Lucid Air Sapphire boasts third motor, 1,200+ hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph time

In case you thought 1,111 hp and a 0-60 mph time of two.6 seconds from the Lucid Air Dream Edition was excessive, get a load of the Lucid Air Sapphire that broke cowl on Friday at Monterey Car Week. The Sapphire provides a 3rd motor to make greater than 1,200 hp and drop the 0-60 mph time to under 2.0 seconds. It additionally will get a bunch of efficiency upgrades to make it the model’s prime monitor automotive.

Aimed squarely on the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire additionally guarantees a 0-100 mph time of lower than 4.0 seconds, a quarter-mile time of lower than 9.0 seconds, and a prime velocity in extra of 200 mph. Lucid claims that it is the strongest sedan on this planet—electrical or not.

If it needs to assert higher efficiency than the Plaid, it should lap the Nürburgring in less than 7:35.579.

The third motor goes on the rear axle, and it is joined by new warmth exchanger expertise and a better coolant circulation charge to deal with all that energy. The battery system can also be upgraded to take care of extra energy and extra warmth. Every motor is able to delivering as much as 670 hp, so there may be loads of room for much more energy. Lucid says it would verify the precise horsepower quantity later, and present instrumented demonstrations of the automotive’s functionality.

The automotive’s been developed to cease and nook, too.

“Our intention with this, our first Sapphire mannequin, is to enrich the distinctive powertrain with sharper,extra responsive driving dynamics and elevated physique management,” stated David Lickfold, Director of Chassis and Car Dynamics, Lucid Group. “On the similar time, it was necessary to retain the distinctive trip high quality for which Lucid Air has come to be identified.”

With that in thoughts, Lucid engineers stiffened the springs and bushings, tweaked the damper settings, and retuned the ABS, traction and stability management, and electric-assist energy steering. Additionally they outfitted the automotive with carbon-ceramic brakes and put in wider 265/35R20 entrance and 295/30R21 rear Michelin PS4S tires on staggered Aero Sapphire wheels. The wheels have carbon-fiber covers for higher aero. Nonetheless, given the efficiency upgrades and wider tires, count on electrical vary to fall under the 445 miles of the Air Grand Touring Efficiency.

The 2 rear motors can even allow superior torque vectoring. Actually, Lucid says it might probably present torque in reverse instructions: the skin wheel can get the facility, whereas the within wheel can apply regenerative braking. Lucid says this method works quicker, quieter, and extra seamlessly than a brake-based setup with rear-axle steering.

Lucid has made aerodynamic modifications as effectively, balancing added downforce with much less drag, however the firm did not element these modifications.

The discharge of the Sapphire additionally marks the addition of Sapphire Blue paint, which can adorn all the preliminary vehicles. The model’s dark Stealth package will even come normal on the Air Sapphire fashions.

Inside, the Air Sapphire will get a brand new colour theme referred to as Sapphire Mojave. It options darkish colours with blue distinction stitching and Mojave darkwood veneers. The inside additionally has thickly bolstered 18-way energy seats upholstered in black leather-based and Alcantara with normal heating, cooling, and therapeutic massage. The steering wheel, higher door panels, and headliner are additionally lined in Alcantara. Lucid additionally offers the automotive a particular display screen show and its personal drive modes and efficiency settings. A photograph exhibits Sapphire, Dragstrip, Sizzling Lap, and Endurance modes, plus a lap timer.

The Air Sapphire will begin at $249,000 earlier than vacation spot. The primary deliveries will start within the first half of subsequent yr, and consumers will be capable to enter the reservations beginning on Aug. 23. Lucid famous that every one future fashions will get Sapphire variations, making it the model’s efficiency moniker.