After releasing the Lucid Air to positive reviews, Lucid Motors has started developing a new, more affordable EV, but it won’t be available for several more years.
Lucid joined the ranks of EV companies with actual cars on the road last year with the release of the Air Dream Edition. However, most drivers will not be able to buy the luxury sedan because of the price, $169,000 in the US and $229,000 in Canada. But for people keen to drive a car with the Lucid monogram, the company has now started working on a cheaper EV.
In an interview with Reuters in early 2021 CEO Peter Rawlinson revealed his plans to eventually produce a competitor to the Model 3. However, with their efforts at the time focused on releasing the Air, the company hadn’t started working on the cheaper EV.
Driving Electric caught up with Lucid’s chief engineer Eric Bach at the 2022 Festival of Speed in the UK, and he revealed the company is now currently working on a “mid-size” electric car to rival the Model 3.
According to Bach, Lucid will release the cheaper EV in 2025 or 2026, after the Gravity Project, a seven-seater SUV that has been delayed until 2024.
Bach also said a right-hand-drive (RHD) version of the Air would soon be released in the UK, although he didn’t elaborate on when that would happen. Previous reports suggested production of RHD versions would begin later this year.
The Festival of Speed event saw the official debut of the Grand Touring Performance edition, which completed the hill climb segment of the show in 50.79 seconds. The trim produces 1,050 bhp and has a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.6 seconds, with a driving range of 446 miles (717km). This version is separate from the standard Grand Touring with an 819 bhp output, 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 3 seconds, and a driving range of 516 miles (830km), according to the EPA. You can lease the Grand Touring for more than $2,000 per month.
Meanwhile, Lucid is already dealing with issues faced by other car makers. It recently recalled over 1,100 of its electric sedan due to a wiring fault. But it is still recording wins as the Air set a hypermiling record of 687.4 miles on a single charge.
Source: Driving Electric
