A New Electric Car Launching in 2021 Could Rival Tesla
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 3 min read
Lucid Motors is preparing to launch the 2021 Lucid Air luxury
electric car
that some say could rival Tesla models. The company reported that it has completed pre-production builds and has already surpassed 10,000 paid reservations for different versions of the car, according to USA Today
. Silicon Valley-based Lucid Motors is better known for supplying batteries to Formula E race cars. Lucid Motors is looking to build electric cars that can compete with other luxury electric vehicles (EVs) on the market like the Tesla Model S.
The 2021 Lucid Air will have impressive range
The Lucid Air Grand touring model will have the longest range out of any battery-powered vehicle. The model will start at $131,500 with a range of 517 miles and 800 horsepower.
You can get a better idea of just how impressive that is when you compare it to Tesla’s longest-range electric car. The Model S Long Range Plus has a range of 402 miles and a starting price of $79,990. Tesla models will be beat out by a huge margin if the Lucid Air can reach its expected range.
Here is the pricing, projected range, and horsepower of the other Lucid Air models:
- The Lucid Air base model will cost $69,900, with 406 miles projected range and 480 horsepower
- The Lucid Air Touring model will start at $87,500, with a range of 406 miles and 620 horsepower
- The Lucid Air Dream Edition, a limited-production performance model, will start at $161,500 and have a range of 465 or 503 miles depending on wheel size, and 1,080 horsepower
While the entry-level Air features a single motor that drives the rear wheels, the rest of the models use dual electric motors for all-wheel drive.
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More features included with Lucid Air models
MORE: How to Make Sure Electric Cars Are Greener
The Lucid Air has a spacious, upscale cabin with a shape that’s functional and fashionable, according to
Car and Driver
. There are also plenty of storage options and driver assists. Drivers will reportedly be able to get 300 miles of range in 20 minutes at a fast-charging station. If you’re in a hurry, the quickest model can even travel a quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds of charging.
The company also says the fastest model will have a top speed of 168 mph. The Air will provide a smooth ride, and the car’s low center of gravity is meant to help with steering and handling.
The Lucid Air will also have 32 sensors, including ultrasonic, external, and driver-monitoring cameras according to
IEEE
. Lucid is reportedly planning to implement over-the-air updates by 2023 to enable hands-off, eyes-off driving, which hasn’t been achieved by any showroom car. This means the Lucid Air will be able to manage semi-autonomous driving under specific conditions. Lucid Motors is looking to expand
The company is currently in the process of opening a network of North American showrooms by the end of 2021. It also plans to expand its factory to churn out 400,000 cars a year.
New owners of the Lucid Air will get three years of complimentary fast-charging at Electrify America charging stations, according to Car and Driver. Electric cars can come with hefty initial costs and expensive car insurance.
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