autoevolution
 

Atieva Changes Name to 'Lucid Motors,' Shows New Images of Its Upcoming Sedan

Things are entering the final stretch for Atieva as the company is getting ready to introduce its first ever product - a luxury electric sedan with self-driving capabilities, of course.
Lucid Motors teaser 5 photos
Photo: Lucid Motors
Lucid Motors teaserLucid Motors teaserLucid Motors teaserLucid Motors teaser
That seems like the default launching vehicle for any startup company these days, with some choosing to go for a crossover instead. But when you want to position yourself as a luxury manufacturer, the body style of a sedan seems like the best bet.

Atieva has been keeping itself busy trashing sportscars, supercars, and Teslas in drag races using its Mercedes-Benz Vito-shaped mule called Edna. Despite the less than ideal aerodynamics, the white van sitting on top of Atieva's drivetrain mopped the floor with its competitors, suggesting we should expect very impressive performances from the sedan once it's launched.

Speaking of the company's first model, a grainy black and white picture of the car got leaked last week, showing an EV that looks promising, if a little bit too fat. It looks like Atieva's designers went for a retro-futuristic look that's definitely elegant, but based on appearance, the incredible dynamic performances would come as a surprise.

The car is said to come with a total power of 900 hp obtained from an unknown number of motors - more than one, that's for sure - and a battery pack totaling 87 kWh. The maximum range of the sedan remains a mystery, but we'd be surprised if it didn't go over 200 miles. In fact, we'd be disappointed.

Just as we were starting to get used to the company's weird name, it got changed from Atieva to 'Lucid Motors." The new name would suggest that we should expect a strong emphasis on AI, and a short text on the new website confirms that: "Our vehicles will feature automated driving systems, natural voice interactions, and intuitive user interfaces. Whether sitting in the front or back, the onboard intelligence will deliver a uniquely personal experience unlike any other currently on the road."

However, Atieva Lucid Motors won't find it easy to break into the market, as it's becoming a more and more crowded place. Tesla said it welcomed competitors, but it's easy for Elon Musk's company to say that since they are now the undisputed leaders, with a head start of at least four years over everybody else. Tesla has the experience, the workforce, and the production capabilities to sustain a steady growth of the market, while Lucid Motors is still looking for a place to build its factory.

Still, the timeline for its sedan isn't too pessimistic: the yet unnamed sedan (previously believed to be called 'Atvus') should be revealed by the end of this year and enter production by 2018, with deliveries set to begin the same year, which means less than two years. A little optimistic, but not impossible.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Vlad Mitrache
Vlad Mitrache profile photo

"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories