Lucid Air Grand Touring: A Revolution in Electric Luxury Sedans
For a decade, I’ve navigated the dynamic landscape of the automotive industry, witnessing firsthand the evolution of vehicle technology. From the raw power of internal combustion to the silent hum of electrification, I’ve seen trends rise and fall. Yet, few vehicles have impressed me as profoundly as the Lucid Air Grand Touring. This isn’t just another electric car; it’s a statement, a meticulously crafted machine that redefines what a luxury sedan can be. Lucid Motors, a relatively young entrant in a field dominated by century-old giants, has managed to inject a fresh perspective, unburdened by legacy systems and established dogma. They’ve arrived at a time when the full-size luxury sedan segment has become, frankly, a bit monotonous. Many offerings, while competent, blend into a sea of sameness, delivering predictable features and a homogenized driving experience. The Lucid Air Grand Touring, however, is a stark departure from this norm.
My recent extended drive with the Lucid Air Grand Touring allowed me to immerse myself in its unique proposition. Having recently sampled the latest from established titans like the BMW i7 and the Mercedes-AMG EQS, I have a keen understanding of the benchmarks set by these revered brands. After hundreds of miles behind the wheel, it’s unequivocally clear that the Grand Touring (GT) is, first and foremost, a truly distinctive full-size luxury sedan. Beyond that, it’s an 819-horsepower electric marvel capable of an astonishing 516 miles on a single charge.
Strip away the revolutionary powertrain, and you’re left with a vehicle that stands toe-to-toe with the likes of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Now, add in its remarkable agility, rivaling a BMW M5, and its off-the-line acceleration that can be compared to a Ferrari 458 Italia, and you have something truly extraordinary. And to be clear, this is not even Lucid’s most potent iteration of the Air. But, as is often the case with first-generation products, perfection remains an elusive pursuit.
Lucid Air Grand Touring: Key Specifications
Power Output: 819 horsepower / 885 pound-feet of torque
0-60 MPH: 3.0 seconds
Range: Up to 516 miles (with 19-inch wheels) / 469 miles (with 21-inch wheels)
Base Price: $139,650
As-Tested Price: $155,650
Full-Size Serenity in a Remarkably Compact Footprint
The exterior design of the Lucid Air Grand Touring is unlike anything else on the road, a testament to its innovative construction and intelligent packaging. Measuring 195.9 inches in length, 76.2 inches in width, and 55.4 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 116.5 inches, the GT presents dimensions akin to a mid-size luxury sedan like the Mercedes-Benz EQE. Yet, despite its more restrained exterior footprint, the Air envelops occupants and their belongings with passenger and cargo capacities that rival full-size flagships like the EQS. This remarkable feat is largely attributable to its minuscule electric motors. The GT houses two such motors, one powering each axle, so compact that they could comfortably fit inside a carry-on suitcase.
The diminutive nature of these powertrain components liberates an astonishing amount of interior space. While the GT’s conventional trunk capacity of 22.1 cubic feet is comparable to the EQS, it also boasts a front trunk (frunk) offering an additional 10 cubic feet, bringing the total to an impressive 32.1 cubic feet. For comparison, both the EQS and the BMW i7 lack a frunk altogether. Considering the i7 is a staggering 16.3 inches longer and 5.4 inches taller than the Air, yet offers nearly identical interior headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, the packaging superiority of the Lucid Air becomes strikingly apparent. This meticulous attention to interior volume is paramount in the EV era, where substantial battery packs can otherwise compromise passenger and cargo utility.
Beyond the numbers, the styling of the Lucid Air speaks volumes. It’s an exercise in understated elegance, eschewing ostentatious design cues for a more sophisticated presence. It doesn’t scream for attention but invariably draws it wherever it goes. The minimal front and rear overhangs emphasize the expansive passenger compartment nestled between the wheels. By concentrating the majority of its mass centrally, the GT achieves a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. This, coupled with the low-slung battery pack, contributes to an exceptionally planted and dynamic driving character.
Above all, the Lucid Air exudes sleekness. Flush, retractable door handles disappear into the bodywork, and the clamshell design of the front and rear storage compartments minimizes shut lines, creating a remarkably clean and aerodynamic profile. The front and rear lighting elements are elegantly integrated, featuring a distinctive wide lightbar as a signature element. Its low and broad stance imbues the Lucid with a commanding presence without resorting to aggressive styling.
However, arguably the most captivating design element of the GT is its expansive glasshouse. These generous windows flood the cabin with natural light, enhancing the sense of spaciousness and providing excellent outward visibility. This contributes significantly to the airy, almost ethereal atmosphere within the Air’s interior, making it feel even more voluminous than its already generous dimensions suggest.
An Electrifying Driving Experience: Eager to Dance
One of the pervasive concerns surrounding electric vehicles is the perceived loss of driving engagement compared to their internal combustion engine counterparts. I wholeheartedly disagree with this notion, especially after experiencing the Lucid Air GT. Today’s high-performance sedans, often heavily turbocharged and exclusively paired with automatic transmissions, are already burdened by significant weight, even before factoring in batteries. Consequently, the primary avenue for driver engagement has largely been relegated to synthesized engine sounds, often piped in to compensate for the extensive sound-deadening measures. In this context, the transition to a silent electric driving experience is less of a seismic shift and more of a natural progression. The Lucid Air GT, for its part, is anything but dull.
This particular Grand Touring model, while not the full-blown Performance variant, still unleashes a formidable 819 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. For context, its more potent sibling churns out an astounding 1050 horsepower, with the even more extreme Sapphire model on the horizon. For my part, I found the standard GT’s power output to be more than sufficient. It still catapults to 60 mph in around three seconds and provides more thrust than one could ever realistically utilize on a public road or even a demanding track. The dual permanent magnet electric motors that deliver this performance also ensure standard all-wheel drive.
It’s worth noting that the GT is equipped with a substantial 112.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack, which accounts for its curb weight of 5,203 pounds. Despite this mass, the Air masterfully conceals its heft. The GT offers three distinct drive modes – Smooth, Swift, and Sprint – but it eschews a complex air suspension system. Instead, it relies on robust steel springs and adaptive dampers. The tuning of these components strikes an enviable balance, providing an engaging and playful character on winding roads while maintaining a cosseting level of comfort during urban commutes.
While I acknowledge this is fundamentally a luxury sedan, its capability on a challenging, twisty road is nothing short of startling. Many vehicles in this segment strive to reconcile luxury with sportiness, but few achieve the seamless integration that the GT demonstrates. Attack a corner at speed, and the Air remains remarkably flat and composed, offering substantial grip. This composure is partly due to its brake-based torque vectoring system. The considerable curb weight seems to melt away as the Air deploys its power with uncanny precision, virtually eliminating understeer. Imagine the planted, responsive feel of an electric Nissan GT-R; you merely suggest a turn, and the Lucid Air obliges without hesitation.
Although the GT generates impressive g-forces during rapid acceleration and cornering, its electric power steering system, while precise, offers limited tactile feedback. You’re more likely to perceive the front tires losing adhesion audibly before you feel it through the wheel. However, the braking system is a hydraulic unit, providing ample information through the pedal. Like the Performance model, the standard GT is equipped with six-piston calipers upfront clamping onto 15-inch steel rotors, complemented by four-piston calipers acting on 14.8-inch discs at the rear. In my assessment, these brakes represent the GT’s most significant performance limitation. While communicative, they arguably lack the ultimate bite required for a vehicle weighing over 5,200 pounds that accelerates and corners with such ferocity.
To augment the deceleration capabilities, the Lucid Air employs a perpetually active regenerative braking system. It offers two distinct modes: Standard and High. Crucially, there is no “off” setting, meaning that irrespective of the selected drive mode, the vehicle begins to slow the moment you release the accelerator. While the absence of a complete deactivation option might seem restrictive, I found myself adapting to it within approximately a day. Furthermore, on spirited drives along winding routes, the added deceleration provided by this system is a welcome benefit.
Around town, I predominantly utilized the GT with its regenerative brakes set to High, significantly reducing reliance on the physical brake calipers. The calibration of this system is exceptionally smooth, predictable, and easy to modulate. Its intuitive nature translates to a low learning curve, preventing jarring lurches during deceleration, allowing for effortless stopping power derived solely from the accelerator pedal.
Ingenious Luxury Innovations: A Cabin of Tomorrow
Stepping into the cabin of the Lucid Air GT is an experience that belies the relative youth of the company. Every surface, every touchpoint, and every interaction exudes an undeniable sense of quality and meticulous craftsmanship. There are no bothersome rattles, no discernable fit-and-finish imperfections. This interior feels precisely as one would expect from a luxury sedan commanding a price of $155,650. Moreover, it maintains an almost unnerving level of quietude, even at elevated highway speeds. Yet, its overall layout is refreshingly unconventional.
My test vehicle featured the striking two-tone Tahoe interior option, which artfully blends dark blue leather for the front occupants with inviting tan seating for those in the rear. This aesthetic is further punctuated by subtle tan accents woven throughout, such as on the stitching of the seats and the carpeting. While this color combination might sound unconventional on paper, it translates into a captivating and sophisticated ambiance in reality, exemplifying Lucid’s willingness to think outside the established norms. In a segment as discerning as full-size luxury sedans, where traditional black or brown interiors are commonplace, Lucid has opted for a more daring and ultimately rewarding approach.
That said, the seats themselves, while supportive and aesthetically pleasing, don’t quite achieve the opulent, almost Rolls-Royce-like plushness of those found in the BMW i7. They are perhaps not as sumptuously soft for leisurely cruising, but they compensate with excellent lateral bolstering, providing a sportier feel than a conventional luxury sedan seat.
A defining characteristic of the Lucid Air GT’s interior is its complete absence of physical buttons. All vehicle functions are accessed and controlled through a sophisticated array of touchscreens. While this approach conserves space and contributes to the minimalist aesthetic, it’s the one aspect of the GT that I found myself struggling to fully embrace. The lack of haptic or tactile feedback from physical buttons makes it challenging to confirm a selection without visually verifying it on the screen. Given that even seemingly simple actions, such as activating the charge port, rely on these touch controls, it necessitates frequent glances to either side of the steering wheel to ensure the correct input has been registered.
The infotainment system itself is exceptionally well-executed and remarkably intuitive to navigate. I particularly appreciated the seamless ability to swipe maps or music controls between the expansive 34-inch curved main display and the vertically oriented, folding screen located in the center console. However, its omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is a notable drawback, especially considering these features have become industry standards. While these are anticipated to be integrated in future updates, their current absence is a significant compromise.
In terms of technological performance, I did encounter a couple of minor glitches during my tenure with the GT. The first involved an overly sensitive parking sensor system that would issue alerts even when no obstacles were present. The second, more concerning, incident involved the trunk lid, which erroneously indicated it was opening while I was navigating the highway. Thankfully, this proved to be a faulty display message, but it still necessitated a prudent pull-over to ensure safety. Such glitches, while not uncommon in early iterations of cutting-edge products like the Air, are still worth noting.
Battery Technology and Range: Redefining Endurance
The Lucid Air Grand Touring is equipped with a 112.0 kWh battery pack, underpinning a sophisticated 900-volt electrical architecture. This advanced system enables ultra-fast charging capabilities, supporting up to 300 kilowatts and delivering an impressive range of up to 516 miles when specified with the 19-inch wheels. Opting for the larger 21-inch wheels, as fitted to my test vehicle, reduces this range figure to 469 miles. Regardless of the wheel choice, the GT comfortably surpasses the needs of virtually any driver, effectively matching the operational range of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. While recharging may not be as instantaneous as a fuel stop, the sheer capacity of its immense battery pack eradicates any notion of range anxiety.
Pricing and Value Proposition: A New Benchmark
The 2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring carries a base price of $139,650, inclusive of a $1,650 destination charge. My comprehensively optioned tester, featuring extras such as the $2,000 21-inch Aero Blade wheels, the $10,000 DreamDrive Pro driver-assist suite, and the $4,000 Surreal Sound Pro audio system, brought the final tally to $155,650. For comparative purposes, the similarly equipped BMW i7 I reviewed recently was priced at $151,995, while the Mercedes-AMG EQS I drove earlier in the year had a sticker price of $165,020.
It is crucial to note that both the BMW i7 and the Mercedes-AMG EQS offer less power, shorter driving ranges, smaller interior cabins, and reduced cargo capacity compared to the Lucid Air GT. While the pricing of the Lucid Air GT may align closely with its most direct competitors, its overall value proposition is demonstrably stronger.
Concluding Thoughts: A New Dawn for Electric Luxury
The Lucid Air Grand Touring stands as a compelling testament to the transformative power of a fresh start in automotive design and engineering. Its driving dynamics on challenging, winding roads surpass those of its German rivals, while it consistently delivers comparable levels of comfort during everyday urban driving. With an unparalleled range of up to 516 miles, the GT effectively banishes range anxiety to the annals of automotive history. While it might sound peculiar to describe an 819-horsepower sedan as “more than quick enough,” I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing. I see little practical justification for opting for the even more powerful Performance variant, beyond perhaps the allure of bragging rights.
That said, as exceptional as the Lucid Air GT is, it is not without its imperfections. The absence of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is a palpable drawback, particularly given that smartphone-integrated systems are not only overwhelmingly preferred by owners but have also become a de facto industry standard. Furthermore, while my test vehicle had undoubtedly endured rigorous press mileage, it did exhibit a few minor technological glitches.
Despite these first-generation foibles, I would readily overlook them in favor of the Lucid Air GT’s overwhelmingly strong overall package. Lucid Motors may still be a relatively young company, but its debut product possesses the gravitas and capability to significantly disrupt a segment that, in many respects, has become complacent. This disruption, ultimately, benefits discerning buyers immensely.
The automotive world is at a pivotal moment, and the Lucid Air Grand Touring is leading the charge into a more exciting and sophisticated electric future. If you’re ready to experience the pinnacle of electric luxury and performance, the Lucid Air Grand Touring awaits your exploration. Discover the future of driving and schedule your personal Lucid Air Grand Touring experience today.
