lucid air electric car first test on the roads of san francisco

the lucid ‘air’ electric car has hit the roads for the first time in the san francisco bay area. the test route put the electric test vehicle through its paces with familiar picturesque scenery: one moment, it was driving the streets of downtown san francisco, surrounded by tall buildings, packed sidewalks, and streetcars. the next, it was cruising the undulating roads of san gregorio, with the pacific ocean by its side.

all images © lucid motors

the lucid ‘air’ electric car has been designed and engineered in the bay area, and highlights the california company’s vision for the vehicle. according to lucid, the 1000 horsepower, all-electric powertrain and performance-tuned suspension make the ‘air’ a great driver’s car. an innovative interior architecture gives the electric luxury-sedan space in a midsize footprint that is made for city driving. the user interface keeps occupants informed and engaged throughout the drive. by combining these elements, the lucid ‘air’ provides the driving dynamics, excitement, and efficiency of a smaller class of vehicle, without comprimising any comforts or luxury of a long-wheelbase sedan. 

nearly ten years of battery pack development have led to, what lucid claims, ‘best-in-class’ energy density. its battery is capable of 1000 horsepower and enabling up to 400 miles of range. additionally, a unique battery chemistry provides tolerance to repeated fast-charging. improving energy efficiency by up to 50% compared to conventional LED headlights, the sleek lighting system mimics insect eyes by utilizing literally thousands of micro-lenses. the elegant form of the micro-lens arrays belies the complexity of these self-adjusting headlights, which optimally adapt to each driving situation, adding safety.

free from space constraints of a conventional gasoline vehicle, lucid has explored the boundaries of proportion and form. by opening up the interior architecture, it has put the length of a large luxury sedan in a midsize footprint, resulting in agility and comfort, without a loss of cabin space. with no need to mask the sound of a gasoline engine, environmental noise detracts further from the experience.

a 29 speaker audio system with active noise cancellation and enhanced cabin isolation creates a uniquely tuned acoustic experience inside the electric vehicle. lucid’s approach towards vehicle packaging is to optimize every last millimeter, freeing up interior volume to maximize comfort. the company claims to ‘transcend long established vehicle segment boundaries’ , creating the interior space of a full-size luxury vehicle in a midsize footprint. the rear of the ‘air’ interior features executive seats with up to 55 degrees of recline, offering a first-class aircraft seating experience.

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