The Lucid Air will replace Tesla as the dominant EV, and the company could take some cues from its design.
At one point in time, the Tesla Model S was your only choice for an electric sedan, but times have changed. There are now dozens of options when it comes to electric sedans, each with their own unique price tag, power output, intended use, and all-electric driving range. There was also a time when the Model S set the standard for efficiency and range, but those days are long gone. The Lucid Air has surpassed the Model S as the most powerful and fastest electric sedan on the market. However, the Lucid Air has many more benefits, and these are the top ten that set it apart from the Model S.
The Lucid Air offers a wider variety of available exterior finishes.
Although not all Lucid Air models are currently available for purchase, the company has stated that there will be six available configurations in the future. These configurations are Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, Dream Edition Range, Dream Edition Performance, and Sapphire. However, buyers of the Model S have to settle for one of two available styles. All Air models (with the exception of the Lucid Air Sapphire) are propelled by a pair of electric motors, with output ranging from 480 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in the Pure trim to 1,111 horsepower and 1,025 pound-feet of torque in the Dream Edition Performance. Lucid also shared that a RWD version of the Air Pure is on the way. Choosing between the 670-horsepower dual-motor setup and the 1,020-horsepower tri-motor setup for the Model S is much simpler.
When pitted against the Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire easily comes out on top.
The top-of-the-line Lucid Air Sapphire is propelled by three electric motors producing a total of 1,200 horsepower. The Model S Plaid also features a tri-motor all-wheel-drive configuration, but its output is capped at 1,020 horsepower. In the initial information we have received from Lucid, we learn that the Sapphire can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.89 seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in 3.87 seconds, and up to a top speed of 205 mph. However, the Model S Plaid accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 1.99 seconds and has a top speed of 200 miles per hour. The Air Sapphire claims to complete the quarter mile in under nine seconds, while the official quarter-mile time for the Plaid is 9.23 seconds at a trap speed of 155 miles per hour. Some men, however, have clocked times of 8.94 seconds at 156 miles per hour while running the course.
The Lucid Air has increased range.
There was once a time when no other manufacturer could match Tesla’s range, but now many have promised speeds of 400 to 500 miles. Also included in this group is Lucid Motors. Tesla took a major loss in this market because the Lucid Air, even in its most basic form, offers greater range than the Model S. The Air Pure has a 410-mile range, and it only improves from there. Maximum range for the Touring is 425 miles, for the Grand Touring it’s 469 on 21-inch wheels and for the Grand Touring it’s 516 on 19-inch wheels. When rolling on 21-inch wheels, the Dream Edition Range’s range is 481 miles, but it increases to 520 miles when using 19-inch wheels. Wheel-based estimates put the Dream Edition Performance’s range at 451 to 471 miles; we have yet to receive official figures for the Sapphire. The Model S has a range of 405 miles in its standard trim and 396 miles in its Plaid configuration.
Fast charging for the Lucid Air is possible at up to 350 kW.
In addition, the Model S falls short when it comes to charging speed. Charging speeds for the Model S are limited to 250 kW by the Tesla Supercharger network, which is arguably the best and largest charging network in the world. If you have access to one of the United States’ 45,000 Superchargers, you can add up to 200 miles of range to your Model S in just 15 minutes. However, the Lucid Air has a head start thanks to its ultra-high 900V+ electrical architecture and the expanding 350kW fast-charging infrastructure being built out across the country. When fully charged, the Air can travel 20 miles in just one minute, making it the world’s fastest-charging electric vehicle. You can get up to 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes of charging, if you do the math.
The air will be more affordable and customizable once all the accessories are on hand.
The Model S is very straightforward, with prices beginning at $88,490 for the base trim and from $108,490 for the Plaid, and with only the Enhanced Autopilot (at $6,000) and the Full Self-Driving Capability (at $15,000) available as add-ons. However, things become somewhat more intricate when dealing with Air. At this time, the Air Pure retails for $92,900 in the United States, while the Air Touring retails for $107,400 and the Air Grand Touring retails for $138,000. The Sapphire, which is available for preorder, has all the bells and whistles and costs $249,000. At first glance, the Air’s price tag appears to be higher than that of the Model S, but Lucid will also offer the single-motor, RWD Pure, starting at $87,400. Customers can make their Air models more special by modifying them individually, unlike with the Model S. There are a wide variety of exterior and interior paints, as well as roof options (depending on the trim level), wheel designs, and optional features to choose from.
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