Lucid - Its Air EV ahead of Production

The 1080-hp Dream and 1300-hp performance versions of the upcoming Air luxury sedan will both be out next year, with Tesla firmly in their sights.

• We rode along in the preproduction Lucid Air Dream electric sedan as it tackled Laguna Seca. The 1080-hp Dream model will go on the market next spring, priced at about $169,000.
• The automaker achieved a 1:31.3 lap time in chassis testing of a 1300-hp tri-motor performance version of the car, which Lucid says will be available in fall 2021 or early 2022.
• Laguna Seca is the local track for Lucid and Tesla, which will likely lead to lap time showdowns at the track.

Smoke billowed up from the brakes of the beta Lucid Air Dream Edition car. After a few hot laps at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the stopping power of the luxury EV had likely been compromised. Hitting roughly 120 mph before braking hard to navigate through a left turn does that when the vehicle is running stock brakes.

Laguna Seca has become a battlefield for EVs as of late. Tesla did a 1:36.6 lap time way back in September 2019 with a preproduction tri-motor Model S. Last week we joined Lucid at the same track to experience a hot lap in the preproduction Air Dream edition and get a look at the automotive startup's specially built tri-motor performance version of the Air. While we didn't get time behind the wheel, the ride was taut for a vehicle that's targeting the luxury segment. The heft of a vehicle carrying a large battery pack was apparent but was for the most part kept under control by the driver.

Behind the wheel of the preproduction Air was David Lickfold, Lucid's senior manager of chassis and vehicle dynamics. He said that the beta's chassis was about 60 percent complete. "Its a little bit rough and ready, but we want to give you a flavor," Lickford said. The vehicle's semi-active dampers were set about halfway between a cushy ride and something harder.

After a warmup lap, the Air hit 120 mph along the front straight before braking hard after dropping in elevation and taking on the track's first tight corner. The acceleration was reminiscent of Ludicrous mode in a Tesla Model S: the type of burst of speed that elongates your internal organs.