Lucid Air '18
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:24 pm
Jimi Beckwith wrote:Chinese-backed American car maker has revealed its luxury electric saloon, with up to 986bhp on tap and a Tesla-baiting price tag
The Lucid motors Air has been revealed; a Chinese-American luxury electric saloon with a 0-60mph time of 2.5sec.
Lucid is aiming squarely at the Tesla Model S with the saloon, which has a claimed range of up to 400 miles and a base price of “about $65,000” (around £52,000). Lucid says, however, that once optional extras are added, the car could climb to over $100,000 (£80,000).
Lucid partnered with Samsung SDI for supply of the car’s lithium-ion battery cells, which it claims have class-leading energy density, power, lifespan and safety, as well as not fading after numerous repeat charges. The same company also supplies batteries for the BMW i3 and i8.
The company is keen to display its optional executive seating, with two reclining seats; the standard is still a four-seater, but are in the more traditional bench form. Lucid also claims that the car’s air suspension with regenerative valve technology gives it the most comfortable ride in its class.
Lucid has penned the Air as ‘autonomous ready’, and will fit the car with the necessary sensors to make the car fully autonomous when technology and legislation allows.
The Air will be put into production in late 2018, with deliveries scheduled to begin soon after, although such a long gestation period will make Lucid’s list of rivals far longer than present, as most mainstream car makers gear up to introduce at least one electric vehicle before 2019, if not a range of electric-only cars.
A deposit of around £2000 secures one of the mass-production Lucid air examples, although a launch edition, with production limited to 255, is available with a £20,300 advance deposit. Lucid says that these examples will be well-optioned and will have exclusive, distinguishing features. Pre-orders are currently only available in the USA and Canada.
