Update: ‘Regular trims’ sub-section of ‘Lucid Air Specifications’ updated.
The Lucid Air is the first electric vehicle from California-based Lucid Motors. Former Tesla Model S chief engineer Peter Rawlinson is spearheading the brand, with the goal of cementing Lucid Motors’ identity as a major EV manufacturer. The Lucid Air is the brand’s first product, a 5-door luxury sedan that competes with the Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S, Audi e-tron GT, and the Porsche Taycan.
Lucid Air Design
The Lucid Air EV is based on the Lucid Space Concept, a design that takes advantage of the brand’s in-house developed Lucid Electric Advanced Platform (LEAP), which will serve as the foundation for all Lucid EVs beginning with the Air. The Air has a sleek design and is among the most aerodynamic cars on the market, with a drag (Cd) coefficient of 0.21. The Air is claimed by Lucid to be the most aerodynamic car in the world, but both the Mercedes EQS and the Lightyear One have 0.20 Cd.
It has a full-width chrome strip with the Lucid lettering embossed on the front. Below the chrome bar is an array of full-width LED DRLs next to the multibeam LED headlights. The front bumper has a smooth surface, and the air intakes are located just below it to cool the battery. On the side of the bumper is a vertical LED strip with small air intakes for brake cooling. The outer edge of the hood is rounded, as is the air intake.
21-inch wheels
The side profile is tidy with flush door handles and machine-cut wheels. Customers can choose from various in 19-, 20-, and 21-inch wheels in different finishes depending on the variant and package. 21-inch ‘Aero Blade’ wheels are standard on Dream Edition.
Lucid Motors recommends using low-profile tires only on smooth surfaces. Large rims and sleek sidewalls improve handling on smooth roads and they undeniably look fashionable, but they can damage the chassis if driven on rough roads, whereas larger sidewalls are more suitable as they help with bump absorption thanks to a high rubber content.
The rear of the Lucid Air has a sophisticated coupe-like roofline that seamlessly flows into a roof-integrated rear spoiler. Full-width taillights with embossed Lucid lettering in the center provide great design continuity at the rear. In the full-featured introductory model, the Dream Edition, the C-pillars are finished in platinum with a titanium flag. Overall, the Air looks refreshing and attractive.
Interior & Features
The interior looks as luxurious as any luxury EV. Visually, there appears to be no compromise on the quality of materials used. The entry-level Pure variant features black and graphite Mojave Purluxe fabric upholstery with ‘obsidian decoration.’ The exclusive Dream Edition gets Santa Monica’s interior theme with full-grain Nappa leather upholstery. It also features ceramics with eucalyptus trim and Alcantara inserts. The Lucid Air features class-leading 739 liters (26 cu ft) of total luggage space. The frunk accounts for 280 liters (9.8 cu ft) of the total volume.
34-inch 5k curved screen
Lucid Air’s cabin is a treat to the eyes and is loaded with technology. The driver’s seat is the most interesting. The main factor is the combination of the digital instrument cluster and the central infotainment screen. This is a curved floating 34-inch screen with crisp 5k resolution—even the smallest of the details appear clear and vibrant. The right side of the cockpit is touch-sensitive and contains key features such as navigation, audio, and calling systems. It also supports Alexa voice commands, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and music services like Spotify and iHeart Radio.
The steering wheel is flat-bottomed and has two spokes. It also features capacitive touch buttons. Another touchscreen houses the lighting, wiper, and security controls on the left side of the main driver’s cockpit. Below the center console, there is another large screen that Lucid has dubbed the ‘Pilot Panel.’ In addition to audio, navigation, and phone controls, it also controls more detailed vehicle parameters. Customers will appreciate the physical buttons for the climate control system located just above this screen.
Sound tuned by Dolby Atmos
The Lucid Air Dream Edition comes standard with the ‘Surreal Sound System’. Music lovers are in for a treat. The set-up includes 21 speakers with surround sound and 3D audio. Lucid claims that Air features the world’s first Dolby Atmos to provide an outstanding multi-directional audio experience.
Glass Canopy
A ‘Glass Canopy’ solid glass roof is standard on Grand Touring and Dream Edition variations. Interestingly, the windshield extends above the driver’s head, making the cabin feel airier. Customers who purchase the Touring grade can get Glass Canopy optionally by paying an additional USD 4,500.
DreamDrive
DreamDrive is Lucid Motor’s ADAS suite. It includes features like Blind Spot Warning, Traffic Drive-off Alert, Lane Departure Protection, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Protection, automatic park in & out, Park Distance Warning, and Drowsy Driver Alert. It comes with OTA support, allowing customers to add new and improved features conveniently when they become available.
A DreamDrive Pro package is also available. It includes surround-view monitoring with a blind spot display feature, plus the hardware required to enable semi-autonomous driving functions when they become available in the future.
Excellent connectivity
Customers can take advantage of the Lucid app. The smartphone application allows drivers to plan trips, transfer navigation information to the vehicle screen, find charging stations, and preheat the cabin during winters. Proximity sensors ensure that the vehicle greets the owner with a light signature, unlocks the door, and pops out the flush door handles. The vehicle can save the driver’s profile, and as soon as the customer enters, facial recognition identifies the driver and selects settings saved in the individual driver profiles.
October 2022 software update (Lucid UX 2.0.)
On October 13, 2022, the Lucid Air received its most extensive software update to date, called ‘Lucid UX 2.0.’ The software update brought hundreds of improvements and new features to the car.
It takes around half a minute to start the Air, which is inconvenient for customers and downright embarrassing for a luxury car. Lucid Motors has now introduced ‘Instant-on’ displays as a fix for the problem. The company says that now the car is ready to drive as soon as the driver sits down and puts on the seatbelts.
A new on-screen layout for the Glass Cockpit display, updated navigation and maps, more accurate range prediction, additional Alexa voice command-controlled functions, and a more intuitive growing experience for third-party apps are some of the improvements brought to the Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel displays with the software update.
Lucid UX 2.0 has improved the safety of the Air. It has brought High Beam Assist, automatic headlight leveling, and Highway Assist with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control, and improved the visual cues for the Park Distance Warning feature. Moreover, the Rear Pedestrian Collision Protection works even when the car is in Drive and rolling backward. Lastly, a new De-Ice mode uses defrost, automatic wiper blade movement, and wiper fluid together to clear ice on the windshield.
Lucid Air Specifications
The Lucid Air and rival Tesla Model S aren’t very different in overall dimensions. The latter is 5 mm longer, but interestingly, the wheelbase of both EVs is the same at 116.54 inches (2,960 mm). The long wheelbase has opened up acres of room at the rear of the Air.
Dream Edition
When the first vehicles rolled out (October 2021), two Dream Edition variants were offered: Dream Performance and Dream Range. The former’s electric motors produce 1,111 hp and over 737 lb-ft (1000 Nm). The powertrain is slightly detuned to 933 hp on the Dream Range, but the torque remains above 737 lb-ft. Both have a top speed of 168 mph, but the Performance hustles to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds—a family saloon that’s as fast as the Bugatti Chiron in terms of off-the-line acceleration. The line-up has grown now to include more performance-focused variants.
Video Source: YouTube/Lucid Motors
Regular trims
The Air Pure is available in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. Lucid Motors expects the base configuration’s rear motor to generate 430 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque and allow a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.4 seconds, autoevolution reported on February 10, 2023. The company expects its EPA-est. range to be 406 miles.
The Air Pure AWD has two electric motors that produce 480 hp and its EPA-est. range is up to 410 miles. All other trims have at least two motors and an AWD drivetrain layout.
The Air Touring’s powertrain is tuned at 620 hp, and the Air Grand Touring produces 819 hp. All feature dual-motor AWD set-up. On April 12, 2022, Lucid Motors announced the Air in a Performance package for the Grand Touring trim. The Air Grand Touring Performance sports a 1,050 hp dual-motor powertrain and has a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 2.6 seconds. It delivers an EPA-est. range of up to 446 miles.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance debuted at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed and became the fastest production car in the Hillclimb Timed Shootout at the event. Ben Collins, Top Gear’s original ‘The Stig,’ was behind the wheel, and he completed the hill climb in just 50.79 seconds, making the Air Grand Touring Performance the fastest production car at the event.
Lucid Air Sapphire
On August 19, 2022, the Lucid Air Sapphire debuted during the Monterey Car Week. The limited-production model offers the highest performance, generating over 1,200 horsepower. It sports three motors, with the additional, third motor mounted at the rear. Plus, it benefits from an upgraded battery system, a more precise thermal logic, an aero package, carbon-ceramic brakes, a track-tuned suspension, and new sport seats.
Lucid Motors hasn’t released the exact horsepower figure and the torque output but claims that the Lucid Air Sapphire accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than two seconds. A 0-100 mph dash takes under four seconds, while a quarter-mile run takes less than nine seconds. The Lucid Air Sapphire can achieve a top speed of over 200 mph. We will update the specifications table when the company releases the final specs.
| Lucid Air aspect | Value |
| Length (in. / mm) | 195.8 / 4975.3 |
| Width w/o mirrors (in. / mm) | 76.3 / 1939 |
| Height (in. / mm) | 55.51 / 1410 |
| Wheelbase (in. / mm) | 116.5 / 2960 |
| Motor | Dual motor, AWD |
| Horsepower | Pure: 430 hp (RWD)/480 hp (AWD) Touring: 620 hp Grand Touring: 819 hp Grand Touring Performance: 933 hp Dream Edition Range 933 hp Dream Edition Performance 1,111 hp Sapphire: 1,200+ hp |
| 0-60 mph | <2 seconds (Sapphire) |
| Top speed | 200+ mph |
| Battery | 118 kWh (Dream Edition) 112 kWh (rest of the range) |
| Range (EPA certified) | Up to 520 miles (Dream Edition Range) |
| Charging | DC: Upto 300 kW (300 miles in 20 minutes) AC: 19.2 kW |
| Aerodynamic Cd | 0.21 |
The Dream Edition Range is EPA certified for 520 miles (837 km) on a single charge while driving on 19-inch wheels. The Dream Edition Performance has a range of 471 miles, while the GT has a range of 516 miles on 19-inch wheels. The Dream Edition cars get a 118 kWh battery and the GT has a 112 kWh battery.
Fastest charging electric vehicle in the U.S.
The Lucid Air EV supports 300 kW peak charging speeds. This adds 300 miles in just 20 minutes. InsideEVs tried to make sense of the claims with an experiment; the Air added 208 miles in 12 minutes of DC fast charging and 312 miles in 22 minutes. The impressive charging speeds are enabled by a 900-volt battery architecture, which more than doubles the charging speeds compared to 400-volt batteries. For home charging, Lucid offers a 19.2 kW AC wallbox.
Lucid’s ‘Wunderbox’ charger works at almost all public charging stations in the United States. It has been engineered to adjust incoming voltage and adapts charging speeds for the quickest possible recharge. The brand has collaborated with Electrify America which owns a network of 700 charging stations with more than 3100 chargers across America. Customers who booked the Lucid Air by June 2022 got complimentary access to 350 kW charging for three years.
Lucid Air also conducted a real-world range test with the automotive publication Motor Trend. Two Dream Edition Range EVs were driven from Los Angles to San Francisco and then rerouted to Lucid Air’s headquarters in the Bay area. The cars traveled 445 miles. Upon reaching the destination, 30 miles range was left on one of the cars and 72 miles on the other. Different driving styles may have caused different energy depletion from the battery. According to the brand, the Lucid Air GT has an industry-best efficiency of 4.5 miles per kWh.
| Lucid Air | EPA-est. Range | EPA-est. Energy Consumption |
| Pure (430 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | TBA (Projected: 406 miles) | TBA |
| 20-inch wheels | TBA | TBA |
| Pure (480 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | 410 miles | 24 kWh/100 mi |
| 20-inch wheels | 384 miles | 28 kWh/100 mi |
| Touring (620 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | 425 miles | 24 kWh/100 mi |
| 20-inch wheels | 384 miles | 28 kWh/100 mi |
| 21-inch wheels | 384 miles | 28 kWh/100 mi |
| Grand Touring (819 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | 516 miles | 26 kWh/100 mi |
| 20-inch wheels | 469 miles | 28 kWh/100 mi |
| 21-inch wheels | 469 miles | 28 kWh/100 mi |
| Grand Touring Performance (1,050 hp) | ||
| 21-inch wheels | 446 miles | 30 kWh/100 mi |
| Dream Edition Range (933 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | 520 miles | 27 kWh/100 mi |
| 21-inch wheels | 481 miles | 29 kWh/100 mi |
| Dream Edition Performance (1,111 hp) | ||
| 19-inch wheels | 471 miles | 29 kWh/100 mi |
| 21-inch wheels | 451 miles | 30 kWh/100 mi |
| Sapphire (1,200+ hp) | ||
| 20-inch wheels | TBA | TBA |
| 21-inch wheels | TBA | TBA |
Production
Lucid Motors accepted over 37,000 reservations as of August 3, 2022. Shortly after Lucid Air earned the EPA certification, production cars began rolling out of the brand’s manufacturing unit in Casa Grande, Arizona.
The first cars, which were Dream Edition models, rolled off the line on September 28, 2021. Only 520 Dream Edition cars were planned for production. The Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring variants have joined the Dream Edition on the assembly line since. The Lucid Air Sapphire will enter production in the first half of 2023.
2022 production & deliveries
In 2021, Lucid Motors was targeting an annual production volume of 20,000 vehicles for 2022. On February 28, 2022, announcing its Q4 2021 and CY 2021 results, the company drastically reduced the estimate to 12,000-14,000 vehicles. Rawlinson justified the revised target citing ‘extraordinary supply chain and logistics challenges.’
On August 3, 2022, announcing its Q2 2022 results, Lucid Motors once again slashed the annual production target for 2022, this time by half, to 6,000-7,000 vehicles. Eventually, Lucid Motors ended 2022 with 7,180 vehicles produced and 4,369 vehicles delivered.
Saudi Arabia to buy 100,000 Lucid models over 10 years
Lucid Motors announced on April 26, 2022, that the Saudi Arabian government has committed to purchase 50,000 Lucid models with an option of extending the order book to 100,000 over ten years. The deal is a part of Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Green Initiative, which emphasize the incorporation of green vehicles into the government’s fleet. Lucid Motors will initially deliver 1,000 to 2,000 cars annually, scaling up to 4,000-7,000 units starting in 2025.
The models would initially be manufactured at the brand’s Casa Grande facility in Arizona and eventually shift to Lucid Motors’ upcoming plant in Saudi Arabia. Lucid Motors has committed USD 1 billion for the Saudi Arabian plant, and construction will begin in H2 2022, with 2025 as the expected year of completion. The Saudi Arabian government’s order book includes the Air and future models like the Lucid Gravity SUV.
Flexible financing
Lucid Motors has made owning an Air faster and easier. Lucid Financial Services announced on June 7, 2022, that the Lucid Air could be purchased through a lease or loan, thanks to an all-new digital platform.
Lucid Motors has entered a strategic partnership with the Bank of America. Customers can choose 24-, 36-, or 48-month lease tenures and loans with multiple long-term options. The flexible financing option should attract more customers to the brand.
The service launched in 34 of the 50 American states—Michigan, Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, Arkansas, Maine, Virginia, Nevada, Kentucky, North Dakota, Hawaii, North Carolina, West Virginia, California, Vermont, Missouri, Alaska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, Alabama, District of Columbia, Georgia, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Arizona, Maryland, New York, Washington, and Tennessee.
Price & Release Date
| Lucid Air Variants | Price (USD) |
| Pure | 87,400 |
| Touring | 107,400 |
| Grand Touring | 138,000 |
| Grand Touring Performance | 179,000 |
| Dream Edition Range | 169,000 |
| Dream Edition Performance | 169,000 |
| Sapphire | 249,000 |
Prices of the Lucid Air start at USD 87,400 and go up to USD 249,000. Customers ordering the Air Touring and Air Grand Touring by March 31, 2023, can receive a USD 7,500 EV credit. Lucid Motors says the lower-priced Air Pure isn’t eligible for this promotion. This promotion has nothing to do with the Clean Vehicle Program since the EV credit comes from the company, not the government.
Lucid Air deliveries in the U.S. began with the Dream Edition towards the end of October 2021. The Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring have also started reaching customers since. The Pure variant was the most recent one to join the list, with Lucid Motors announcing its first deliveries on December 30, 2022 (via Twitter). The Air Sapphire will start reaching customers in the first half of 2023.
| Lucid Air Variants | Reservations | Deliveries |
| Pure | Open | Started |
| Touring | Open | Started |
| Grand Touring | Open | Started |
| Dream Edition | Reservations Closed | Started |
| Sapphire | Open | H1 2023 |
Sales of the Lucid Air in overseas markets have also commenced. Lucid Motors is already delivering the Air in Canada and European markets.
TopElectricSUV says
This sleek and powerful Air is a true competitor to Tesla’s Model S. With its elegant design and innovative features, it offers a compelling alternative for those who want a premium experience. However, while Lucid Motors has got the product right, it needs to sort out production bottlenecks to compete with established brands. The luxury electric sedan segment is heating up, with both BMW and Mercedes-Benz entering the fray. Lucid Motors now needs to bring its A-game to make sure it doesn’t get left behind in the competition.
Lucid Air FAQs
What is the Lucid Air price?
The Lucid Air ranges from USD 87,400 to USD 249,000, excluding federal grant and delivery & handling charges.
What are Lucid Air competitors?
The Lucid Air rivals the Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S, and the Porsche Taycan.
What is the Lucid Air release date?
The Lucid Air is now on sale in the U.S.
Featured Image Source: Lucid Motors
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