Detour
Lucid Air Accelerates Into La Jolla
Detour
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY
OF
LUCID
MOTORS
e company's first-to-market retail studio in San Diego
wows at Westfield UTC
BY BRIAN DOUGLAS
2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
transportation
A
PPARENTLY, THERE ARE
scores of EV buyers who are smitten
with how quickly their luxury sedan
will accelerate. So today, nearly
every new electric vehicle boasts
of high "horsepower" and thrilling
acceleration, as if drag racing is now
part our daily activities. For some perspective, petrol-
powered supercars like Corvette's new ZO6, Ferrari's 812
Superfast, and the 720 McLaren model sprint from 0 to 60
in between two and three seconds. e 1,050-horsepower
Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance can match that,
and then take the whole family in quiet comfort to
Sunday brunch.
I had the opportunity to test what 0-to-60 acceleration
feels like in this spacious luxury sedan while driving with
Justin Berkowitz, Lucid's technology PR chief in the
passenger seat. At a full stop, Berkowitz engaged the car's
Launch Control and I fully applied the brake and throttle
pedals, then released the brakes. Our sprint to 60 MPH
felt like what a cannon ball experiences after firing, but
was eerily quiet except for all four tires chirping a bit to
keep their grip. If you need the noise of combustion to
accompany this thrill ride, you might consider a short
soundtrack in the Air's 21-speaker Dolby Atmos sound
system, but either way, it's ultra-quick.
Luxury Electrified
While it's customary to compare an electric vehicle with
other EVs, Peter Rawlinson, Lucid's CEO and chief
technologist, feels that the new Air models match up
brilliantly with traditional luxury rivals. at pencils
pretty well since Lucid's class-leading EPA range of 516
miles is equal to the average petrol-powered offerings.
@ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com
78 AUGUST 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE
