Four distinctive models form the lineup of a local EV company
As the EV market grows and matures, we’re seeing more attempts to differentiate EVs and build identities for models and brands. Today’s first exhibit comes from Lucid Motors’ all-day drive program — a staircase tour of the four Air models.
The challenge for a new company offering a single, seemingly one-size-fits-all product is differentiation. The Air models look very similar, but the performance range is as variable as their prices, which range from $69,900 to $249,000. Clean Fleet Report has had a chance to test the individual models, but this was the first time I’d tested the two back-to-back.
I got to test drive all four models—Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Sapphire—in order. By the end of the day, after nearly 200 miles, I was convinced that Lucid, headquartered across San Francisco Bay from where we drove, was right. Each model has its own niche and content that matches its price point. Here’s how it differentiates.
The basics
As mentioned, all Air models are similar in dimensions—four-door sedans with sleek, streamlined shapes. They’re midsize cars based on the exterior, but they have full-size interior space, large trunks, and handy front storage space. All Air models sit on a 116.5-inch wheelbase and are 197 inches long overall, which is roughly the same as a Tesla Model S and much smaller than a Mercedes-Benz EQS.
The Air is a full-size luxury sedan based on interior space and lives up to that description in all trim levels. The back seat in particular is spacious and has plenty of legroom, suggesting that the car will serve as a chauffeur-driven model in some markets. That would be a shame because we found all four trims to be a great driver’s car.
The 2024 models feature the first major changes since the Air was introduced in 2021, but as seems to be the trend in electric cars, the changes are more technical than visual.
Pure – who could ask for anything more?
I’m not sure what I expected when I got behind the wheel of the base-level (Pure) Air, but after about 40 miles of winding mountain roads and some fun waterfront driving, I stepped out and said, “What more do you need?” The $70,000 Pure has a single permanent-magnet electric motor that drives the rear wheels. It’s tuned to 430 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, all of which is great for applying lag on the road. Handling is crisp, responsive, and effortless. More than 400 miles of range from the 88-kWh battery means long drives are welcome.
Oh, and it’s the most efficient car on four wheels. Lucid just announced that the 2025 model will achieve 5.0 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy and a standard EPA rating of 146 mpg-equivalent. The addition of the Sapphire’s best-in-class heat pump has improved range (now 420 miles) while boosting the car’s efficiency to unprecedented levels.
The car looks like a luxury sedan with its wide, low profile. Its surroundings are full of luxury features – elegant lines, high-tech lighting and a tight fit.
The 34-inch dashboard screen is perfectly positioned with an additional tablet-sized panel in the console. It looks as luxurious as you would expect for a car at this price. Rear-seat passengers can find all sorts of amenities and more than enough space to spread out. Up front, the Air takes front-end concepts to new heights for a sedan by offering 10 cubic feet of storage.
Roaming – A Real Step Forward
Forget what I just said. You need more. Specifically, more horsepower, more torque, and more all-wheel drive. The Touring, which costs $8,000 more than the Pure, has all of that. The seat grips you as you settle into your seat, which suggests this car will be a little better than its predecessor. And never underestimate what an extra 190 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque can do for you. Sure, you can overtake slower cars in the Prue, but the Touring makes passing feel like you’re driving in a different world. The massive torque is applied instantly—and for as long as you want.
Inside, the Touring model I drove (some of these features are optional, but not all are available on the Pure) felt more luxurious than the well-equipped Pure. Cloth covered the dashboard and door panels. As I settled into the comfortable, fully supportive seats, I was struck by the openness of the cabin. The Glass Canopy roof wraps from the windshield in two panels across what was a solid panel on the Pure. Even in the California sun, the sheer amount of glass didn’t transmit much heat, though strong sunglasses are recommended.
Grand Tour
I was at a loss now. The Pure was great until the Touring’s more powerful and more aggressive suspension system outdid it. What could Lucid add to what seemed to me a comprehensive package?
More, it turns out, is better. The Grand Touring takes the Touring’s excellent setup and tweaks things. The numbers get big! Nearly 200 more horsepower and the longest range of any EV on the market—516 miles (100 more than the Touring or Pure). Plus, faster charging. All Lucid Air models are built on a high-voltage architecture that enables fast charging, but the Grand Touring can add 200 miles of range in 12 minutes on a 350kW DC fast charger.
Steering feels lighter with all that horsepower and torque, but it still offers the same snappy response as the Touring. Lucid spokespeople say the Grand Touring has “nearly the same suspension” as the Touring, but there are subtle differences that seem to take it along the same path. In addition to the performance hardware, the luxury touches get another boost. The price also jumps significantly to $109,900, putting it in Mercedes EQS territory. It could run wheel-to-wheel with the high-end Mercedes, but it certainly lacks the history and dealer network and falls a bit short of the German company’s upscale luxury feel.
Ruby
As it should be, we’ve saved the best for last. The Air Sapphire is the pinnacle of Lucid’s current lineup, priced at $249,000 for the limited edition. The difference from the “lesser” Air models is subtle, but clear. The unique wheels and paint colors are the most obvious distinguishing features, but it’s down there where the Sapphire’s value comes into play.
The car starts with three motors (two rear, one front) that make 1,234 horsepower. An aerodynamic package helps keep that power on the ground, and combined with traction control, it produces sub-two-second 0-60 mph times. I didn’t have a straight road to test that, but I have no doubts. Even with all that power (if you keep it under control), you can travel 427 miles on the Sapphire’s large battery pack (shared with the Grand Touring).
The suspension may be tuned for the track (it has a Track mode that Lucid’s stewards instructed us not to engage), but on the road, it presents itself as a daily driver. A refined, genuinely fast daily driver. I’d describe the Sapphire as a different kind of “self-driving car,” one that feels like it knows the road thanks to torque vectoring controlled by dual rear motors that spin the rear of the car in turns. Steering, accelerating, and decelerating are effortless as the Sapphire eats up the mountain road’s curves. I didn’t have a lot of time in the Sapphire, but I found no practical limits to its capabilities.
Summing it up
It’s a rare pleasure to be able to compare cars one by one in an environment designed to showcase everything we expect from a luxury electric car. It’s a pleasure to be able to work through a range of sedans on the road designed to showcase their strengths and uncover any weaknesses. The Lucid Air lineup is a rarity in the EV world—a well-thought-out, clearly differentiated series of trim levels that give buyers distinct advantages at every stop. I’ll repeat where I started. The base Air Pure is enough to satisfy anyone looking for an affordable luxury electric sedan. But each step up the Air’s hierarchy brings significant rewards for the extra cost. There are no losers here. The question is, how much of a win can you afford?
Story by Michael Coates and images by Michael Coates and Lucid.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report lends test vehicles to us for evaluation free of charge from automakers, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on driving a new vehicle for one week. For this reason, we do not address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events that highlight new vehicles or technology. As part of these events, we may be offered free transportation, accommodations, or meals. We strive to provide honest vehicle reviews and news regardless of these incentives.
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The post Flash Drive: Stairway to Heaven—Lucid’s Air Variations was first published on Clean Fleet Report.
