Lucid Motors has officially announced its next electric vehicle, the three-row Gravity SUV. Based on the same platform as Lucid’s only other vehicle, the Air sedan, the Gravity is the California-based company’s first foray into the lucrative and highly competitive SUV market.
Lucid says the SUV can achieve a range of up to 440 miles and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. It will have a base price of $80,000 and is expected to enter production in late 2024.
But the situation looks significantly different than it did three years ago, when Lucid first announced the possibility of an electric SUV. The market for luxury electric vehicles in particular is currently highly competitive and oversaturated with offerings from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and BMW. Experts say the era of early adopters of electric vehicles is over and more affordable vehicles are needed most – not another sub-$100,000 luxury model.
Additionally, it’s been a tough year for Lucid. The company recently cut its production targets, causing its share price to fall to all-time lows. According to the Wall Street Journal, Lucid’s manufacturing costs are enormous and the company loses a staggering $227,000 on every car sold. The company continues to struggle to find customers for its electric vehicles.
On top of all this grim news, Gravity proves to be a sign of new hope for Lucid. Founded in 2007 as Atieva, the company began producing high-performance batteries for all Formula E racing teams. In 2016, the company changed its name to Lucid Motors with a promise to build a midsize sedan that feels like a huge, spacious flagship. An SUV should follow soon.
Due to the pandemic and other delays, this SUV took some time to get here. But now that it’s properly unveiled, the Gravity looks every bit like the successor to the luxury Air sedan. First and foremost, it appears to be the range leader in the electric vehicle space, with a range of 440 miles on a single charge. That’s more than other three-row electric SUVs, including the Tesla Model
Of course, Lucid uses its range estimates to show above-average battery capacity and performance. The Air was originally estimated to have a range of over 520 miles on a single charge, but subsequent range tests revealed a significantly lower range. And range estimates cannot be viewed in a vacuum, as outside temperatures, driving styles and road types all have an impact on the final number.
In terms of design, the Gravity is full of soft curves and wavy lines. The aerodynamic profile skillfully conceals an elongated cabin and ensures an overall shape that is slim and signals forward momentum. A theme that continues at the rear of the vehicle: a steeply sloping C-pillar appears to resemble an arrow shooting forward. According to Lucid, the company is targeting a drag coefficient of less than 0.24, which the company says is unmatched by any other three-row SUV on sale today.
But just because it’s sporty doesn’t mean it can’t handle SUV tasks like hauling and towing. According to Lucid, the Gravity will be able to carry up to 1,500 pounds of payload or tow a maximum of 6,000 pounds thanks to the “most powerful EV engines produced in the world.” That puts it just under the Ford F-150 Lightning in terms of capacity, which is a little crazy when you think about it.
Like the Lightning, the Gravity will have a “significant trunk” – but we’re not given any further details on cargo capacity or power outlets. We have this picture of two bikini-clad women sitting in the trunk, so at least there’s that.
Of course, with the advent of fast-charging electric vehicles with 800-volt architecture, Lucid had to go one step further. The Gravity features a 900-volt architecture and can travel up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes when connected to a 350 kW fast charger.
“Gravity will take our customers further with fewer batteries and therefore less precious energy,” Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson said in a press release. “Its smaller, lighter and more high-tech battery pack means fewer precious metals and minerals, less charging energy, less power consumption, less strain on the power grid and a lighter and more dynamic vehicle.” When we say we’re here to advance technology, we mean exactly That – that’s really living sustainability.”
Similar to the Air, Lucid also emphasizes spaciousness and cargo space as unique selling points in the Gravity. Both the second and third row seats fold flat to reveal a massive 112 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s on par with the Ford Explorers and Toyota Sequoias of the world and should help win over customers who find the current selection of electric vehicles a little too narrow. Seven passengers fit comfortably in the Gravity, Lucid says.
Two large screens dominate the interior: the 34-inch curved OLED display that hovers above the steering wheel and serves as both an instrument cluster and infotainment screen; and a second pilot panel in the center console that can also be folded up to reveal additional storage space. The Gravity will feature Lucid’s next-generation operating system software, which can be updated over the air.
There will also be a number of features designed to promote “well-being.” These include Lucid Sanctuary, vaguely described as “a revolutionary series of experiences carefully designed to provide peace of mind on the go”; and Lucid Spaces, where a single tap “transforms the cabin into a tranquil oasis and immerses drivers in the calming atmosphere of places like Lake Tahoe or Joshua Tree.” Hopefully, it will help reduce road accidents while in the There is a traffic jam.
We don’t know much else about the Gravity, except that production is expected to begin in late 2024. Lucid is majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and earlier this year the company announced plans to open a factory in the city of Jeddah. Whether the company can overcome its financial hurdles before starting production of the Gravity will depend heavily on that relationship with the oil-rich nation.