It’s funny how history repeats itself. At the dawn of the automotive industry, engineers, inventors, designers, and investors scrambled to create new brands of cars. Everyone wanted a piece of the motorcoach pie, and we’ve seen many fine auto manufacturers come and go as trends develop, from the Duryea Motor Wagon Company to Studebaker and even Oldsmobile.
Today, America is in the midst of a new automotive revolution. Electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have become an important part of the world market, with many countries and entire continents carefully regulating the potential environmental impact of gasoline-powered cars and car manufacturing. Independent EV manufacturers are popping up everywhere they can afford to put down roots to fill the gap between drivers who want an EV and the type of EVs available today.
As more and more drivers become attracted to the idea of a vehicle that needs no fuel and minimal long-term upkeep, we’re seeing more and more electric options, from familiar models with gasoline-powered ancestors to brand new models from brand new manufacturers. Lucid is one of the new contenders, with its much-hyped Lucid Air hitting the roads in limited production in 2021. But it’s been a few years now, and Lucid is expanding production of its flagship vehicle. Does that mean it’s time to consider the Lucid Air a major player in the American EV market?
Where Did the Lucid Air Come From?
In 2007, Bernard Tse, Sam Weng, and Sheaupyng Lin founded Atieva, a company that developed and produced Formula E racing batteries and powertrains. By 2016, the company had shifted its focus to luxury electric vehicles, rebranding as Lucid and introducing the Lucid Air prototype. It wasn’t until 2022 that drivers finally got their hands on a Lucid Air electric luxury sedan. Manufactured in Casa Grande, Arizona, in a purpose-built all-EV facility, the Lucid Air lineup has grown steadily from the earliest Dream Edition Performance models available in 2022.
The Lucid Air appeared on American roadways with 1,111 horsepower, a maximum range of 522 miles, and a sleek, European-styled exterior by former Mazda designer Derek Jenkins. When it first hit the US market, experts were intrigued but reasonably skeptical. After all, when an automotive manufacturer appears out of nowhere with a purported “luxury” vehicle that offers much more horsepower and enough all-electric range to make the trip from New York City to Cleveland, Ohio, it’s important to check out the veracity of those claims, especially when no other existing auto manufacturer has managed these feats.
While the 2022 Lucid Air was only offered as the Dream Edition Performance model, the Pure and Touring models joined the lineup for the 2023 model year. They were shortly joined by the Grand Touring and top-of-the-line Sapphire models to create the four-model lineup we see today.
What Sets the Lucid Air Apart?
As of publication, the Air is the only vehicle Lucid actively produces, though the Gravity SUV has been unveiled as a future model. This isn’t unusual, since many new companies test the market with a single model, an approach that worked for Tesla. However, with Fisker, Canoo, and a handful of other EV start-ups disappearing before they could even get started in the market, it’s truly impressive that Lucid has not only produced a vehicle but also continued production for several years.
To do so, it has created a product that truly stands apart from the EVs currently on the road in terms of looks, character, and performance. The Lucid Air is very obviously different from the other EVs on the market because there is nothing to compare it to. The BMW i7 looks like a BMW. The Ford F-150 Lightning looks like a Ford. And even if the Cybertruck looks like nothing else on the road, it definitely bears the design signature of Tesla. As far as character, the Lucid Air offers features that would not be out of place in a spy car. Facial recognition, a retractable lower touchscreen, and exterior lidar for driver assistance technology are just a few of the very real features one can enjoy in the Air.
But performance is where the Lucid Air truly takes the cake. Big numbers were promised, and big numbers have been delivered. The rear-wheel drive Air Pure model offers 430 hp and a 420-mile range. The Touring model increases power to 620 hp, though its all-wheel drive format lowers the range slightly to 406 miles on a single charge. The Grand Touring model reports a three-second acceleration time between 0 and 60 mph, thanks to its 819 hp. Also outfitted with all-wheel drive, this model has a 512-mile range. At the top of the Lucid Air lineup is the Sapphire. Equipped with three motors, this model requires only 1.89 seconds to make the trip between 0 and 60 mph, thanks to its mind-blowing 1,234 hp. When fully charged, the Sapphire offers a range of 427 miles, and only requires 15 minutes to charge up to 200 miles.
Is the Luxury There?
Luxury is certainly a subjective trait. Nearly every manufacturer that offers leather trim or standard heated seats tends to use the word. But certain features are undeniably a distinct privilege, especially in a sedan.
First, there’s the space. Without messy combustion engine parts, the front space of the Lucid Air has been repurposed into a 10 cu.ft. frunk for storage. The frunk is joined by 22.1 cu.ft. in the classic trunk space, though lowering the rear seats expands this to 64.8 cu.ft. of cargo space, which is significantly more than the Mazda CX-30 or the Subaru Crosstrek can offer.
Of course, some features go far beyond trim. The standard seating arrangement in the Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring models includes 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats. Heated rear seats and standard four-zone automatic climate control are part of the Grand Touring package. The Lucid Air Sapphire delivers 18-way power-adjustable seats with ventilation and massage features, setting it apart from any but the truly luxurious cars on the road today.
Then there’s the matter of audio technology. This is, of course, a very important component of the luxury automotive segment. The standard for the Pure and Touring models is a Surreal Sound system with nine speakers. Optional on these models but standard on the Grand Touring and Sapphire models is the Surreal Sound Pro Audio system, which includes 21 speakers and integrated Dolby Atmos technology.
The End of the Introductory Period
Many experts feel that the 2025 Lucid Air is a solid contender in the EV market, with trims ranging from standard luxury car prices to the types of numbers that aren’t thrown around lightly in most circles. Furthermore, Lucid delivered on its promises. While early EV models sometimes fell short of press release-induced expectations, Lucid has delivered four models with impressive horsepower and range. The process required a few years of tweaking and learning, but the same is true with any business experiencing new growth. While it is unlikely that Lucid will immediately put long-time luxury car manufacturers out of business, it provides a very attractive and sensible option for those with no particular brand loyalty or who are new to luxury EVs.
