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 associates. Final week, I took a visit to Lucid’s design studio, the place I had my most intimate encounter with the Gravity SUV to this point, together with a short however informative take a look at drive across the Bay Space. There, I additionally realized 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 each time Lucid Motors comes up, and its journey to manufacturing and shortly deliveries has been thrilling. Manner 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 finally turn out to be much less catered to the prosperous and extra accessible 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 degree of design luxurious, technological innovation, and modularity it’s changing 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 received my first up-close have 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 traces, which incorporates Gravity builds.
Gravity orders opened in October with a Grand Touring accessible now, adopted by a Touring trim beginning at below $80,000 set to reach in late 2025. Final week, whereas I used to be with the Lucid group in California, it accomplished its first Gravity manufacturing construct set for buyer supply.
Because the early variations of the Gravity lastly start to succeed in reservation holders, I received the prospect to check out a pre-production model and have shared my ideas under. Moreover, we’ve realized that the official EPA vary of the Lucid Gravity will likely be 450 miles, greater 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 vp 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 completely new to me.
Jenkins defined Lucid’s new advertising and marketing mantra, “Compromise nothing. ” After studying extra about Gravity in and out 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 superbly assembled, for lack of a greater phrase, “hodge podge” of the most effective parts in luxurious automobiles 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 to this point or its future in EV gross sales, I all the time level to the corporate’s expertise. It’s unmatched. I’ve been a believer since I received 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 major 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 up to now 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 automobiles that require fewer batteries which are lighter and value much less to mass produce, which in flip helps drive down the price for patrons. 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 complete time.
Jenkins advised me that Lucid’s aim with Gravity was to out-space and out-utilize conventional SUVs and out-sport the Porsches and Lamborghinis. The pillars of that method are design methods widespread amongst all SUV producers, nevertheless it’s all the time been a give-and-take method, 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 the most effective qualities of every to create a very spectacular EV with world-class vary and effectivity.
Except for 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 a lot of you recognize, EV structure permits OEMs to customise the ground of their automobiles to permit extra inside and cargo quantity. Nevertheless, you continue to must retailer all these batteries, motors, and inverters; some are higher at it than others.
I’d argue that Lucid is once more a pacesetter on this design method, utilizing a 900V platform nonetheless. For instance, the Lucid Gravity is shorter and decrease than practically all of its SUV opponents, together with OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Rivian, and Chevrolet. On the similar 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 kind of spacious in its personal proper.
Let’s not neglect the Gravity’s frunk, which affords an extra 8.1 cubic toes 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. It’s possible you’ll first be turned on by the look and vary of the Lucid Gravity, however whenever you expertise it close-up, its the little additions that make it a standout within the SUV phase.
For instance, Lucid was capable of make the most of an extra 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 number of the most legroom in its class by solely sacrificing a little bit of headroom resulting from 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 transferring 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 towards 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 excellent.
Or, you should purchase a large SUV like a Chevy Tahoe, which gives you that wanted house, however it’s inefficient and sophisticated to park in tight areas resulting from its huge 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 out a 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?
Positive, its modern and opulent 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 received my probability 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 have been lacking, like its superior AR head-up show, which I used to be bummed I couldn’t expertise but. Nonetheless, I’m certain I’ll get a for much longer drive alternative quickly, and I’ll observe up with a extra complete evaluate.
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 understand Gravity and the way it handles. Upon first getting behind the wheel and heading off, my preliminary impression was primarily based on the general really feel—not simply when it comes to the dealing with but additionally the inside and driver positioning.
All I may say at first was, “This drives like a Lucid.” The 2 techs within the SUV with me smiled at each other and advised me they have been comfortable to listen to that as a result of that’s exactly what the group was striving for once they fine-tuned it.
My second takeaway was how small and nimble it feels for a bigger car. In case you’ve learn my work, you’ll know I’ve pushed each trim of each mannequin 12 months of the Lucid Air to this point, 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 you recognize 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 may, we hit a service street to check out launch mode. I hit 0-60 mph in below 3.5 seconds and would have cherished 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 show the SUV’s 38-foot curb-to-curb turning radius – one other useful slight benefit Gravity has over bigger SUVs.
Nevertheless, essentially the most spectacular function I realized about Gravity is its non-compulsory air suspension bundle, which exemplifies the “all-in-one” design bundle I’ve described. The Grand Touring I drove was outfitted with Lucid’s multi-chamber spring air suspension, which cannot solely increase the SUV to various heights however you can too regulate its stiffness to ship three completely different sensations, whether or not it’s a plush and easy journey 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 advised me it received’t allow you to drive up Moab, however it’s going to supply aggressive off-road capabilities within the SUV phase. Versatility is the nucleus of this EV, for my part.
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) clear up lots of the bugs that popped up by the manufacturing of the Air sedan. I actually hope so as a result of the shortage of premium, reliable software program seems like the one issue holding Lucid again from being the most effective within the enterprise in most EV classes.
The one final little tidbit I seen is that Gravity’s passenger doorways open a full 90 levels to assist mother and father entry automotive seats and furry associates 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 towards a car within the spot subsequent to them. It’s not excellent for parking heaps, nevertheless it’s a welcomed function nonetheless.
General, the Gravity SUV is a slam dunk of an EV in case you have the cash to purchase one. Lucid continues to guide 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 certain we are going to see many of those design parts 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. In case you reside close to a Lucid showroom, I like to recommend stopping in and seeing if they’ve the SUV on show but so you may 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 could 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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