GIMS premieres the 1251-horsepower Lucid Air Sapphire: This super electric car blows away even Tesla

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Although the 4.98-meter-long Lucid Air has been on sale in America (and here too) for a while now, it stands out in traffic like a pink elephant in a polka-dot bikini. You can’t ignore the UFO-looking Air! So it doesn’t take long before our custom Lucid Air Sapphire test model approaches us in the parking lot north of the California beach town of Marina de Rey. Surprise: The sporty guy in the baseball cap is driving a Lucid Air Grand Touring. «So how does it drive? Is sapphire worth it? he asked with a smile from behind the side window that opened downwards. Apparently he’s an expert. It is not that easy to distinguish the Air Sapphire super sports version from its weaker brothers from the Californian manufacturer Lucid, with its 1251 hp (920 kW) power and a top speed of 330 km/h.

There are spoilers, sills and body details made of real carbon. However, the so-called tuning package of the top model we drove is not very noticeable due to its dark blue metallic color. “My 830 hp GT version is enough for me,” says our Lucid fan, as we set off again, “and no one can be faster anyway.” It’s probably there. The Air Grand Touring (GT for short) is already running wild; from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds and then up to a top speed of 270 km/h. We can imagine that there are no wishes left equivalent to approximately 130,000 francs.

100 km/h in just 1.89 seconds

But some customers still want more, and they don’t have to look for excuses when Tesla flashes its old Model S Plaid or Porsche announces its Super Taycan. And Lucid offers the Air Sapphire for just such people. Three electric motors provide a total of 1251 hp. But almost more impressive is the maximum torque of 1940 Nm, the power of which you can only imagine after trying it.

We were given permission. In an area closed to the public, of course, away from all applicable traffic regulations. When we step on the gas, our facial features shift. Incredible, power and acceleration! Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 1.89 seconds, and the braking power is no less impressive. We do it all again; again and again.

You can only experience something like this in a smooth and light hyper super sports car. However, our electric sedan weighs almost 2.5 tonnes, has four doors and offers a lot of comfort. Because the Lucid Air is a luxury sedan with everything that comes with it. Air-conditioned seats front and rear, plenty of space of course, and everything is electrically adjustable. Of course, all this luxury, extroverted design and abundant comfort comes with a price: The superior electric sedan will cost at least a quarter of a million francs when it is introduced in Europe in the third quarter of this year. Final sales begin in the USA.

Four doors, four seats – suitable for everyday use

Similar to the Porsche and 911, Lucid’s Sapphire is basically a completely normal Air. Maybe a little tighter, which is probably due to the wide 20-inch rims with 265 high-speed tires. In corners with slightly slippery surfaces, the rear gets tight quickly due to the enormous power of the two rear motors. Steering that is firmer and offers more feedback could create a little more confidence at the limits. But let’s be honest, only a very small number of Sapphire customers get to experience this.

Which brings us back to the question the Lucid fan initially asked: Does it really have to be Lucid Air Sapphire? We think: No! In essence, the Sapphire is “the same” as all other Air versions: a highly impressive and very special luxury sedan. But the 831 hp GT, the 628 hp Touring or the entry-level Air Pure model with 442 hp and a range of around 750 kilometers (starting at 91,000 francs), which also premiered at the Geneva Motor Show, are all impressive enough for us. Everyday lives. If you can bluff a little with Air Sapphire’s obvious performance data, it could be great to be at the regulars’ table.

Source: Blick