Luxury EV maker Lucid today unveiled its first SUV, the Gravity, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
It's a 2025 model and production will start in 2024. The full-size vehicle features three rows of seating, starts under $80,000, and has up to 440 miles of range. However, Lucid declined to comment on whether the $80,000 trim will have that range; it'll likely appear in pricier tiers.
Lucid's first vehicle, the Air sedan, goes 515 miles on a single charge—the highest range of any passenger EV on the market. At 440 miles, the Gravity will also have the most range in its class of three-row SUVs. The Rivian R1S has up to 400 miles of range and 2024 Kia EV9 goes 300 miles, for comparison.
The sleek exterior design also helps preserve the range, with a low 0.243 drag coefficient.
(Credit: Lucid)Powerful, Compact Battery Platform
Lucid designed a new battery platform for the Gravity, which it says is "ultra-compact" and a "little more than half the size" of other full-size electric SUVs. It's built on a proprietary 900V electrical architecture that charges quickly, adding up to 200 miles in 15 minutes on a 350kWh public fast-charger.
"Its smaller, lighter, and higher technology battery pack means fewer precious metals and minerals, less energy to charge, less electricity consumed, less pressure upon the grid, and a lighter weight and more dynamic vehicle," says Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid.
Last week, Lucid became the most recent automaker to sign a deal with Tesla to give its drivers access to Superchargers. Lucid will also build its EVs with Tesla-designed NACS charging ports after 2025, including the Gravity. More than a dozen brands have adopted NACS; Lucid was likely a holdout due to its sophisticated charging tech, though it seems to have worked that out.
(Credit: Lucid)Premium Dash Tech and Interiors
The 34-inch OLED dash features a new version of Lucid's Clearview Cockpit technology that supports over-the-air updates. Backseat passengers also get a small screen with basic cabin controls.
(Credit: Lucid) Rear passenger controls (Credit: Lucid)The interior features premium, sustainable materials. Plus, two settings turn the Gravity into a mobile oasis of sorts. This includes a guided meditation track, providing a "personal space for mindfulness." At the push of a button, a feature called Lucid Spaces also transforms the cabin into soothing locations like Lake Tahoe or Joshua Tree.
(Credit: Lucid)Some of the more practical features include ample cargo space and leg room. The second- and third-row seats fold down flat for 112 cubic feet of usable space. Even with all that room, Lucid says the Gravity will overcome the "huge exterior" and "poor maneuverability" associated with typical three-row SUVs. It will accelerate from 0-60mph in just under 3.5 seconds.
