Lucid Air Grand Touring: A New Epoch in Electrified Luxury Sedans
For a decade now, I’ve immersed myself in the intricate world of automotive engineering and market dynamics, witnessing firsthand the tectonic shifts reshaping how we perceive and interact with vehicles. My journey has taken me through the evolution of internal combustion, the burgeoning promise of hybrids, and now, the undeniable ascendancy of electric mobility. It’s within this dynamic landscape that Lucid Motors has emerged, not as another player attempting to mimic established giants, but as a disruptor armed with a potent blend of audacious vision and engineering prowess. My recent extended experience with the Lucid Air Grand Touring, specifically the 2023 model year, has solidified my belief that this newcomer isn’t just participating in the luxury sedan segment; it’s fundamentally redefining it
The automotive industry, much like any mature sector, can fall prey to the inertia of tradition. Decades of ingrained practices and incremental improvements can lead to a certain homogeneity, where distinctiveness becomes a rare commodity. We’ve seen this in the full-size luxury sedan market, where established brands, despite their storied histories, often present offerings that, while competent, tread familiar ground. Having recently sampled the cutting-edge BMW i7 and the potent Mercedes-AMG EQS, I approached the Lucid Air Grand Touring with a critical eye, eager to discern whether its innovative narrative held up under real-world scrutiny. After hundreds of miles navigating varied terrains and urban sprawls, the conclusion is resounding: the Lucid Air Grand Touring is a singular achievement, a beacon of ingenuity that marries unparalleled luxury with electrifying performance. It’s an 819 horsepower electric vehicle boasting an astonishing Lucid Air Grand Touring range of up to 516 miles, a figure that renders range anxiety a relic of the past.
To distill the Lucid Air Grand Touring down to its powertrain alone would be a grave disservice. Strip away the advanced electric propulsion, and you are left with a vehicle that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the venerable Mercedes-Benz S-Class in terms of opulent comfort and refined ambiance. Now, layer back in its electric heart, and the narrative transforms. This is a sedan that exhibits the agile responsiveness of a BMW M5 while launching off the line with the ferocity of a supercar. It’s an extraordinary juxtaposition, a testament to intelligent design and obsessive attention to detail. And, crucially, this Grand Touring model, while exceptionally potent, is not even the pinnacle of the Air’s performance spectrum, hinting at even greater thrills to come. However, as is often the case with first-generation products, perfection remains an aspiration rather than a fully realized state.
The Enigma of Space: Full-Size Luxury in a More Compact Footprint
One of the most immediate and striking aspects of the Lucid Air Grand Touring is its audacious approach to packaging. Lucid Motors, founded in 2007 with its first vehicle commencing development in 2014, may be a relatively young entity in the automotive sphere, but its youth has proven to be an advantage. Unburdened by legacy constraints, the California-based automaker has engineered a vehicle that defies conventional automotive dimensional comparisons. At 195.9 inches long, 76.2 inches wide, and 55.4 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 116.5 inches, the Grand Touring occupies a physical space more akin to a mid-size luxury sedan, such as the Mercedes-Benz EQE. Yet, within this more manageable exterior, it offers passenger and cargo capacities that rival, and in some instances surpass, full-size behemoths like the EQS and BMW i7.
This spatial efficiency is a direct consequence of Lucid’s revolutionary powertrain architecture. The two compact electric motors, one for each axle, are remarkably small – literally fitting within the dimensions of a carry-on suitcase. This ingenious miniaturization liberates an unprecedented amount of interior volume. While the trunk capacity of 22.1 cubic feet is comparable to the EQS, the Air distinguishes itself with a substantial 10 cubic feet of additional storage in its front trunk, or “frunk,” bringing the total to an impressive 32.1 cubic feet. In stark contrast, both the EQS and the i7 lack this front storage compartment. Consider the BMW i7, a vehicle that is a staggering 16.3 inches longer and 5.4 inches taller than the Air, yet the Lucid provides equivalent or superior headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for its occupants, all while offering a more capacious cargo area. This mastery of EV packaging is paramount in electric vehicles, where substantial battery packs inherently consume space.
Beyond the numbers, the Lucid Air’s exterior styling possesses a captivating elegance. It eschews ostentatious flourishes for a design language that is both understated and undeniably alluring, consistently drawing appreciative glances. The car’s proportions are meticulously balanced, with remarkably short front and rear overhangs that emphasize the expansive passenger cabin. This design philosophy, which centralizes mass inboard, contributes to a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Coupled with the low-slung battery pack integrated into the floor, this results in an exceptionally stable and dynamic driving platform.
The Air’s aerodynamic prowess is evident in its sleek silhouette. Flush door handles retract seamlessly into the bodywork, and the clamshell design of the front and rear storage compartments minimizes shut lines, creating an uninterrupted, fluid form. The lighting elements, both front and rear, are minimalist yet distinctive, characterized by elegant light bars that serve as a signature visual cue. Combined with its low and wide stance, the Lucid Air exudes an undeniable presence without resorting to aggressive styling. Perhaps the most breathtaking design element, however, is the expansive glass canopy. It floods the cabin with natural light, enhancing the sense of spaciousness and offering panoramic outward visibility. This ethereal quality lends the Air an airy, almost loft-like feel, amplifying the perception of its already generous interior dimensions.
The Thrill of the Electric Drive: Engaging Dynamics Beyond Expectation
A lingering apprehension among some potential electric vehicle adopters is the perceived sacrifice in driving engagement compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. My time with the Lucid Air Grand Touring has unequivocally dispelled this notion. Modern ICE performance sedans often rely heavily on turbocharging, employ exclusively automatic transmissions, and carry significant weight even before the addition of batteries. Consequently, the primary source of driver engagement often boils down to simulated engine notes, a compromise necessitated by extensive sound-deadening measures. Transitioning to the profound silence of an electric powertrain, therefore, is less of a jarring departure and more of a natural evolution. The Lucid Air Grand Touring, in particular, is anything but a passive driving experience.
This Grand Touring variant, while potent, is not the flagship Performance model, delivering a substantial 819 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. For context, its uprated sibling produces a colossal 1,050 horsepower, with the even more extreme Sapphire model on the horizon. Nevertheless, the Grand Touring’s output is more than adequate for the vast majority of driving scenarios. It launches from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere three seconds, a feat that provides more exhilarating acceleration than most drivers will ever require, whether on an open highway or a challenging back road. The dual permanent magnet electric motors deliver power instantaneously and provide the car with standard all-wheel drive, ensuring optimal traction in all conditions.
It’s important to acknowledge the substantial 112.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack that underpins this performance, contributing to a curb weight of 5,203 pounds. However, the Air’s engineering team has masterfully masked this heft. The vehicle offers three distinct drive modes: Smooth, Swift, and Sprint. Intriguingly, it foregoes a complex air suspension system, opting instead for robust steel springs and adaptive dampers. This setup, meticulously tuned, strikes an impressive balance, delivering exhilarating agility on winding roads while maintaining a serene and comfortable ride in urban environments.
While acknowledging its luxury sedan credentials, the Lucid Air’s handling prowess on a twisty road is nothing short of astonishing. It’s a rare feat for any vehicle in this segment to harmonize luxury and sportiness so effectively. Entrust the Grand Touring to a series of challenging bends at speed, and it responds with remarkable composure, remaining remarkably flat and exhibiting tenacious grip. This dynamic stability is partly attributable to its sophisticated brake-based torque vectoring system. The considerable curb weight seems to dissipate as the Air expertly channels its power, exhibiting a surprising absence of understeer. It’s reminiscent of the electrically-assisted agility of a performance sports car; you simply guide the wheel, and the vehicle obediently follows.
Despite the impressive lateral forces it can generate during spirited acceleration and cornering, the electric power steering system, a common trade-off in modern EVs, transmits limited tactile feedback to the driver. You are more likely to hear the front tires reaching their limit before feeling it through the steering wheel. Conversely, the hydraulic braking system provides a welcome return of information through the brake pedal, offering a more traditional and reassuring connection. The Grand Touring is equipped with six-piston calipers clamping onto 15-inch rotors at the front, and four-piston calipers with 14.8-inch discs at the rear. While communicative, these brakes, in my opinion, represent the only area where the Lucid Air’s performance capabilities might be slightly constrained by the immense forces they are tasked with controlling, particularly given the vehicle’s substantial mass and rapid acceleration.
To augment the braking system, the Lucid Air employs an always-on regenerative braking system, a staple in the EV landscape. It offers two distinct modes: Standard and High, with no “off” setting. This means that upon lifting off the accelerator pedal, the vehicle begins to decelerate, irrespective of the selected drive mode. While the lack of a completely disengaged regenerative braking option might seem restrictive, I found myself adapting to it within a day of driving. Furthermore, when tackling demanding inclines or navigating a spirited drive on a winding road, the added deceleration force provided by the regenerative system is a welcome and beneficial feature.
In urban driving scenarios, I predominantly utilized the High regenerative braking setting. This allowed for a driving experience where the accelerator pedal became the primary control for both acceleration and deceleration, minimizing the need for the conventional hydraulic brakes. The system’s calibration is exceptionally smooth, seamless, and intuitive to modulate. Its forgiving nature ensures that abrupt jolts are avoided, allowing for effortless and precise stops using only the “go” pedal. This advanced EV braking technology contributes significantly to the overall refinement and ease of driving the Lucid Air.
The Art of Refinement: Innovative Luxury and a Distinctive Interior Aesthetic
Stepping into the cabin of the Lucid Air Grand Touring is an experience that belies the company’s relatively nascent status. The interior craftsmanship is exceptional, with every surface, material, and touchpoint exuding a sense of premium quality. There are no discernible rattles, squeaks, or imperfections, hallmarks of a vehicle destined for the discerning luxury buyer. At highway speeds, the cabin remains remarkably serene, providing an oasis of tranquility. The interior design itself is refreshingly unconventional, departing from the predictable layouts often found in this segment.
My test vehicle featured the two-tone Tahoe interior, a bold yet ultimately successful combination of deep navy leather in the front appointments and rich tan upholstery in the rear. Tan accents were thoughtfully integrated throughout, from the stitching on the seats to the carpeting. While this color scheme might sound unconventional on paper, it translates beautifully into the real world, serving as another compelling example of Lucid’s forward-thinking approach. In a segment typically dominated by predictable black or brown interiors, Lucid has dared to be different, injecting a welcome dose of personality and flair.
The seats themselves, while offering excellent lateral support for spirited driving, do not quite reach the supreme plushness of the Rolls-Royce-esque chairs found in the BMW i7. They are sportier than traditional luxury sedan seats, leaning towards a more engaging feel rather than pure pillowy comfort. However, for the overall character of the Lucid Air, this sporting bias in the seating is entirely appropriate.
A defining characteristic of the Lucid Air GT’s interior is its complete absence of physical buttons. All vehicle functions are managed through a series of integrated screens. While this minimalist approach contributes to a clean and uncluttered aesthetic, it was the one aspect of the GT that I found myself struggling to fully embrace. The lack of tactile feedback – the satisfying click or vibration of a button press – makes it challenging to confirm selections without diverting your visual attention. Even seemingly simple actions, such as opening the charging port, require interaction with the touchscreen, leading to a constant need to glance at the displays to ensure the correct input has been registered. This is a critical consideration for luxury car technology integration.
Despite this minor reservation regarding physical controls, the infotainment system itself is superb, boasting an intuitive interface and effortless navigation. I particularly appreciated the fluid gesture control, allowing for seamless swiping of navigation maps or audio controls between the expansive 34-inch curved main display and the vertically oriented folding screen nestled in the center console. However, the notable absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, features that have become industry standards and are highly anticipated by consumers, is a significant oversight. While their eventual integration has been promised, their current unavailability is a drawback in an otherwise technologically advanced cabin.
Beyond the infotainment system, I encountered a couple of minor technological glitches during my tenure with the Grand Touring. The parking sensors occasionally exhibited an over-sensitivity, triggering warnings even when no obstacles were present. More concerningly, on one occasion while driving on the highway, the trunk indicator suggested it was opening, necessitating a brief pull over to verify its security. While such issues are not entirely unexpected in early production vehicles, they are nonetheless worth noting. These occasional hiccups, though minor, do detract slightly from the otherwise impeccable presentation of Lucid’s electric vehicle innovation.
Power, Range, and Value: A New Benchmark for Electrified Sedans
The Lucid Air Grand Touring is equipped with a substantial 112.0 kWh battery pack, supported by an advanced 900-volt electrical architecture. This cutting-edge system enables ultra-fast charging capabilities, with the potential to reach up to 300 kilowatts. When configured with the standard 19-inch wheels, the Grand Touring delivers an impressive EPA-estimated range of up to 516 miles. Opting for the larger 21-inch wheels, as featured on my test vehicle, reduces this figure slightly to 469 miles. Regardless of wheel choice, the Lucid Air Grand Touring range is more than sufficient to alleviate any concerns about range anxiety, firmly placing it on par with, and in many cases exceeding, the practical range of comparable gasoline-powered vehicles.
The pricing structure of the Lucid Air Grand Touring positions it directly within the premium luxury sedan segment. The 2023 Grand Touring model starts at $139,650, inclusive of destination charges. My thoroughly optioned tester, featuring the 21-inch Aero Blade wheels ($2,000), the advanced DreamDrive Pro driver-assistance suite ($10,000), and the immersive Surreal Sound Pro audio system ($4,000), carried a final sticker price of $155,650. For comparative context, the similarly equipped BMW i7 I recently evaluated was priced at $151,995, while the Mercedes-AMG EQS clocked in at a considerably higher $165,020.
When considering these figures, it’s crucial to weigh them against the tangible benefits offered by the Lucid Air. Both the BMW and the AMG, while formidable luxury vehicles, offer less horsepower, a shorter driving range, smaller interior cabins, and reduced cargo capacity. While the Lucid Air Grand Touring may command a similar price point to its direct competitors, its value proposition is demonstrably stronger, delivering a more compelling package of performance, luxury, and practicality. This underscores Lucid’s commitment to offering exceptional electric vehicle value.
The Road Ahead: Lucid’s Disruptive Vision
The Lucid Air Grand Touring stands as a potent testament to the transformative power of a fresh start in the automotive industry. Its driving dynamics on a challenging road course far surpass those of its German rivals, offering a more engaging and athletic experience while maintaining comparable levels of comfort on everyday city streets. With its extraordinary Lucid Air Grand Touring range of up to 516 miles, range anxiety becomes a concept of the past. While it may seem peculiar to describe an 819-horsepower sedan as “more than quick enough,” it is a statement that reflects the sheer abundance of power on tap. For the vast majority of discerning drivers, the Grand Touring model offers a perfect balance of exhilarating performance and luxurious refinement, making the allure of the higher-performance variants more about bragging rights than necessity.
Despite its myriad of strengths, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is not without its imperfections. The absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, particularly given their prevalence and user preference, remains a noticeable drawback. Furthermore, while my test vehicle had undoubtedly endured rigorous press mileage, it did exhibit a few minor technological glitches, which are understandable for a first-generation product but still warrant mention.
However, these minor first-generation foibles are, in my expert opinion, easily overlooked when considering the sheer brilliance of the overall package. Lucid Motors, though a relatively young company, has produced a debut product that possesses the depth, capability, and innovation to fundamentally disrupt a segment that, for too long, has rested on its laurels. This competition breeds innovation, and ultimately, it is the discerning consumer who benefits most from the introduction of such a groundbreaking vehicle into the luxury sedan market.
If you’re ready to experience the future of electrified luxury and performance, and explore how the Lucid Air Grand Touring can elevate your driving experience, we invite you to connect with our team of Lucid specialists today to arrange a personalized consultation and test drive.
