“The answer to all your questions is: money.” So said legendary television producer Don Ohlmeyer, and while he was referencing the world of sports, the quote also neatly describes the electric-vehicle segment, where the two biggest questions surround battery range and charging.
How far can it go on a single charge? How fast can it charge? Solve those two vexing issues, building a better EV mousetrap, as it were, and people will beat a path to your door.
Well, Lucid Motors has done just that, and all it will cost you is money. Lots of money. But that’s nothing new in the EV sector, as 500-plus-km range and sub-30-minute quick-charging is the playground of six-figure vehicles.
The optional Glass Canopy spans the entire cabin almost without interruption and has protective interlayers to block out heat and sunlight. CREDIT: Andrew McCredie Photo by Andrew McCredie
The subject of this first drive, the Lucid Air Grand Touring, starts at $210,000 (that’s the price from June 1 going forward; head down to a Lucid Studio in Vancouver or Toronto before then and sign on the dotted line, and that number is $189,000).
For that you get the longest range of any production EV available in Canada (in the world, in fact) at 837 kilometres, thanks to a 112-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and some clever Silicon Valley special software sauce. You’ll also get the segment’s fastest charging rate, 350 kilometres in 15 minutes, thanks to its 900-volt architecture and 300-kW peak charging power.
And, as I discovered driving the all-wheel-drive Air GT around Vancouver last week, you’ll get an exceptional luxury sport sedan with unique design features, impressive performance, and a bespoke presence.
When first approaching the sedan — with exterior dimensions slotting into the mid-size segment — you’re struck by a sense of gravitas. Big 21-inch aero blade wheels pushed out to the four corners, light bars running the width of the vehicle front and back, and a boattail rear end make this EV stand out from the premium pack. It’s a head-turner and that certainly was the case while driving through downtown Vancouver. This thing has presence.
There’s also function to that aircraft-inspired form. The Air’s drag co-efficient of 0.21 makes it the world’s most aero-efficient luxury car, reducing cabin wind noise and increasing that chart-topping range figure.
The all-wheel drive sedan has 300kW peak charging power, the best charging capability of any current production electric vehicle. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The Air’s drag co-efficient of 0.21 makes it the world’s most aero-efficient luxury car. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The boattail rear-end features, like the nose, a full width light bar. Photo by Andrew McCredie
Fans of the Porsche 911 Targa will see something a little familiar in the C-pillar of the glass canopy-equipped models. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The massive rear trunk has a low floor which makes loading very easy, and includes a ski pass-through. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The Grand Touring model comes with 21-inch aero blade wheels. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The Lucid badge is all over the exterior, from the front light bar… Photo by Andrew McCredie
…to the brakes light in the rear. Photo by Andrew McCredie
As to that cabin—wow. As much as the exterior has clearly been designed down to the last detail, the interior is simply stunning. Sit down in the driver’s sport seat and you’re greeted with a floating 5K 34-inch driver display, plus a retractable Pilot Panel on the centre console. All driver and creature comfort controls are displayed and controlled using these screens, but big kudos to Lucid designers for including redundant climate control switches above the Pilot Panel, and sound system and cruise control switchwork on the flat-bottomed meaty sport steering wheel. Touchscreen controls are fine, but some controls need to be tactile switches.
As mentioned, this is a mid-size sedan, but thanks to some smart design work by Lucid engineers in positioning the working bits of the EV drivetrain system, the cabin of the Air is full-size all the way. It is simply massive, as is the cargo space in the back, revealed with the opening of a unique clamshell trunk (456 litres); and in the frunk, which, at 202 litres, Lucid claims is four times larger than that of other electric vehicles.
And one last, certainly not least, unique cabin design is the amazing glass canopy, an optional solid glass roof that spans the entire cabin, brings light in, and offers amazing views out. Protective interlayers block heat and sunlight.
Now, on to what it’s like to drive the Air Grand Touring. I know this is an EV thing, but I’m not a fan of not having a start/stop button. Like Volvo EVs, climb in the Air and the key fob detection brings the car to life. All you need to do is use the right-hand stalk on the steering wheel to select Drive or Reverse and away you go (and for the record, not a fan of stalk gear selectors, either).
The cockpit features a floating, 5K 34-inch driver display, and a retractable central Pilot Panel. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The inviting cabin of the Air Grand Touring. Photo by Andrew McCredie
High-end luxury features include available massaging seats up front, and heated seats for all five occupants. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The driver centric cockpit of the Air Grand Touring.
Despite having mid-size sedan exterior dimensions, the Air has full-size cabin space, including very spacious rear-seat legroom. Photo by Andrew McCredie
There is room for three in the rear seats. Photo by Andrew McCredie
With a touch of a button the retractable central Pilot Panel… Photo by Andrew McCredie
…reveals a storage space. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The trunk is massive, featuring a cavernous 456 litres of space… Photo by Andrew McCredie
…along with a compartment under the trunk floor. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The frunk is among the largest in the EV segment, with 202 litres and… Photo by Andrew McCredie
…including space under the frunk floor. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The Santa Cruz trim includes light coloured wood and brushed metal. Photo by Andrew McCredie
That’s not a mouse, that’s the Lucid Air key fob. Photo by Andrew McCredie
Nice to see real switches for climate controls… Photo by Andrew McCredie
…along with controls and switches on the steering wheel. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The spacing of the seat controls underscore the attention to detail found in all facets of the Lucid Air. Photo by Andrew McCredie
There are four California-inspired interior themes — Mojave, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica and Tahoe — with the latitude and longitude of each respective one on the door sill. In this case, Santa Cruz. Photo by Andrew McCredie
The lidar system allows for precise measurements to be displayed in the backup camera. Photo by Andrew McCredie
When you get near enough to an obstacle the overview camera view automatically comes on the Pilot Panel. Photo by Andrew McCredie
Okay, those are a couple of negatives. Driving the car is a delight. When I jump in an EV I select, if available, one-pedal drive, and the Air has that setting on all the time (like the slippery shape, Lucid has thrown everything it can at maximizing range). There are three drive modes — Smooth, Swift, and Sprint, the latter coming with a warning that you have to agree to to engage. Why? It’s bloody quick in that setting, according to Lucid a sub-three-second sprint to 100 km/h in the top-of-the-line Air. I found Smooth quick enough, particularly for city driving.
And the handling and ride of the Air live up to that Smooth name in all three drive modes thanks to semi-active dampers, electronic stability control, and torque vectoring that gives the heavy sedan a nimble, yet planted, driving dynamic. Suspension settings don’t change across the three modes, but steering inputs do; even in Smooth setting, the steering is firm like a good sports car.
The Air GT has a maximum horsepower output of 816, more than the Tesla Model S Raven Performance, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500SE, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock. Needless to say, acceleration is awesome. If that’s not enough power for you, and you have the money, the Air Grand Touring Performance boast an ungodly output of 1,050 hp; and the Air Dream Edition Performance at 1,111 hp.
The California bear symbol is a nod to the home base of Lucid Motors in Newark, California. Photo by Andrew McCredie
In addition to the Grand Touring trim, there is the Air Dream Edition Performance (758-km range), the Air Dream Edition Range (837-km range), the Grand Touring Performance (717-km range, $242,000) the Air Touring (620 hp, 653-km range, $129,000) and the Air Pure (408 hp, 653-km range, $105,000). (All of that pricing is for June 1 onward).
Delivery of Lucid Air Dream Edition cars began this month to Canadian reservation-holders, while Grand Touring reservation-holders can order today with a quoted delivery date between two and five months. Air Touring and Air Pure customers will be able to order sequentially in the summer and fall, respectively, with Pure deliveries to start across the U.S. and Canada by the end of the year.
So, do you get your money’s worth if you buy a Lucid Air Grand Touring? Well, loaded up and similarly equipped Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz luxury sport sedans are in the same ballpark, and Bentleys are much more expensive, so if you are fortunate to play in that exclusive sandbox, the Lucid Air represents a very unique, profoundly capable, and totally desirable sedan.
Keyword: First Drive: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring