The monstrous Lucid Air Sapphire electric car showed record results in official speed tests and at the same time remained a practical sedan suitable for everyday use. The Lucid brand grew out of a startup whose key figures were former Tesla engineers. China and the United Arab Emirates supported the project with large-scale investments. About the history and products of the Lucid brand – in the material Motor.
In Moscow, Lucid Air Sapphire will be exhibited in the showroom of a large car dealer. This car has a 1234 hp power plant. in terms of dynamics and maximum speed (330 km/h) it is second only to the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport hypercar, but is ahead of it at a distance of a quarter mile.
To set the acceleration record, the Lucid Air Sapphire was tested on a track in California’s Mojave Desert. The experiment was carried out by Lucid itself using professional measuring equipment, the results were officially published and verified.
Lucid Air Sapphire
Lucid
The flagship of the Lucid brand was created with the active participation of former Tesla engineers with money from investors from China and Arab countries. With all the hypercar performance, this is a practical sedan with a spacious interior and a spacious trunk.
The pinnacle of evolution
The Sapphire modification, shown in 2022 in the United States, is not just the fastest version of the Lucid Air sedan. The design of the car has been completely redesigned. Unlike the twin-motor versions of the Air with all-wheel drive, the Sapphire is equipped with a three-motor powertrain. There is one engine for the front axle, and two more are installed on the rear axle.
Lucid Air Sapphire interior
Lucid
This scheme made it possible to implement dynamic control of traction coming to the rear wheels and improve handling. The total power of the Sapphire power plant exceeds 1200 hp. This is enough for the super sedan to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 1.89 s, and to 400 meters in 8.95 s, with a top speed electronically limited to 322 km/h.
The cost of the Lucid Air Sapphire starts at $249 thousand. It is a direct competitor to cars such as the Tesla Model S Plaid and Porsche Taycan Turbo S. At the same time, the market positioning of the Lucid super sedan focuses not only on achieving maximum speed, but also on handling and overall balance of the car.
Lucid Air Sapphire interior
Lucid
When creating the Sapphire, Lucid engineers completely redesigned the suspension and used reinforced brakes with carbon-ceramic discs. They also did not forget special aerodynamic elements to increase downforce.
Lucid Air Sapphire
Lucid
Even the battery and thermal management software has been adapted for extreme workloads. The central place in the cabin is occupied by a large Glass Cockpit display, the interior is complemented by leather sports seats with enhanced lateral support, and exclusive finishing materials are used in the decor.
Where is Lucid from?
Lucid was originally founded in 2007 as startup Atieva by a team consisting of former Tesla Motors vice president Bernard Tse, co-founder Sam Weng and Chinese inventor Shiuping Lin. Until 2016, they worked as a design bureau and did not announce the production of their own cars. The company has focused on developing advanced batteries and powertrains for other auto companies, including electric bus makers and Formula E racing teams.
At the same time, many former high-ranking Tesla engineers worked within the company. In 2013, former Tesla vice president and Model S lead engineer Peter Rawlinson became Atieva’s technical director. His arrival was a turning point that reoriented the company from supplying components to creating its own project. Another former Tesla engineer, Derek Jenkins, also played an important role in the early history of Lucid, heading the design department.
Ambition
In 2016, the company loudly announced itself as a new automaker. It received a new name, Lucid Motors, and presented a prototype of its future Air car. The declared characteristics, power of over a thousand horsepower and a range of more than 650 km on a single charge, attracted significant attention from the public and potential customers.
Lucid Air prototype
Lucid
The key shareholder and strategic partner of Lucid Motors was the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF), which provided the new automaker with financial stability.
The brand launched its first production model, the Dream Edition Lucid Air, to the market at the end of 2020. The Air sedan competes with the Tesla Model S, production of the electric Gravity SUV began in 2024, and a more affordable model is in development.
Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air
Lucid
Among the key technical features of Lucid products are compact and lightweight proprietary electric motors, as well as a high-voltage 900 V architecture that allows for fast charging. The company’s technological heritage from its time as Atieva is particularly evident in the Sapphire’s powertrain and battery management system, which is designed to withstand repeated intense acceleration without overheating or losing power.
What’s in stock
The automaker’s first and main model, Lucid Air, is available in several modifications. The main differences between them are power, range and price. The basic version of Pure is available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions with a power plant with a capacity of 430-480 hp. The range with a standard battery exceeds 600 km.
Lucid Air Pure
Lucid
In the Touring version, the electric sedan is available only in all-wheel drive, with separate electric motors for each axle. With a power of 620 hp. it can travel up to 807 km on a single charge. Lucid Air Grand Touring can travel even further – up to 835 km on a single charge.
Lucid Air Grand Touring
Lucid
