Lucid says it is "committed to reducing the most common barriers for prospective EV drivers" as it applies new discounts to its only EV – the posh and well-engineered Air. We would have said that this move was more about staying competitive until the minivan-ified Gravity was ready for its public debut and the Air received a facelift rather than reducing barriers. But let's give Lucid this one. Here are the numbers.
When it comes to all-electric vehicles, the Air is undeniably a solid choice. Its maker, Lucid, is one of America's most promising startups. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this automaker deserves to thrive, not just survive. That's why I'm glad Saudi Arabia is pouring money into former Tesla Model S Chief Engineer Peter Rawlinson's dream.
The Air, which is manufactured in Arizona, isn't just a copycat or an internal combustion engine platform that someone rushed to turn electric. It's a "zero-emission" sedan that was built from the ground up to be as good as possible. It contains the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of thousands of people who have invested time, energy, and money to see it ready for the light of day.
Of course, nobody is saying that the Air is perfect. It has a few shortcomings of its own. However, just like Rivian, Lucid proved that when you want to provide an alternative, you can do it without cutting corners or turning customers into beta testers.
If you want to give the Lucid Air a chance, there hasn't been a better occasion to do so. The automaker just introduced heavy discounts for the Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring trims. The only version that costs the same is the tri-motor Sapphire, which can easily become a silent track weapon.
The single-motor rear-wheel-drive Air Pure now costs $69,900 and has 430 hp to play with. The marque applied a $7,500 discount that resembles the EV tax credit's full amount.
Photo: Lucid Motors
The automaker also dropped the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Air Pure, which had an MSRP of $82,400 before this impromptu reshuffle.
If you want more power and all-wheel drive, the 620-hp Lucid Air Touring is the answer. It now has a starting cost of $77,900. It accelerates to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.4 seconds, 1.1 seconds faster than the Air Pure. Both models have almost the same 410-mile range, though. You're not losing any go capacity by upgrading to the Touring version. They also share the same 92-kWh high-voltage energy storage unit.
But if you have a few more pennies to spare, the Air Grand Touring and its revised price tag of $109,900 might be more appealing. It puts out 819 hp, which enables it to reach 60 mph from naught in three seconds flat. The range is also better – 516 miles! If the 350-kW DC dispensers in your area work properly, you can refill the 112-kWh battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes.
The Air Grand Touring also happens to be the fastest-charging EV currently on the market, according to a test conducted in June 2023. Keep in mind that actual results may vary depending on the model you're comparing it with. Many new EVs have been launched since that test. Also, don't forget that the charging curve matters!
But probably the best thing about the Air Grand Touring is that it's now $15,700 cheaper than before.
To sweeten the deal further, Lucid is also offering prospective buyers $1,000 to purchase a charging accessory, such as a home charging station. The brand also includes two years or 24,000 or free maintenance with each purchase or lease.
Sadly, there appear to be no free fast-charging perks anymore. Lucid used to offer up to two years of complimentary charging sessions with Electrify America.
Lastly, this is Lucid's first price change in 2024. Last year, the brand cut prices across the board on two separate occasions. Then, it introduced the single-motor Air Pure as its most affordable model.
Let's hope this will help the brand sell more EVs until the Gravity is ready for prime time.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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