Lucid Air Sapphire - the world's first fully electric luxury super-sports sedan

22 August 2022, 02:50:03

Lucid Motors has unveiled the Lucid Air Sapphire - "the embodiment of what ultra-high-performance luxury means to Lucid," according to Derek Jenkins, SVP of Brand and Design. At the heart of the vehicle is a three-motor powertrain. The new twin rear-drive unit — developed and manufactured in-house — incorporates torque vectoring, which extends the capabilities of the car beyond those achievable with a passive all-wheel-drive system. It works in tandem with the single motor front-drive unit to deliver over 1,200 horsepower, making it not only the most powerful electric sedan ever produced but also the most powerful sedan in the world.

These groundbreaking drive units generate vast power and enhanced delivery through technologies including Lucid’s microjet stator cooling and wave winding. The twin rear-drive unit also introduces new heat exchanger technology and heightened coolant flow rate, and the battery system is upgraded for higher power and more precise thermal logic. With these innovations, Lucid Air Sapphire will deliver breathtaking acceleration in all phases of driving. Zero to 60 mph in less than two seconds. Zero to 100 mph in less than four seconds. The standing quarter mile in less than nine seconds. And over 200 mph.

Lucid Air Sapphire features stiffer front and rear springs, unique damper settings, stiffer bushings, and a unique tuning for ABS, traction, stability control, and electronic power steering (EPS). Carbon-ceramic brakes provide exceptional stopping power and contribute to the vehicle’s braking endurance during high-performance driving. The body has been widened 21 millimeters at the front and 24 millimeters at the rear to accommodate ultra-high-performance staggered Aero Sapphire wheels and specially developed Michelin PS4S tires, sized 265/35R20 in the front and 295/30R21 in the rear. These tires utilize a compound developed specifically for Lucid vehicles, and are identified by an LM1 designation. These unique wheels also feature removable carbon-fiber aero disk wheel covers, which help to optimize the aerodynamic efficiency of the car.

Torque vectoring extends the car’s capabilities far beyond what’s achievable with a passive all-wheel-drive system. The twin rear-drive unit can effectively pivot the rear of the vehicle, providing torque to the rear wheels in opposite directions to promote either turn-in or straight-line stability — similar to a brake-based setup and a rear-wheel steering system, but faster, quieter, and more seamless. In tight corners, the system is able to apply regenerative braking on the inside wheel while powering the outside, greatly enhancing vehicle turn-in rotation and with much quicker response times than rear-wheel steering systems.

The exterior is as functional as it is beautiful. Lucid's team paid particular attention to refining the aerodynamic character of the body, striking the ideal balance between added downforce, which enhances vehicle stability at higher speeds, and reduced drag, which affects both performance and efficiency. The sense of purpose has been extended to the interior as well. The new Sapphire Mojave interior theme includes new highly bolstered Lucid-designed 18-way power sport seats, upholstered in Lucid Black leather trimmed with black Alcantara and Sapphire Blue contrast stitching. Though designed for spirited driving, the seats still provide decadent comfort, with heating, cooling, and massage functionality.

Lucid Air Sapphire is just the beginning, representing the launch of an entirely new performance-focused brand within Lucid, one which ushers in a new era of performance for the electric vehicle market. Additional Sapphire models will be available for all Lucid models moving forward, continuing to set new standards for how luxury performance can look and feel.

Lucid Air Sapphire will be offered as a limited-production model, with deliveries planned in the US and Canada next year. The price is $249,000 USD and $325,000 CAD.

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