Experience the Potent, Spacious, and Elegant Lucid Air Touring: A Captivating All-electric Sedan
"Giving a go at testing an electric car isn't always fun, but the Lucid Air Touring is the exception. It's a fantastic vehicle with a stunning design, a potent and efficient engine, and plenty of room. However, the controls aren't always easy to understand, and the turning circle is enormous."
"What's that you've got there?" you might ask. "Another Chinese car?" Indeed, the neighborhood tends to label any unknown car brand as Chinese. But this isn't just another vehicle from the world of Geely, BYD, or MG. This is a Lucid, an American electric car, even though the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund now owns the majority of the company.
The Lucid Air is a sleek luxury electric sedan. Its lovely lines, spread over nearly 5 meters in length, don't reveal that the car's world premiere was almost three years ago, or that the design is older due to Lucid only recently entering the German market and having very few vehicles registered so far.
Power outputs from 487 to 1251 hp
There's the Air with various power outputs in the astonishing range of 487 to 1251 hp. We got the Touring version, with 629 hp, the "second weakest" in the electric sedan sextet. With 1000 Newton meters of torque, 3.6 seconds of acceleration time, and a top speed of 225 km/h, you're still more than adequately powered.
The performance is as swift as you'd expect from highly powered cars in this class. The car glides quietly and confidently on the road, even with swiftly taken corners, the 2.5-ton vehicle handles well. The all-wheel drive does a great job, and Lucid's engineers have cleverly distributed the vehicle weight equally on the axles. The brakes are good, but could still stop a bit harder.
Wide parking space eater
You have to grip the steering wheel, especially in narrow places. The Lucid is 2.20 meters (!) wide with external mirrors, making city driving less than pleasant. Here, you realize that the sedan hails from the land of large cars and typically has ample parking spaces outside of metropolitan areas. Parking, or rather entering and exiting, in a normal German parking garage can sometimes be challenging. Adding to this is a large turning circle, which further decreases agility in the city.
The Lucid not only looks good from the outside, even a little futuristic from the front, but also continues this surprise in the interior, which looks surprisingly un-American. There, the driver finds an unpretentious, orderly cockpit with a long, side-narrowing screen that doesn't look bulky like competitors. The price for this is that many things, like the exterior mirrors, can only be adjusted digitally via the middle screen. Surprisingly, the vehicle, which costs 99,000 euros in the base price, didn't have a head-up display.
Remarkably low consumption
Worthy of special mention is the consumption. The standard value of 14.1 to 16 kWh seems already so low for such a large and heavy vehicle that you can hardly believe it. Unlike many other electric cars, however, the Lucid actually keeps a large part of its consumption promise. With partly forced, partly relaxed driving style, we achieved a value of less than 19 kWh.
Thanks to the 92 kWh battery, the five-seater can realistically travel between 400 to 450 kilometers between charging stops. This is an excellent value compared to competitors. It can be recharged at a Wallbox up to 22 kW, and DC charging is possible up to 250 kW, with a peak of over 200 kW achieved during our test.
Why Buy and Why Not
What's in favor of buying a Lucid Air? Testers praise its attractive design, well-equipped interior with ample space both front and rear, and a spacious trunk (627 liters). The powerful and relatively efficient powertrain is also noteworthy, as is the price of the test vehicle, which was around 125,000 euros with some extras, compared to similarly sized and powerful vehicles.
On the downside, the Lucid Air has a complex user interface, significant size, especially width and large turning circle. The absence of a head-up display was also disappointing. However, the most significant issue is likely the sparse dealer network.
The Lucid Air Touring, like all other variants, is for those who want to own an exceptional car and have the means to do so. The owner should be prepared to have the car frequently mistaken for a Chinese vehicle.
Lucid Air Touring - Technical Specifications
Four-door, five-seater high-end car sedanLength: 4.98 meters, Width (with exterior mirrors: 2.20 meters), Height: 1.42 meters, Wheelbase: 2.96 meters, Cargo space: 627-1552 liters + 283 liters (Front trunk)Two electric motors, 462 kW/628 PS, peak torque: 1200 Nm, single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, Maximum speed: 225 km/h, 0-100 km/h: 3.6 seconds, Battery capacity: 92 kWh, 700-Volt technology, AC charging: up to 22 kW, DC charging: up to 250 kW, Consumption: 14.1 - 16 kWh/100 km (depending on wheel size 19/20/21 inches), Range (WLTP): 725-648 km (depending on wheel size), CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, Test consumption: 18.6 kWh per 100 kilometersStarting price: 99,000 euros*Cost of the test vehicle: 125,000 euros
The Lucid Air Touring, being an American electric car, falls under the category of motor vehicles. Despite its size with a width of 2.20 meters, it handles well on the road due to its all-wheel drive and weight distribution.
When it comes to parking, the wide dimensions of the Lucid Air, including its large turning circle, can make city driving a challenge, requiring careful maneuvering in tight spaces.
