We drove Lucid’s 2024 Air models and saw its new ‘Mid-Size’ EVs

In addition to our recent Lucid Air Sapphire drive, we had the opportunity to test drive all of the American automaker’s 2024 models, including the Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring, and we’ve shared our thoughts below. As part of our tour, Lucid Motors also invited us behind the scenes at its design studio in California, where we got a glimpse into the development of its upcoming “Mid-Size” EVs.

Lucid Motors ($LCID) first entered the EV segment with its flagship Air sedan, which arrived as a 2022 model. In December, the American automaker unveiled its 2024 model Airs, which added a new RWD version of the entry-level Pure variant .

The new Air started at an MSRP of $77,400 – its cheapest model to date. As of February 2024, Lucid shared that it is dropping prices on three of the four Air models, including the RWD Pure, which now has a starting MSRP of under $70,000.

Just yesterday, Lucid shared his upgrades to Grand Touring the 2024 Air version, which now uses the heat pump from its top-of-the-line Sapphire version and faster charging speeds while delivering the same EPA-estimated range of 516 miles on a charge.

Last week, we visited Lucid in Northern California and had the opportunity to test all four versions of the 2024 Air models, and got an exclusive look behind the scenes at its design center, which included a look under the medium-sized sheet. EVs are in development.

This last one has been on my to-do list since it was first announced in the summer of 2022, so that review got its own dedicated post and video review. You can learn more about my experience here.

Even at the lowest level of detail, Pure delivers 430 hp and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. With such performance, you don’t even miss a second car, believe me. Plus, its 410-mile range is just miles behind the Touring, but for $8,000 less.

What impressed me most about the RWD Pure was how smooth and quiet the ride was. All models are quiet, but there’s something more refined about this new Clean that I’m having trouble explaining. What’s even more interesting to think about is that this model could be considered a halo version in other automakers’ portfolios, and it’s Lucid’s entry-level option. This is yet another proof of how advanced the automaker is in its EV architecture, powertrains, and overall efficiency.

Not to mention the level of comfort and luxury Lucid puts into each of its models. I still think Lucid can improve its software in all cars. I certainly didn’t encounter as many bugs in the 2024 Lucid Air models as I’ve encountered in the past, but the UX is still laggy at times, and I had a few issues connecting my smartphone wirelessly using Apple Carplay.

Overall, I was impressed with all four 2024 Lucid Airs, but Sapphire and Pure are my favorites. Obviously, a luxury tri-motor EV with 1,234 hp will appeal, so that’s a given, but I think the RWD Pure is my new favorite and will be the model I recommend to consumers. Because of that, I felt like the Touring and Grand Touring got lost in the analysis – I’d only recommend stepping up to one of those specs if you need their best acceleration.

Looking ahead, Lucid continues to develop its second model – the Gravity SUV, which is set to go into production later this year. After that, Lucid hopes to unveil a third mid-size option, which the company teased in the past as a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3 and. Model Y.

As part of my trip, I got to see mid-sized people up close and get an insight into what we can expect.

A sneak peek at “Medium Size” during a visit to Lucid’s design studio

This was another exciting trip with Lucid as I not only got to experience the power of the Air Sapphire, but I was also able to visit the automotive design studio outside of San Francisco as one of the few media outlets ever to get behind the wheel to see where it is. all EV magic happens.

Photos weren’t allowed for obvious reasons, but we got another close-up look at the Gravity before we headed to the main floor, where two clay models of the new mid-size EVs sat covered in sheets.

Although the structures in progress were covered, I was surprised by how large and supposed they still looked. From what I’ve seen, Lucid plans at least two midsize variants — a more family-friendly passenger crossover and a more feature-rich SUV (we saw a roof and Toyo off-road tires).

Some of the target competitors are the Macan EV and the upcoming Kia EV5 and we’re told the new EVs will perform similarly to the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Rivian R2 and Ford Bronco. Lucid’s Senior Vice President of Design and Brand, Derek Jenkins walked us around the covered cars and even lifted a corner of the paper behind the cross to throw a peak at the clay. It’s definitely a work in progress, but it looks stylish and unique… though its design is sure to change several times before its arrival in 2026.

One exciting design aspect that Jenkins preached was this idea of ​​”collaboration,” especially in the mid-cap models’ wardrobe. He described the inclusion of music, video, and phone usage as an immersive experience unlike anything the public has ever seen, which can be controlled from anywhere in the car – adding a kind of group experience to driving … although many of these features will be included. . only available when parked.

Jenkins also shared that smartphones will play an important role in mid-sized consumption, however. He said that Lucid is not trying to make or replace the phone but that there is potential in the technology and its experience that the automaker feels it can do better with the car.

Peter Rawlinson was also with us, expressing a lot of excitement about the third model of the Lucid car. However, he and Jenkins both admitted that they are still a ways away from agreeing on new EV names. When asked about pricing, Rawlinson said Lucid is targeting $48,000 to $50,000 starting MSRPs, but “could get up to $60,000, I think.”

To help lower prices in the future, Rawlinson demonstrated the effectiveness of a step-down design that leverages technology across the portfolio and simplifies production while using components across multiple designs to help reduce costs. We’re already seeing this happen with the Sapphire heat pump in the Air Grand Touring, as mentioned above, so expect more of that strategy in the “mid-size” range and beyond.

That’s all for now. We probably won’t see any real glimpses of Lucid’s new mid-size EVs for a while, as they remain a work in progress. Still, the progress sounds encouraging, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted as we learn more. In the meantime, we’ll continue to focus on Lucid Air’s 2024 models as we prepare for the official launch of Gravity.