After making a big splash with its first EV, the Air Dream, Lucid Motors is running its product playbook, bringing out lower priced variants potential buyers can more readily afford, in this case, just in time for the LA Auto Show comes the Air Touring and Air Pure.
The two new models come with lower price tags, but they also come with lower levels of performance. However, it would be a mistake to suggest these are performance machines. The Lucid Air Touring races from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds while the Air Pure is not far behind at 3.8 seconds.
“Performance. Range. Luxury. Technology. Design. It’s all here in the newly expanded Lucid Air model lineup as Air Pure and Air Touring — with their remarkably spacious interiors — take their place alongside Air Grand Touring, Grand Touring Performance, and the recently announced Air Sapphire,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group, in a statement.
“Air Touring matches the landmark 4.6 miles per kWh efficiency of the Grand Touring – albeit at a more affordable price point – an important incremental step to making ultra-efficient EVs more attainable.”
Improved design improves performance
Not only did the nascent EV maker roll out two new models, it’s tweaked each of them so that now Lucid Air models are the more aerodynamic vehicles on the road today, boasting an unequaled coefficient of drag of 0.197.
These design adjustments help the 620 horsepower dual-motor Lucid Air Touring travel an EPA-estimated 425 miles on a single charge, and be the company’s most efficient model thus far by delivering 4.62 miles per kilowatt hour, officials noted.
The Pure, which arrives later this year in all-wheel drive form and next year in a single-motor version, travels an EPA-estimated 410 miles on a full charge.
The pair follow the initial model the Air Dream, then Grand Touring Grand Touring performance and the Air Sapphire, which is designed to pin you into your seat more so than the other models already do — all posting 3-second or lower 0-to-60 mph times. The Sapphire is in the final phases of development, officials noted, with production set to being early next year.
Pure excitement
The Pure represents a significant change for the Air line-up as it’ll be the first version available with a single motor. It’ll also be the first Air model that can be had with a metal roof. However, the single motor model doesn’t begin production until next year, it’ll come as a dual motor, all-wheel-drive model to start. Production begins in early December with the first deliveries before the end of the year.
Built with Lucid’s Long Range Battery Pack, the company’s lightest, most-compact battery pack, featuring 18 modules compared to the 22 modules in the Extended Range Pack, the Air Pure offers some additional rear seat room, and range of more than 400 miles.
The lighter, smaller pack can still be recharged at lightning speed: 200 miles in just 15 minutes. As mentioned earlier the Air Pure is the first Air model to come with an all-metal roof. Made of aluminum, it’s lighter, helping with the Pure’s range.
“Air Pure presents Lucid’s strongest case yet for boldness through simplicity,” said Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Design, Lucid Group. “The clean lines and sophisticated details are as important for aerodynamics and efficiency as they are beautiful.”
A new paint color is also introduced to the Lucid family with Air Pure, called Fathom Blue. This color, inspired by the Pacific Ocean, is multidimensional, with subtle, cool tones that shift with the light of day.
Taking the 425-mile tour(ing)
The Touring is the faster, more powerful with greater range iteration of the two models introduced in Los Angeles. It sits in the heart of the Lucid Air family and offers the most options and flexibility — allowing customers to create a version that precisely fits their needs, according to the company.
The dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain in Air Touring delivers 620 hp with plenty of rear-seat room courtesy of the long-range battery pack. That extra room is complemented seating surfaces wrapped in Nappa full-grain leather sourced from Lucid’s carbon-neutral leather partner, juxtaposed with recycled textiles and synthetics.
Whenever possible, Lucid sources sustainable materials and employs manufacturing practices to further reduce the environmental impact of our vehicles. Wood accents are sustainably- harvested and have an open pore finish with minimal coating, so occupants can feel the authentic wood grain—another detail inspired by midcentury modern furniture.
Pricing for the Pure or the Touring was not released, but they are likely to start under $100,000.
I guess under $100K is more affordable than $160K, but that still isn’t affordable for most people.