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The Lucid Air is an ultra-luxury, all-electric sedan, built by the fledgling EV automaker to compete with other high-end EVs like the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. We discuss its driving dynamics, interior quality, what technical improvements it adds to electric vehicles as a whole, and whether it might be worth its six-figure price tag. We also discuss the role low-rolling-resistance tires play in extending the range of an EV, and if it's a good idea to use regular tires on an electric car.
SHOW NOTES:
:15 – Lucid Air first impressions
14:40 – how much do low-rolling-resistance tires contribute to an EV's overall range?
LINKS:
Streamlined Lucid Air is an Electric Rocketship:
Electric Vehicles That Can Go More Than 250 Miles on a Charge:
Low-Rolling-Resistance Tires Can Save You Money at the Pump:
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EV’s are such a welcomed game changer. They can take the concept of all-wheel drive even further to INDEPENDENT ALL WHEEL DRIVE because of the possibility of having an electric motor on EACH WHEEL.
The Acura RLX sport hybrid had an electric motor for each rear wheel. Independent elecric torque vectoring is not new.
Lucid is a start-up. Not all start-ups succeed. So let’s say I cash in my kid’s inheritance (sorry, son), buy a Lucid Air, and the company fails, particularly as so many other established manufacturers enter the EV market. Who services my car?
LoL! If you have to ask, it’s not for you. 🙂 It’s pocket change for the targeted customer segment.
My question is, how reliable are EVs? So far, we need to wait to see if the batteries are going to last 10 years or even 20 years. Because some Tesla cars batteries need to be replace after 5 years, and it cost more than 5000 dollars to replace them. If you make the math, you don’t spend that much for oil changes in five years for a gas car. For example, I used to drive a 2000 corolla Toyota for 15 years, spending only normal care like oil changes, brakes, and tires. I sold the car to my brother in law, and the car is still running after 22 years of use.
My Tesla is nine years old with the original battery and 140,000 miles, has been maintenance free and will do 0 to 60 in four seconds
I think if Tesla’s batteries were going out in five years there would be not just federal investigations but EU investigations as well. Maybe someone had a battery but definitely not reflective of the Tesla brand. Not a reflection of the EV batteries on a whole either.
The end all be all for vehicles isn’t to make them last forever. A Tesla is an upscale sports sedan. So comparing it’s longevity to something more premium would be better.
My brother drove a 2000 Corolla until the wheels fell off, and he wasn’t as lucky as you. During a road trip his muffler fell off and was dragging down the road. Used a coat hanger to reattach it. His exhaust manifold cracked and the engine burned so much oil he’d drive around with quarts on the front seat. It was dangerously slow for highway merges. It became worthless after about 15 years so he donated it.
I work at a car dealership and some popular vehicles like Nissan Altima’s don’t even make it to 100k miles before their CVTs go out and are well over $5k to replace.
Tesla warrants their high voltage battery for 8 years or 120,000 miles. There are Tesla Model 3’s that have gone 300,000 on their original HV battery.
Happy holidays Team CR!🎄
Gabe! You drove and parked a $140000 rented car on the streets of NYC? I hope CR’s insurance agent isn’t watching! LOL.
Lucidchart > Lucid Air
Got the same tires and was surprised how much my MPG has declined (Camry hybrid)
All weather tires are winter tires that can deal with higher temperatures than most, so it’s the same as running winter tires all the time. Winter tires get worse gas mileage.
Love Lucid. It has a great backstory. Lucid started as Atieva to supply batteries and powertrains to other companies, including Formula E race cars. I think we will have a golden age of small, custom shops that use common skateboards and different tophats.
People that can afford a Lucid don’t have to visit ATM’s don’t you know?
Headroom in the back of the Model S is also “abysmal”. Hard to imagine why it was allowed to go into production that way, and an Instant disqualification for us.
looks like a Model @ with a squashed front end
WTF $140,000?????? Not enjoying CR’s hyper focus on EV’s…..they are unaffordable to the average consumer PLUS they don’t make much practical sense in northern climates. Would like to see CR take a realistic and consumer-supporting stance against EVs until they can make them more affordable and extend the driving ranges further.
Based on CR’s ratings we purchased the Cross Climate 2 model this past year. They are the best street tires I’ve ever purchased. Great in the snow and outside a set of Hoosier Dirt Stockers, they’re the best tires I’ve used in the rain. (No, I don’t work for Michelin.)
I’d like to add that Engineering Explained just (!) uploaded a video specifically about electric car tires. Serendipity indeed.
I want to thank Mark from Petaluma, California for sharing his somewhat disappointed reaction to those Michelin All Weather tires. Though I don’t have a budget to cover a Tesla, I do have sufficient means to experience the longevity and relative economy of Michelin Defender All Seasons and, when seasonally appropriate, the traction of X-Ice 3s. For those of us in true four season regions, some compromises are too much of a compromise. 😉
Best car ever Made in USA
Didn’t show the rear of the car until almost half way into the video.
Consumer Reports needs to concentrate on issues which are more important to the average consumer. Where to save money and how to buy products in this horrible economy. That’s where the help is needed.
If Lucid bring the price down to $40K from $140K, might be interested!😊
LET’S GOOOOO LUCID FAMILY 😁🙋♂️❤😉🥳🥳🥳✌😊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉