California-based electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors has revealed its highly anticipated ultrahigh-performance EV, the Lucid Air Sapphire, poised to challenge Tesla’s Model S Plaid. After teasing fans for several months with a tri-motor version of the electric Air sedan, the company officially unveiled its flagship EV at Monterey Car Week last summer.
The Lucid Air Sapphire boasts an impressive twin rear-drive unit with incorporated torque vectoring, which, in combination with the single-motor front-drive unit, delivers over 1,200 horsepower. This makes it not only the most potent electric sedan ever produced but also the world’s most powerful sedan, surpassing its Tesla competitor.
See also: Lucid Air Sapphire : Everything you need to know
With nearly 200 more horsepower than the Tesla Model S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire accelerates from zero to 60 mph in under two seconds, zero to 100 mph in under four seconds, and completes a standing quarter mile in less than nine seconds.
#LucidAir Sapphire release candidate cars on the line in Casa Grande, AZ. The world's first luxury electric super-sports sedan will be available soon. pic.twitter.com/jpUMh7KYx3
— Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) July 27, 2023
To validate its claims, Hagerty’s team conducted a test comparing the Lucid Air Sapphire against a Bugatti Chiron and Ducati motorcycle, with the Sapphire emerging as the fastest production car they’ve ever witnessed.
Recently, Lucid Motors shared an image of the Air Sapphire rolling off the assembly line at its Casa Grande, Arizona, facility, hinting that the world’s first luxury electric super-sports sedan will soon hit the market.
See also: Lucid launches Air Sapphire electric sedan with a three-motor and over 1200 HP
Lucid’s CEO, Peter Rawlinson, expressed enthusiasm for the Air Sapphire and revealed that it marks the advent of an entirely new performance-focused brand within Lucid.
The company plans to launch the Lucid Air Sapphire initially as a limited-production model, with availability commencing in the US and Canada during the first half of 2023. The starting price is set at $249,000 and CAD 325,000.
Lucid Motors has also been making notable strides in the EV industry, licensing its powertrain technology to Aston Martin for integration into an all-new EV platform. The strategic partnership, valued at around $450 million, is expected to expand the reach of Lucid’s products and pave the way for more mainstream applications in the future.
