Yesterday, the startup Lucid revealed the technical specifications and rates for its first model, the Air. This executive sedan, rival to the Tesla Model S, will have a starting price in its home market of $77,400, remaining at $69,900 after applying for the US government’s tax credit.
This figure is very similar to that displayed by the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus, which, after a recent reduction, stood at $71,990. However, Tesla today cannot benefit from the state tax credit since it has already far exceeded the 200,000 electric cars sold in the United States that are established as a limit to be able to enjoy the subsidy, so in practice, the Lucid was going to be a little cheaper.
We say “was going” because Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, took just a few hours to pick up Lucid’s glove, announcing a new price cut for the Model S, which from now on will cost $69,420, putting it slightly below its rival. Considering that the Access Air won’t hit the market until 2022, Tesla’s move seems to respond more to a marketing question than a real concern for Lucid.
The access Air will have a range of about 406 miles EPA, which will go somewhat above the Model S Long Range Plus, which certifies 402 miles EPA. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that Tesla will soon begin to mount 5% more capable cells in its vehicles so the veteran model could outperform the newcomer in the short term.
Also, the Tesla is more powerful than the Lucid because compared to the 487 hp (358 kW) announced by the Air, the Model S will reach 541 hp (398 kW). Although the acceleration of the Lucid Model is unknown at the moment, it seems unlikely that it will be able to exceed the 0 to 60 miles per hour (0-96.6 km/h) in 3.7 seconds of the Tesla, especially if we take into account that the Air will be rear-wheel drive, while the Model S incorporates all-wheel drive as standard.
However, the Lucid will charge more power in direct current (300 kW) than its rival (250 kW), which should translate into shorter charging times. Besides, the cabin of the Air will be less minimalist and more luxurious than that of the Model S, which begins to show the passing of the years in this section.