Final specs of Lucid’s Plaid rival confirm a 1,234 hp output but you could buy two Plaids and still have change
https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/
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by Chris Chilton
4 hours ago
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Lucid has revealed the final specs for its flagship Air Sapphire sedan, and they don’t make good reading for the Tesla Model S Plaid. The firm’s published data claims that the Sapphire is more powerful, accelerates more quickly, and has a longer driving range than its Tesla rival. The rather large downside is the Lucid costs twice as much.
We first met the Air Sapphire almost exactly a year ago at Monterey Car Week 2022, and in November of that year, Lucid revealed some preliminary acceleration figures, including an ability to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) from rest in 1.89 seconds and 100 mph (161 km/h) in just 3.87 seconds. A year on, Lucid is sticking to that zero-to-60 promise, says the 100 mph time has come down to 3.84 seconds, and claims the Sapphire can complete the standing quarter mile in 8.95 seconds.
In case it needs spelling out, those are outrageous numbers, better than any current Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche road car can match, and they’re achieved by a four-door sedan with a fully luxury-lined cabin. But more importantly, as far as Lucid is concerned, they throw shade on the Air’s Tesla Model S Plaid rival. Tesla quotes 1.99 seconds for the zero to 60 mph sprint and Car & Driver recorded 4.3 seconds to 100 mph and 9.4 in the standing quarter. Lucid’s claimed 205 mph (330 km/h) top speed is also 5 mph (8 km/h) higher than the Tesla’s; an academic difference, maybe, but consider it another point scored.
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One of the key reasons for the Sapphire’s accelerative superiority is surely its power advantage. Both it and the Plaid employ three electric motors – two at the back and a single up front – but the Lucid serves up 1,234 hp (1,251 PS) and 1,430 lb-ft (1,940 Nm), while the Tesla can ‘only’ summon 1,020 hp (1,034 PS) and 1,050 lb-ft (1,424 Nm).
All of this is basically bar room bragging. The Plaid was already faster than anybody needed, and it won’t suddenly feel slow just because a rival has come out with a faster car. But where the Air appears to make a slightly more meaningful step ahead is in the EV range comparison. Lucid says the Sapphire can travel 427 miles (687 km) on a charge on its stock 20-inch wheels, but Tesla only quotes 396 miles (637 km) for the hottest Model S.
But the Plaid does have one figure that the Sapphire can’t get close to: its price. A standard Plaid will set you back a relatively modest $108,490, but Lucid wants a staggering $249,000 for the Air Sapphire. That price includes carbon brakes, an aluminum roof for a lower center of gravity, four driving modes, a 21-speaker Surreal Sound Pro Dolby audio system, and the company’s DreamDrive Pro driver assistance pack. We can’t wait to see Tesla’s response, because you just know Elon Musk isn’t going to let this challenge pass.
