Lucid Cars
EV · 6 models
The Air Sapphire makes 1,234 horsepower. Lucid was founded by ex-Tesla Model S chief engineer Peter Rawlinson and the engineering shows.
EVLucid is the California-based electric vehicle maker founded in 2007 (originally as Atieva), led since 2013 by Peter Rawlinson (former chief engineer for the Tesla Model S). The company first delivered production vehicles in late 2021 with the Lucid Air sedan. The brand identity is engineering-led luxury electric vehicles competing at the Mercedes S-Class and Porsche Taycan price points. The Air is an executive sedan with industry-leading EV efficiency (over 4.0 miles per kWh in some trims) and exceptional range (up to 516 miles EPA in Air Grand Touring trim). The Air Sapphire (the high-performance variant) makes 1,234 horsepower from three motors and runs 0-60 in around 1.89 seconds. The Air Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Sapphire trims cover the lineup. The Lucid Gravity SUV launched in 2024 as the brand second model. SUV body on the same Lucid skateboard platform as the Air, with three rows of seats and similar engineering. Range targets and pricing position it against the Tesla Model X, Rivian R1S, and Mercedes EQS SUV. Lucid has invested heavily in vertical integration. The company designs and manufactures its own electric motors, inverters, and battery packs. The result is engineering efficiency that has produced the most range-efficient luxury EVs on the market. Whether this translates to financial success depends on production scaling. Production volumes have been below initial projections, and the company has faced ongoing financial concerns. Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund (PIF) is the majority shareholder and has provided continued capital. The Saudi connection also drives a substantial portion of Lucid sales, with PIF-affiliated entities ordering significant volumes for the Saudi market. On WhipJury, Lucid submissions are rare given the small production volumes. When they appear, they are typically Air Grand Touring or Air Sapphire examples, and they reliably do well in voting on engineering ambition.
Lucid models we cover
The Air
The Lucid Air launched in late 2021 with the highest official EPA range of any production EV at the time (over 500 miles in Grand Touring trim). The Air uses a 924V architecture (higher voltage than Tesla 400V or Porsche 800V), which enables faster charging and lower current heat loss. The motors are smaller, lighter, and more power-dense than competitor designs, contributing to the efficiency advantage. The Air Sapphire variant prioritizes performance with 1,234 horsepower and a launch mode that activates only with battery temperature optimization.
The Gravity
The Gravity SUV launched in 2024 as the second Lucid product. Three rows of seats, similar 924V architecture as the Air, range and performance targets competitive with Mercedes EQS SUV and BMW iX. The Gravity expands Lucid total addressable market significantly, since the SUV segment is much larger than the executive sedan segment.
Lucid on WhipJury
Lucid submissions are rare. When they appear, the Air Grand Touring and Air Sapphire are the most common examples. The community recognizes Lucid as the engineering-purist alternative in the electric luxury segment. The Gravity submissions will increase as the model ages.
