LUCID AIR CAR DRIVER

Tesla has managed to get by with some exemptions, and Lucid is hoping to piggyback on that success. Dozens of states have laws on the books that protect car dealerships and prevent direct-to-consumer sales by automotive newcomers. Lucid’s retail strategy - opening studios in areas with heavy foot traffic - is smart, but the company will still run into headwinds as it tries to navigate the legal landscape.

LUCID AIR CAR DRIVER

And while traffic in Manhattan was generally pretty terrible, the driver did get the opportunity to demonstrate the acceleration when the cars cleared momentarily on the West Side Highway. Despite its wider than average stance, the sedan was able to slip in and out of some tight spaces with relative ease. The ride itself was fine, with the Air’s suspension (which is not air suspension, but conventional springs and active shocks) handling itself well on the cobblestone streets. “And then have a nice panel that’s for both driver and passenger, and make sure there’s still a relationship between the two.” Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The Verge “We really wanted to get back to just a simple, elegant screen dedicated for the driver to make the driver experience awesome,” he said. Jenkins demonstrated how items on the main screen can be “swiped” down on to the Pilot Panel for further perusal.

The two screens can interact with each other, too. “I just think it’s a more luxury-focused product” And with the touch of a button, the screen folds away neatly into the dash, revealing some extra cargo space. A second, retractable screen known as the “Pilot Panel” sits above the center console. The main feature is a 34-inch, high-resolution 5K horizontal curved display which starts to the left of the steering wheel and stretches to the middle of the dash. The interior of the Air is simple without straying into minimalist territory. I just think it’s a more luxury-focused product.” “This car is going to offer a lot more space, a lot more comfort, nicer material, trim, cargo. “Model S is obviously a pivotal vehicle,” Jenkins said.

But few electric vehicles have actually Tesla DNA running through their bloodstream. It seems as if every electric vehicle that’s released these days is inevitably held up against Tesla for a comparison. Under direction of the former Model S lead engineer Peter Rawlinson, then Lucid Motors’ CTO, now its CEO, there is a sense in the automotive world that Lucid has the internal knowledge and technical chops to tease Tesla’s grip as maker of the ultimate electric luxury sedan. And don’t forget the Model S Plaid, which started rolling out to customers earlier this month. Other vehicles are soon to follow, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Cadillac Lyriq, BMW i4, and Lexus LF-Z. The luxury EV segment is already crowded with the likes of the Audi E-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace, Polestar 2, and Porsche Taycan. With its rounded edges, low-slung stance, and dramatic glass roof, the Air makes a great first impression - which is exactly what Derek Jenkins, the former Mazda designer and Lucid’s senior vice president of design and brand, is hoping for.Īfter all, Lucid is about to run head first into a very competitive market. The exterior design hasn’t changed much from the alpha prototype we saw in 2017. Did the electric car go fast? Yes it did. And there are so many caveats involved in both claims that it hardly seems worth mentioning. Can you tell the difference? Of course not. Lucid said the Air can sprint from 0 to 60mph in two seconds, while Tesla says the Model S Plaid can do it in under two seconds. Pretty much every EV on the road today has near instantaneous torque, and trying to compare one EV’s acceleration to another has become a bit of a joke. Just like last time, I came away impressed with the car’s acceleration, which should come as no surprise. The company says that this version, with its 113kWh battery pack, will get up 517 miles of range on a single charge, which is really just an unfathomable amount of battery power. I rode in the Grand Touring version of the Lucid Air, the second highest level trim with just 800-horsepower and a starting price of $139,000.

In advance of that, the company is opening up design studios (just don’t call ‘em dealerships) in bustling neighborhoods around the country, in the hopes that the reopening economy and increased foot traffic will send more EV-curious customers their way. I rode in the Grand Touring version of the Lucid Air

Lucid air car