Stairway to Heaven – Lucid’s Air Change Clean Fleet Report

Local electric car company launches four different models

As the electric vehicle market grows and matures, we are seeing more and more attempts to differentiate electric vehicles and establish identities for models and brands. Today’s A is Lucid Motors’ all-day driving program – a step-by-step tour Four Air models.

The challenge for a new company with seemingly only one product is differentiation. The Air models look very similar, but the performance range is as varied as the price, which ranges from $69,900 to $249,000. Clean Fleet Report There has been Some seat time in a single model, but this is the first time to experience them consecutively.

I was able to experience all four models in turn—Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Sapphire. At the end of the day and nearly 200 miles, I was convinced that there is some truth to Lucid’s headquarters being located just across the San Francisco Bay from where we were driving. Each model has its own positioning and substance that matches its price point. Here are the differentiating details.

Basics

As mentioned above, all Air models are similar in size – four-door sedans with a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette. They look mid-size from the outside, but have full-size interiors, large trunks, and convenient passenger space (front storage). All Airs have a wheelbase of 116.5 inches and an overall length of 197 inches, which is almost the same as the Tesla Model S and much smaller than the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

Based on the amount of interior space, the Air is a full-size luxury sedan, and every trim level fits that description. The back seat in particular is roomy, with plenty of legroom, suggesting the car will be offered as a chauffeured model in some markets. That’s a shame, because we found all four trims to offer an excellent driving experience.

The 2024 model marks the first major changes since the Air’s introduction in 2021, but as is the trend with electric vehicles, these are more technical tweaks than visible changes.

Purity – what more could you ask for?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I drove the entry-level (Pure) Air, but after about 40 miles of winding mountain roads and a pleasant coastal drive, I got out and said, “What more do you need?” The $70,000 Pure has a permanent magnet electric motor driving the rear wheels. It’s calibrated for 430 horsepower and 406 foot-pounds of torque, all of which are useful for overtaking stragglers on the road. Handling is sharp, responsive, and effortless. The 88-kWh battery has a range of more than 400 miles, which means long-distance driving is a welcome option.

Oh, and it’s the most efficient car on four wheels. Lucid just announced that the 2025 model will get 5.0 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy consumed, with an EPA rating of a record 146 MPGe. Adding the top-of-the-line Sapphire’s heat pump increases range (now 420 miles) while pushing the car’s efficiency to unprecedented levels.

The car is wide and low, looking like a luxury sedan. The silhouette has luxurious elements – smooth lines, high-tech lighting and tight fit and finish.

The 34-inch instrument panel is perfectly positioned, and there’s an additional tablet-sized panel on the console. The car is as luxurious as you’d expect from a car in this price range. Backseat passengers will find every convenience and more than enough space. Up front, the Air takes the front trunk concept to new heights for a sedan by offering 10 cubic feet of storage space.

Touring – Real Progress

Forget what I just said. You really need more. Specifically, more horsepower and torque and all-wheel drive. The Touring is $8,000 more than the Pure, and it gives you exactly what you need. The seats hold you tight when you sit down., The promise is that this driving experience will be even more thrilling than the last. Never underestimate the boost of 190 horsepower and 479 foot-pounds of torque. Sure, you can pass slower cars in a Prue, but in a Touring, passing feels like driving in another world. The massive, instant torque is applied immediately and can last for as long as you want.

Inside, the Touring model I drove (some of these features are optional, but not all on the Pure) is more luxurious than the well-appointed Pure. The dashboard and door panels are covered in fabric. I was struck by the spaciousness of the cabin as I settled into the comfortable and supportive seats. The glass canopy roof wraps around the windshield in two panels, while the Pure model has one solid panel. Even in the California sun, the large amount of glass doesn’t transmit that much heat, but sturdy sunglasses are recommended.

Luxury Cruise

Now I’m really torn. The Pure was great until the Touring’s extra power and slightly beefier suspension beat it out. What else could Lucid add to what seems to me to be an all-inclusive package?

Facts prove yes More. The Grand Touring takes the excellent Touring trim setup and upgrades it. The numbers are bigger! Almost 200 more horsepower, and the longest range of any EV on the market—516 miles (100 more than the Touring or Pure). Best of all, it charges faster. All Lucid Air models use a high-voltage architecture that enables fast charging, but the Grand Touring can add 200 miles of range in just 12 minutes on a 350 kW DC fast charger.

With so much horsepower and torque on tap, the steering feels lighter, but its responses are just as fast as the Touring. A Lucid spokesperson said the Grand Touring’s suspension is “largely the same as the Touring model,” but there appear to be subtle differences in the same routes. In addition to the performance hardware, the luxury elements have been further improved. The price has also increased significantly to $109,900, which puts it on par with the Mercedes EQS. It can compete with top-level Mercedes, but of course lacks the history, dealer network, and slightly lacks the refined luxury feel of the German company.

sapphire

As it should be, we saved the best for last. The Air Sapphire is the pinnacle of Lucid’s current lineup, with a limited production run priced at a whopping $249,000. The differences from the “lower-end” Air models are subtle, but noticeable. Unique wheels and paint colors are the most eye-catching features, but the Sapphire’s value lies beneath the hood.

First up are three engines (two rear and one up front) that put out 1,234 horsepower. The aero kit helps get that power to the ground, and combined with traction control, it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than two seconds. I don’t have a straight stretch of road to test that, but I have no doubts about it. Even with all that power (if you can control it), you can get 427 miles on the Sapphire’s big battery pack (shared with the Grand Touring).

The suspension may be tuned for the track (it does have a track mode, but Lucid’s caretakers instructed us not to use it), but on the road, it behaves like a daily driver’s car. A truly refined and fast daily driver’s car. I consider the Sapphire a different kind of “self-driving car” in that it feels like it knows the road, thanks to torque vectoring controlled by the dual rear-wheel drive motors that essentially turn the back of the car around turns. Turning, accelerating, and decelerating all felt effortless as the Sapphire devoured the twists and turns of a mountain road. I didn’t get to drive the Sapphire for long, but I found there were no practical limits to its capabilities.

Summarize

It’s a rare treat to be able to compare cars back-to-back in an environment designed to showcase everything we expect from a luxury electric vehicle. It’s a treat to be able to test a range of sedans on roads designed to showcase their strengths and identify any weaknesses. The Lucid Air lineup is a rarity in the electric vehicle world – a series of well-thought-out, clearly differentiated trim levels that give buyers a unique advantage at each stop. I’ll restate the starting point. The entry-level Air Pure is more than enough to please anyone looking for an affordable luxury electric vehicle. But each step up the Air scale offers a rich reward for the extra cost. There are no losers here. The question is, how much can you afford to win?

story Michael Coates. Photos by Michael Coates and Lucid.

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report A free test vehicle is loaned from an automaker for evaluation, usually for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one week of driving the new vehicle. Therefore, we do not discuss issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to events held by manufacturers to showcase new vehicles or technologies. As part of these events, we may receive free transportation, lodging, or meals. Regardless of these inducements, we do our best to provide our honest evaluations of vehicles and news.

We focus on vehicles that have the best fuel economy in their class, so we highlight electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and diesels. We also feature the most fuel-efficient gas vehicles, which have the best gas mileage in their class. In addition, we aim to provide commentary and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are committed to providing a forum for different viewpoints. Let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.