Newark, California-based Lucid Group burst onto the electric vehicle scene with their Air model, which touts an industry-leading 520-mile range. You might also remember the company commencing manufacturing last spring at their recently completed 500-acre production facility in Casa Grande, Arizona.
This time Lucid is turning heads with the most powerful electric vehicle available in North America - their Air Grand Touring Performance. Not to be confused with the Lucid Air Grand Touring vehicle, the Performance model will offer 1,050 horsepower in going 0 to 60 in 2.6 seconds, and hitting a top speed of 168 mph.
The vehicle will feature one of Lucid’s proprietary electric motors at each axle and, despite the added power, will still offer an EPA-estimated driving range of 446 miles. While this is less than the Air, it’s still ahead of the nearest competitor for the range title, as Tesla’s dual motor Model S offers a range of between 375 and 405 miles on a single charge.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Model S Plaid does own the title of quickest EV on the planet, as it sacrifices range for a sub 2-second 0 to 60 time and top speed of 200 mph.
Lucid credits its “high degree of vertical integration” and the in-house production of its proprietary EV powertrain and battery pack for its ability to transition from concept to commercial-availability so quickly.
It’s worth noting that the Lucid Air Grand Touring vehicle, which is the official follow-up to the Air, is no slouch. It’s rated at 819 horsepower in going 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds, while carrying an EPA-estimated range of 516 miles.
Additional features of both Grand Touring models include 20-way massaging seats, a 21-speaker Surreal Sound Pro audio system, a glass canopy design that delivers panoramic views of the sky and natural lighting, while filtering out heat and harmful rays.
Lucid’s DreamDrive Pro advanced driver-assistance system is also included, which utilizes a network of 32 on-board sensors to monitor operations and provide in-vehicle connectivity.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance will be available in June, and carry a U.S. MSRP of $179,000.