Lucid has rolled out the red carpet for its first batch of customers taking delivery of the Lucid Air Sapphire. The luxury electric sedan definitely boasts some impressive stats, with 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 pound-feet of torque, but it carries with it an equally impressive price tag.
Lucid held a media event at the Sonoma Raceway in California over the weekend, offering journalists and select guests the opportunity to experience the capabilities of the Lucid Air Sapphire first hand. The event also featured the presence of British racing driver Ben Collins, who demonstrated the high-performance electric sedan’s prowess on the track.
While Lucid Motors did not disclose the exact number of Air Sapphire units delivered during the event, their social media posts hinted at the delivery of five of the tri-motor EVs to unnamed customers.
Customer deliveries of the #LucidAir Sapphire have begun. The #LucidOwnersClub just got faster. #BlueMeansGo pic.twitter.com/4p3Ob4XA8F
— Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) October 8, 2023
The Lucid Air Sapphire, built at the automaker’s facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, stands as the most powerful variant of Lucid’s luxury varied electric sedan lineup. Powered by a tri-motor powertrain comprising twin rear motors and a single front motor, this setup is paired with a 118-kilowatt-hour battery pack, shared with the Air Dream Edition, allowing for an impressive EPA-estimated range of 427 miles (687km) and an efficiency rating of 3.61 miles per kilowatt-hour.
In terms of performance, the Air Sapphire claims the title of the world’s most potent production four-door sedan. It can sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a mere 1.89 seconds, outpacing the Tesla Model S Plaid by a tenth of a second. It also accomplishes the 0-100 mph dash in just 3.84 seconds and covers a quarter mile in 8.95 seconds at a top speed of 205 mph.
However, this high performance comes at a premium price point. The Lucid Air Sapphire is the most expensive offering from Lucid Motors, with a starting price of US$249,000 before taxes and additional fees. For comparison, Tesla’s 1,020-horsepower Model S Plaid, which offers similar performance, starts at just US$89,990.
With that high price tag, the Lucid Air Sapphire comes fully loaded with a host of features, including a 900V charging system, upgraded suspension, carbon ceramic brakes, torque vectoring control, and a 34-inch floating Glass Cockpit. Additionally, it boasts a 21-speaker Surreal Sound Pro audio system and Lucid’s advanced DreamDrive Pro driver assistance suite.
Members of the press and @BenCollinsStig joined Lucid at Sonoma Raceway to experience the #LucidAir Sapphire ahead of the first customer deliveries. pic.twitter.com/ULyN47xyhN
— Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) October 7, 2023
