It was only recently that Lucid dropped the official specs of the Air Sapphire, aka their first-ever model in the Sapphire sub-brand, which also happens to be the most powerful production sedan ever made. However, certain people have already had the chance to experience it first-hand, so if you want to see what it's all about, then you have come to the right place.
First things first, we will remind you that the Lucid Air Sapphire boasts a three-motor powertrain developed and made in-house. It produces a total of 1,234 hp (1,252 ps/921 kW) and 1,430 lb-ft (1,939 Nm) of torque. Having this much grunt on tap translates to naught to sixty miles per hour (0 to 100 kph) in just 1.89 seconds. The official spec sheet also reveals that it can deal with the quarter mile in 8.95 seconds with an exit speed of 158 mph (254 kph).
Unlike the standard Tesla Model S Plaid, which is one of its biggest rivals in the segment, the Air Sapphire comes with large carbon ceramic brakes at no extra cost. It also gets a re-tuned chassis compared to the non-Sapphire model, featuring a stiffer ride. The electronic power steering, ABS, stability control, and traction control, were also re-tuned by Lucid to further set it apart from the Dream Edition Performance and Grand Touring Performance variants, which have 1,111 hp (1,127 ps/829 kW) and 1,050 hp (1,065 ps/783 kW) to play with.
Riding on 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels that were shod in 265/35 and 295/30 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, the Air Sapphire features additional trickery meant to improve its performance at the racetrack. For one, it has advanced torque vectoring, and the rear motors are said to be able to supply thrust to the wheels in opposite directions. Together with the regenerative braking on the inside wheel applied in certain scenarios, this means that it can corner quicker. Moreover, you will certainly recognize it due to the lip spoiler made of carbon fiber and the Sapphire Blue exterior paint finish that is exclusive to this model.
The reservation book will open on August 23, and you should hurry up and place a deposit soon if you want one, as Lucid says they will make the Air Sapphire in limited numbers. The electric hyper sedan has a starting price of $249,000 in the United States and kicks off at $325,000 north of the border in Canada. But is it really worth the hype, and should you actually buy one (if you can afford it, obviously)? The video shared below answers most questions you may have about it, as it is a hands-on review of the car. The footage is 21 minutes long, so if you were looking for an excuse to take a break, this is it.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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