Lucid Air Sapphire – three-motor EV with over 1,200 hp, 0-160 km/h underneath 4 seconds; fr RM1.1m in US

Virtually two years on from the production debut of the Lucid Air comes this – the Lucid Air Sapphire, which boasts of a three-motor electrical powertrain packing even increased outputs for Lucid to stake its declare for the Sapphire as “not solely probably the most highly effective sedan on the planet, but additionally probably the most highly effective sedan on the planet.”

“What we see at the moment with the Lucid Air Sapphire is only the start for the Sapphire model,” stated Lucid SVP of name and design Derek Jenkins, and the EV maker indicated within the automobile’s debut assertion that that is the primary in a line of Sapphire-branded fashions to come back.

Claimed efficiency figures are 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in lower than two seconds, 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h) in underneath 4 seconds and the drag racing customary of the standing quarter mile (400 m) is elapsed in lower than 9 seconds, in line with the California-based EV maker.

New to the Lucid mannequin line is the model’s first three-motor powertrain, courtesy of a brand new twin rear-drive unit with torque vectoring that works with the one entrance axle motor to yield a mixed output of “over 1,200 hp”. The aforementioned acceleration figures are attained with no additional modifications or protracted pre-conditioning procedures, says Lucid.

Lucid has not disclosed actual numbers for peak output or battery vary, nonetheless the corporate revealed to Motor Trend that the Air Sapphire will nonetheless be able to greater than 400 miles (640 km), although it will likely be lower than the 446 miles (714 km) achieved by the Air Grand Touring Efficiency.

The dual rear-drive motor unit employs new warmth exchanger expertise together with an elevated coolant movement price to maintain temperatures in examine, whereas its important battery system has been upgraded for higher energy and extra exact thermal logic, says Lucid.

The three-motor powertrain configuration has all the time been a part of the Lucid Air growth programme, and thus it retains the shared attributes of the completely different Air variants already available on the market, akin to beneficiant legroom in addition to entrance and rear baggage compartment capacities, stated Lucid chief engineer and SVP of product Eric Bach.

Compared to prior variations of the Air, the chassis of the Air Sapphire was configured with the target of extra responsive driving dynamics and elevated physique management; to that finish, the Air Sapphire obtained stiffer entrance and rear springs and bushings, distinctive damper settings, in addition to distinctive tuning for its digital energy steering, ABS, traction management and stability management system, the carmaker stated.

The physique of the Air Sapphire is wider than that of the Air by 21 mm in entrance and 24 mm on the rear to accommodate the staggered-setup wheels, that are shod in specifically developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres measuring 265/35R20 in entrance and 295/30R21 on the rear. These wheels embody detachable carbon-fibre aero disc wheel covers to help the automobile’s aerodynamic effectivity.

Improved agility in addition to stability comes courtesy in a part of torque vectoring enabled by the dual rear-drive motor unit, which “offers torque to the rear wheels in reverse instructions to advertise both turn-in or straight-line stability,” says Lucid, which it says is sort of a brake-based torque vectoring system and rear-wheel steering, albeit claimed to be quicker, quieter and extra seamless.

That is by making use of regenerative braking on the within wheel whereas sending drive to the surface wheel, which improves car turn-in, cornering stability throughout all speeds, nook exit, and high-speed stability, says Lucid.

Inside, the Air Sapphire receives the Sapphire Mojave inside theme that features a set of latest, highly-bolstered 18-way adjustable sports activities seats designed by Lucid, mixed with black leather-based upholstery joined by black Alcantara and Sapphire Blue distinction stitching. These seats additionally function heating, cooling and therapeutic massage features.

Lucid has additionally optimised the Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel interfaces with performance-focused menus and drive modes within the Air Sapphire, together with a brand new Sapphire Mode to assist the motive force extract the utmost attainable efficiency from the automobile.

As talked about initially, the Lucid Air Sapphire is the primary in a soon-to-grow line of Sapphire fashions; this preliminary model might be supplied as a limited-production mannequin to be delivered to prospects in Canada and america subsequent yr; pricing is CAD325,000 (1,121,027) and US$249,000 (RM1,117,885), respectively.

GALLERY: 2021 Lucid Air