It’s been a four-plus-year journey for Gravity – Lucid Motors’ second flagship SUV. Because it was first unveiled, I’ve adopted Gravity’s growth intently, itching to get behind the wheel of a full-fledged manufacturing model to check drive – and that day has lastly come, my mates. Final week, I took a visit to Lucid’s design studio, the place I had my most intimate encounter with the Gravity SUV up to now, together with a short however informative take a look at drive across the Bay Space. There, I additionally discovered that the official vary of the Lucid Gravity is a formidable 450 miles. Take a look at photographs and a video of my expertise under.
As talked about above, Gravity has been a top-of-mind dialogue at any time when Lucid Motors comes up, and its journey to manufacturing and shortly deliveries has been thrilling. Method again when Lucid shared a launch video of its flagship sedan, the Air, we caught a short glimpse of its encore EV, Gravity, silhouetted by the solar.
Since then, I’ve been clamoring for extra particulars about this SUV, which represents Lucid’s subsequent step in delivering a wider vary of auto choices that may ultimately turn into much less catered to the prosperous and extra obtainable to all, particularly when its “Mid-size” EVs launch after Gravity.
For now, nonetheless, Gravity represents Lucid’s enterprise into all-electric SUVs and has delivered a stage of design luxurious, technological innovation, and modularity it’s turning into famend for. We caught our first public glimpse at Gravity in November of 2022 earlier than catching some camo’d street testing the next April.
In November of 2023, Lucid formally launched Gravity, sharing some preliminary particulars, together with a frunk seat and an estimated vary of 440 miles. This previous January, I bought my first up-close take a look at the brand new SUV at Lucid’s meeting plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, when the corporate kicked off Section Two of its EV manufacturing strains, which incorporates Gravity builds.
Gravity orders opened in October with a Grand Touring obtainable now, adopted by a Touring trim beginning at underneath $80,000 set to reach in late 2025. Final week, whereas I used to be with the Lucid staff in California, it accomplished its first Gravity manufacturing construct set for buyer supply.
Because the early variations of the Gravity lastly start to achieve reservation holders, I bought the prospect to check out a pre-production model and have shared my ideas under. Moreover, we’ve discovered that the official EPA vary of the Lucid Gravity shall be 450 miles, larger than initially promised.
The Lucid Gravity “compromises nothing,” together with vary
To start my newest go to to Lucid HQ, I did a walkthrough with Gravity and senior vice chairman of design and model Derek Jenkins. Derek confirmed me a slideshow explaining the design that went into Gravity, a few of which I had seen and a few solely new to me.
Jenkins defined Lucid’s new advertising mantra, “Compromise nothing. ” After studying extra about Gravity inside and outside and taking it for a spin, I can actually say that the American automaker stayed true to its new ethos on this one.
Gravity is a fantastically assembled, for lack of a greater phrase, “hodge podge” of one of the best components in luxurious autos and SUVs, culminating in a modular, spacious, luxurious, tech-forward, and maybe most significantly, environment friendly mannequin.
It was right here that Jenkins knowledgeable me the EPA vary of the Lucid Gravity had been secured, and the Grand Touring trim it’s launching first delivers 450 miles of vary on a single cost. That’s higher than the 440 miles initially introduced.
Each time anybody ever questions Lucid’s success up to now or its future in EV gross sales, I at all times level to the corporate’s expertise. It’s unmatched. I’ve been a believer since I bought unique entry to Lucid’s powertrain facility in Arizona, and the general public is simply now beginning to grasp simply how forward of everybody this automaker is.
A main instance is the RWD Air Pure, which accomplishes a world-leading effectivity of 5 miles per kWh. That very same expertise went into the tri-motor Air Sapphire and is a large motive why it is ready to drive so quick and to this point with a considerably smaller battery pack than its opponents.
Lucid is constructing electrical motors which are smaller, extra highly effective, and extra environment friendly than anybody. As such, the corporate can ship autos that require fewer batteries which are lighter and price much less to mass produce, which in flip helps drive down the associated fee for purchasers. I don’t assume folks will actually grasp this benefit till mid-size comes out, however I digress; the proof has been proper in entrance of everybody this whole time.
Jenkins instructed me that Lucid’s purpose with Gravity was to out-space and out-utilize conventional SUVs and out-sport the Porsches and Lamborghinis. The pillars of that strategy are design methods widespread amongst all SUV producers, but it surely’s at all times been a give-and-take strategy, e.g., house over agility, efficiency over vary, functionality over luxurious, or practicality over sustainability. By compromising nothing, Lucid has assembled a brand new breed of SUV that checks all of these containers and delivers 5 pillars in a single car:
- Area: Utility, consolation, flexibility
- Effectivity: Vary, charging speeds, sustainability
- Design: Sophistication, craftsmanship, once more, sustainability
- Efficiency: On-road and off-road capabilities, dealing with, acceleration
- Digital expertise: A cabin that’s Intuitive, immersive, linked
For that motive, I’d describe the Lucid Gravity as about ten automobiles in a single, combining one of the best qualities of every to create a very spectacular EV with world-class vary and effectivity.
Other than vary, Lucid Gravity marvels in house utilization
A key issue many individuals can’t actually grasp from 2D photographs of the Lucid Gravity is simply how spacious it’s, even for an EV that’s comparable and even smaller in peak and size than its competitor. As lots of , EV structure allows OEMs to customise the ground of their autos to permit extra inside and cargo quantity. Nevertheless, you continue to have to retailer all these batteries, motors, and inverters; some are higher at it than others.
I’d argue that Lucid is once more a frontrunner on this design strategy, utilizing a 900V platform nonetheless. For instance, the Lucid Gravity is shorter and decrease than almost all of its SUV opponents, together with OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Rivian, and Chevrolet. On the identical time, the Gravity delivers considerably higher cargo quantity (120 cu. ft. within the five-seat structure and 114.3 cu. ft. within the seven-seater). Lucid shared that’s over 40% extra cargo house than the Mercedes EQS SUV, which is sort of spacious in its personal proper.
Let’s not overlook the Gravity’s frunk, which affords a further 8.1 cubic ft of cargo house and a bench for individuals who wish to sit and tailgate, watch the sundown, or simply flex on everybody whereas at a public charger. Chances are you’ll first be turned on by the look and vary of the Lucid Gravity, however while you expertise it close-up, its the little additions that make it a standout within the SUV section.
For instance, Lucid was in a position to make the most of a further 6.2 cu. ft. of storage within the trunk behind the rear wheels. This part is ideal for storing baggage or for hiding the third row away cleanly and flatly. Talking of the third row, that two affords a few of the most legroom in its class by solely sacrificing a little bit of headroom attributable to its low aerodynamic form. I climbed again into the third row earlier than my take a look at drive and was impressed at how a lot room I had, even with out shifting the second row up, which you are able to do if wanted. Take a look (I’m 5′ 11″):
In so many SUVs, the third row is just appropriate for youngsters as a result of adults’ knees usually find yourself pressed proper up in opposition to the second row. You both have to sit down at an angle or suck it up, counting down the minutes earlier than you get to your vacation spot and may stretch out. Not best.
Or, you should buy an enormous SUV like a Chevy Tahoe, which offers you that wanted house, however it’s inefficient and complicated to park in tight areas attributable to its monumental dimension. I wish to reiterate that Lucid has utilized each sq. inch of Gravity’s footprint with the motive force and their passengers in thoughts. It’s a family-friendly SUV that may stow everybody’s baggage with no roof rack and home an 8-foot surfboard. Did I point out that the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring model additionally affords 450 miles of EPA vary?
Certain, its smooth and splendid and has a ton of house, however how does it drive?
I’ve been asking myself that very same query for over a 12 months now, and eventually, I bought my likelihood to check out Gravity on public roads. Spoiler alert—it was superior.
Gravity feels a lot like Air, I forgot I used to be driving an SUV
I wish to preface my driving impressions by stating that I used to be in a pre-production Gran Touring model of the Gravity, and a few options had been lacking, like its superior AR head-up show, which I used to be bummed I couldn’t expertise but. Nonetheless, I’m positive I’ll get a for much longer drive alternative quickly, and I’ll comply with up with a extra complete overview.
For now, I can share my ideas on a 20-minute drive round Newark, California. Regardless of the restricted time behind the wheel, it was simple to know Gravity and the way it handles. Upon first getting behind the wheel and heading off, my preliminary impression was based mostly on the general really feel—not simply by way of the dealing with but in addition the inside and driver positioning.
All I might say at first was, “This drives like a Lucid.” The 2 techs within the SUV with me smiled at each other and instructed me they had been pleased to listen to that as a result of that’s exactly what the staff was striving for after they fine-tuned it.
My second takeaway was how small and nimble it feels for a bigger car. Should you’ve learn my work, you’ll know I’ve pushed each trim of each mannequin 12 months of the Lucid Air up to now, so I’m very aware of how these EVs drive. I instantly felt comfortable and answerable for Gravity and would say it drives precisely like an Air regardless of being considerably bigger. At one level, I forgot I used to be in an SUV till I checked my rearview mirror and noticed three rows behind me.
The twin motor was A+ in acceleration, and I’m a stickler for one-pedal driving. Gravity didn’t disappoint. The regenerative braking is stiff however not jarring and is extraordinarily simple to grasp. After hitting a few cloverleaf exit ramps as quick as I might, we hit a service street to check out launch mode. I hit 0-60 mph in underneath 3.5 seconds and would have liked to maintain pushing it if I hadn’t run out of street.
The Gravity Grand Touring’s 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque can’t be ignored and, once more, contribute to my argument that this SUV drives like a sedan. To show round, we hit a decent u-turn to reveal the SUV’s 38-foot curb-to-curb turning radius – one other useful slight benefit Gravity has over bigger SUVs.
Nevertheless, probably the most spectacular characteristic I discovered about Gravity is its non-obligatory air suspension package deal, which exemplifies the “all-in-one” design package deal I’ve described. The Grand Touring I drove was geared up with Lucid’s multi-chamber spring air suspension, which can’t solely elevate the SUV to various heights however you can even alter its stiffness to ship three completely different sensations, whether or not it’s a plush and easy experience in “Easy” mode, a sportier extra Porsche-like really feel in “Swift” mode, or a track-friendly “Dash” mode that rides similar to an Aston Martin DBX 707.
With the air suspension, Lucid can be working to ship a “Terrain Mode” that may roll out as a software program replace to take the Gravity off-road. Derek Jenkins instructed me it received’t allow you to drive up Moab, however it is going to provide aggressive off-road capabilities within the SUV section. Versatility is the nucleus of this EV, in my view.
As a result of I used to be in a pre-production mannequin, the UX of Gravity wasn’t all there, however Lucid is seeking to ship what it referred to as “UX 3.0,” which ought to (hopefully) remedy most of the bugs that popped up via the manufacturing of the Air sedan. I definitely hope so as a result of the shortage of premium, reliable software program seems like the one issue holding Lucid again from being one of the best within the enterprise in most EV classes.
The one final little tidbit I observed is that Gravity’s passenger doorways open a full 90 levels to assist mother and father entry automotive seats and furry mates extra simply. This is a wonderful concept that many shoppers will love, however most likely extra within the consolation of their very own driveway. The rear doorways are fairly lengthy and, when totally open, would positively clang up in opposition to a car within the spot subsequent to them. It’s not best for parking heaps, but it surely’s a welcomed characteristic nonetheless.
Total, the Gravity SUV is a slam dunk of an EV when you’ve got the cash to purchase one. Lucid continues to steer the trade in vary and effectivity with Gravity and is even taking a few of these design classes and modular enhancements and circling them again into future fashions of the Air sedan. I’m positive we are going to see many of those design components in “Mid-size” as properly, so I’ll repurpose my Gravity countdown clock for that subsequent mannequin.
Within the meantime, I’m wanting ahead to a extra prolonged drive expertise with Gravity and can share extra ideas on my expertise after that. Should you stay close to a Lucid showroom, I like to recommend stopping in and seeing if they’ve the SUV on show but so you possibly can discover all of the little particulars that went into making an SUV that appears to certainly “compromise nothing…” besides possibly a second mortgage on your own home, however it might be price it.
The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring is on sale now at a beginning MSRP of $94,900. Take a look at some video footage we shot with the Lucid Gravity under:
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