the exterior design of Lucid Air continues throoughout the interior. At first look, the two-spoke, flat bottom steering wheel and the large 34-inch screen gives a premium feel in terms of the materials used. 

Lucid Air’s curved one piece dashboard screen comes with 5K resolution and is divided into three sections to be able to group and separate the displayed information, thus increasing usability. 

While there are vehicle-related settings such as wipers, door locks, and headlights in the left section, the middle section is used as a digital display screen with information such as charge status, speed, and range. In the right pane, it is possible to make infotainment adjustments such as volume controls and navigation.

In the lower part of the console, divided into two with thin air vents, we see another large touch screen positioned vertically in the center. This screen allows the control of a system where more detailed adjustments such as infotainment controls, air conditioning, and seat settings can be made. 

In addition to the screens, the buttons on the steering wheel help to handle some functions in a practical way. At the same time, the voice command system, which can be used with Amazon Alexa support, also contributes significantly to usability.

The windshield stretches almost halfway to the roof, and the glass roof over the rear seats makes the already spacious interior seem even more spacious. Lucid Air already has a large trunk at the rear, but it also doubles the luggage volume it offers with the storage section under the hood. Lucid also claims that no electric car has ever had such a large storage space in the front.

 

DreamDrive

Lucid Group, Inc.

 

Lucid Air has advanced driving assistance systems gathered in a package called DreamDrive. The company developed the system in question with the help of experienced companies such as Continental and Bosch. 

The DreamDrive system has 32 different sensors, including cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and high-resolution Lidar. DreamDrive also includes a camera system that monitors the driver inside the vehicle,and remote wireless update support.

While it is stated that the DreamDrive system currently provides level 2 autonomous driving, it will be ready to switch to the level 3 system in a short time. The DreamDrive system supports the driver with a total of 19 assistance features in areas such as safety, driving, and parking. Lucid shares that eight more features will be added to these features with the OTA update in the near future.

 

Charging and Range

Lucid Group, Inc.

 

Lucid Air uses what the company calls Lucid Electric Advanced Platform (LEAP). Stating that the electric driving bodies on the platform in question are 2.5 times smaller than its closest competitor, the company is also quite assertive about charging. 

Lucid Air uses 900V electric architecture, which has not been found in any electric vehicle so far, has 300 kW fast charging support. This feature allows the car to be charged to achieve a range of up to 19 miles per minute. In other words, according to the company's claim, it is possible to achieve a range of around 300 miles with a 20-minute charge. 

But, of course, it is also crucial to find a suitable charging station for a charge at this speed. In addition, it should be noted that Lucid Air comes with bidirectional charging support. In other words, in case of a power outage, it is possible to supply your home's electricity from your car.

One of the issues that Lucid Air is assertive about is range because the main reasons people are cautious about electric vehicles has always been the range value. However, Lucid Motors comes up with a maximum driving range of 520 miles in order to destroy the concerns on this issue. 

Air Grand Touring, which is one of the versions that will be sold in the first place, has two electric motors that produce 800 horsepower together. It is able to complete 0-60 miles acceleration in 3 seconds and the quarter-mile run in 10.8 seconds. 

The more powerful Air Dream Edition has a full 1111 horsepower. The range of the model in question is 470 miles when using 21-inch wheels. When 19-inch wheels are preferred, it goes up to 520 miles.

Lucid Motors prefers to go from expensive to cheap in terms of sales strategy, will also introduce cheap versions called Air Touring and Air in the future. It should be noted that the range value in all Air versions is based on EPA measurements.

 

Resources

 

Coverking Links

 

Tankut Basar

Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.

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