New automakers are not always the best at delivering on promises and meeting deadlines, but Lucid seems to have met expectations in a big way. The company’s all-electric Air sedan defies logic with its performance, range, and charging capabilities, all of which blow legacy automakers and even Tesla out of the water. The ultra-expensive, ultra-quick Air is on sale now and can be configured on Lucid’s website, so let’s take a look at the five things you need to know. It’s worth noting that Lucid will release an exclusive Air Sapphire Edition in the future, but we are covering existing models in this rundown.
The Lucid Air is the Longest-Range EV
The Lucid Air can deliver up to an EPA-estimated 516 miles of range per charge, making it the longest-range EV on sale today by a large margin. Tesla is the only other automaker offering a vehicle with a range anywhere close to the Air, as the Model S Long Range tops out at 405 miles per charge. It’s worth noting that some wheel choices reduce range.
The Lucid Air Can Quickly Recharge
The glory of claiming the title of longest-range EV would lose some of its luster if the car couldn’t quickly replenish its batteries. The Lucid Air works with 350-kW chargers, so if you’re able to locate the right charging station, you can add as much as 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes. That makes the Air quicker to charge than any Tesla.
The Air Delivers Hair-Raising Performance
We know the Lucid Air offers incredible range and super-quick charging, so it might be surprising to hear that the car is also one of the quickest to accelerate. While it’s true that horsepower and performance aren’t usually conducive to efficiency, Lucid managed to squeeze in up to 1,050 horsepower in some configurations. The Air Grand Touring Performance can do 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds. To be fair, the highest horsepower variant is not the longest-range model on sale, but it still manages 446 miles. The Lucid Air Grand Touring, the company’s current range leader, delivers 516 miles of range, 819 horsepower, and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.0 seconds.
Lucid Offers a Huge Degree of Choice
Lucid offers a staggering number of customization options, including paint colors, design themes, and wheel designs. Buyers can choose from two “Looks” that offer platinum or blacked-out exterior trim. Most color choices are muted, but Lucid offers a deep Zenith Red color that has to be seen to be believed. There are three wheel choices and four interior color options as well, but it’s worth noting that some options aren’t available until early 2023.
The Air Brings a Hefty Price Tag
Reading all of this, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Lucid Air is painfully expensive. The Air Grand Touring starts at $154,000, and the Air Grand Touring Performance starts at $179,000, so be prepared for a heavy sticker price to get behind the wheel. That said, Lucid markets the Air as a high-end ultra-luxury car, which is a segment where people are generally accustomed to shelling out the big bucks.
