Sam Weng (businessman) and Benard Tse (former Tesla executive) founded Lucid Motors in 2007 as Atieva. The company is based in California, an area known as Newark near Silicon Valley. As Atieva, Lucid mainly focused on making electric powertrains and batteries for other vehicle makers. As a result, Atieva accumulated more than 50 patents in the US alone relating to its primary battery system. The company is reportedly more valuable than brands like Honda, Hyundai, or Mazda.
By 2013, Lucid was a great capable producer of electric powertrains and connected battery packs. This made the company start thinking of making its car. That's when Peter Rawlinson (former Chief Engineer and VP of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla came in as the Chief Technology Officer. In 2014, the company got a major financial boost of a 9-digit to manufacture its unique, complete vehicle. Companies such as JAFCO, Venrock, and Mitsui invested in Lucid Motors until the present. According to the company's website, the team developed a test vehicle that boasted a custom 900 HP powertrain. Its exterior look remained ordinary to stay unrecognized. It could reach high speeds of 100KM/h in about 3 seconds. Plus, the vehicle's driving range was impressive and exceeded most of today's range limitations.
In October 2016, Atieva provided an official announcement about changing its brand name to Lucid Motors. It also announced plans to develop an all-electric luxury vehicle. After a month, Lucid officials, together with Arizona's state officials, announced its plans to acquire land in Casa Grande, where a $700 million facility was occupying a 590-acre piece of land.
Today, the company is the new automotive manufacturer of exceptional electric vehicles. They boast 4 Air trim vehicles, and we'll discuss each of them here.
Air Pure is the entry-level trim of Lucid's Air. Its price starts at $77,400, making it the most affordable of all the Air trims. For that price, you'll enjoy an excellent single rear motor capable of producing 480hp with a great range of 653km. This trim level boasts a 900-volt fast-charging battery that can add up to 482km of range in just 20 minutes. If that's the type of EV you're looking for, the automaker's site lets you build and customize your own Lucid Air Pure. However, you may have to wait for quite a while for its production at some point in 2022. That's when the company will also reveal the trim's performance numbers.
The Air Touring trim comes at $95,000, that's before the possible federal tax credits. This EV from Lucid Motors features rear and a front motor. Its peak output power can increase to 620hp with a range of about 653km in the case of the 19-inch wheels. However, choosing the 21-inches may affect the vehicle's range. Air Touring can also achieve a 0-100km speed in just 3.2 seconds. That's not bad for an EV with four big doors. It will also cover a quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at impressive speeds of 198km/h. Besides, Lucid Motors claim that the Air Touring vehicle has a top speed of 249km/h.
The third trim level of Lucid Air is the Air Grand Touring. Its price is $139,000 before tax credit. You get a great EV with a rear and front motor for all that amount. These motors operate together to deliver 800hp, which is impressive. Lucid estimates that the Air Grand Touring trim's range can increase to 517 miles. But for this to happen, ensure you get one with a 19-inch wheel. In the case of a 21-inch wheeler, the range may fall to about 475 miles. The Air Grand Touring can reach 100km in 3
seconds. Plus, the time for covering a quarter-mile is 10.8 seconds with speeds of 214km. According to the automaker, the Air Grand Touring can reach a top speed of 270km/h.
The Air Dream Edition closes the Lucid Air lineup. This EV is expected to lead the way in 2022 and will cost $169,000 before possible federal tax credit. It features an electric motor at both the rear and front axles, providing a high horsepower of 1080. Its 21-inch AeroDream wheels offer a driving range of up to 748. As with the 19-inch AeroRange wheels, the Air Dream Edition can go up to 810km when fully charged. That's quite an impressive battery capacity for an electric vehicle. Lucid also says that the Air Dream Edition can reach 100km in 2.5 seconds and covers a quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds with a high speed of 144mph. Like the Air Grand Touring, Air Dream Edition features a top speed of 270km/h.
In 2021, this automaker shipped around 577 EV cars to its US customers. Its production rate in 2022 is expected to hit 20,000 EVs and 50,000 in 2023. Lucid plans to start supplying EVs to its customers in Canada in early 2022. The company has also availed the prices and details of the four models. A Canadian customer who wishes to buy the Lucid Air all-electric vehicle will need $80,000 or more.
The four separate rims expected to reach the Canadian market include - Air Pure: It's the base model with a 480hp powertrain. You can expect an impressive 653km range. Air Touring: Canadian buyers will enjoy a 620hp power. Air Grand Touring: offers a high horsepower of 800. It can drive to 830 km of range. Air Dream Edition: Comes with two configurations. The first optimizes the range to 836km, while the second prioritizes performance and gives an incredible output of 1,111hp and 758km of range.
Lucid Motors is currently inviting Canadian buyers to make their orders online from today. All you need is to deposit $400 for the Air Pure and $1,300 for Touring and Grand Touring trim levels.