Silicon Valley-based electric car startup Lucid Motors continues to make a name for itself as a real contender to Tesla, having recently debuted its long range Lucid Air ultra-luxury sedan across a series of meet-and-greet and test ride events in Southern California. Renowned tech reviewer MKBHD billed the Air as possibly being the Future of Luxury. But how does Lucid’s “private jet on wheels” stack up against Tesla’s Model S?
Ben Sullins of YouTube channel Telsanomics takes a deep dive into known published stats for each vehicle, and compares the two on range, performance, price, technology, and interior trim.
First, a disclaimer. Ben’s video was made before Tesla announced that the Model S 60 would no longer be available after April 17. Ben notes in the video description “In this video, I look at how this new base model Lucid Air stacks up against a Tesla Model S 60. Of course, since recording this Tesla has announced they no longer will be offering the 60 but the comparison is still relevant considering the primary variable is the range of the Model S.”
Range, Performance and Price
The base Lucid Air will offer 240 miles of range, rear wheel drive and have 400 horsepower through a single electric motor. Tesla’s base Model S 60 is rated at 210 miles of range with 320 horsepower, and also rear wheel drive.
Both vehicles will also be comparable in price. Lucid says its base model will start at $52,500 after deducting the $7,500 federal tax credit. By comparison, Tesla’s Model S 60 will be priced at $53,700 before incentives. If we are to factor in Tesla’s soon-to-be base Model S 75 into the equation, the price difference increases to a more dramatic $14,500.
Technology
The Lucid Air has 3 touch screens within the driver’s line of sight. The one located in the center of the car that displays less critical information can retracted into the dashboard when not in use. The other two flank the central instrument panel. There is another touchscreen available for rear seat passengers to adjust heating and cooling as well as sound system settings.
Both the Model S and the Lucid Air will be equipped with hardware that can facilitate fully autonomous driving. Feature updates will come via over-the-air software updates.
Interior
As pointed out by MKBHD in his review video of Lucid Air, the interior appointments of Lucid’s vehicle appear to be aimed more toward the luxury car buyer than those in the Model S. Some Tesla buyers who have purchased a Model S have critiqued Tesla for not matching their expectations when it comes to the quality of the interior materials used. MKBHD commented that the Lucid Air interior seems to have higher quality interior appointments, at least to his eye.
One thing that has impressed those who have ridden in the Lucid Air is the expansive front windshield. Like the Model X, it flows back over the heads of front seat passengers in one unbroken sweep of glass. In fact, the Air name was suggested by the light, airy feel created by all that glass. But that enormous front windshield will not be available on the entry level Air. The company says it will have an aluminum roof, 19″ wheels, and a 10-speaker audio system.
Availability
Tesla Model S and Lucid Air match up quite closely in terms of power, performance, and technology. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is always encouraging other manufacturers to build “compelling electric cars” and Lucid Motors is poised to be that manufacturer that has truly stepped up to the challenge.
Lucid, for the moment, has big plans. The company has identified a site for its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona and aiming for production beginning in late 2018 to early 2019.
Though Tesla has a 5-year head start on the buildout of its factory, distribution channel and charging network, is that enough to hold back Lucid from becoming a major force in the premium electric vehicle market? One that’s had time to learn, adapt and move arguably more efficiently than Tesla?
Lucid is a serious contender.
Here’s Teslanomics’ comparison of the Tesla Model S vs. Lucid Air. What are your thoughts?
Top Rated Comments (view all)
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Any comparison between a car that is actually on the road and a car that doesn't even have a factory to build it, is irrelevant. People should stop doing this.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE="Tribalypredisposed, post: 2694, member: 7829"]Strongly second Snowcat's comment. It is not 2006 now, we do not need articles on every vague hope of making an EV, or even fairly credible efforts like Lucid's. The coverage, for example, of Fisker's fantasy/scam that he is going to launch a new company sans factory, capital, employees, batteries, even an office or phone number...by many sources late last year...was absurd. No one did the slightest amount of due diligence to check his false claims of having patents in hand or applied for.
I would love to see Lucid succeed, but we see how much money Tesla is burning through with EVERY advantage so far just to make it to sustainable growth based on sales...and Lucid is short of the $700 million they need to build their factory. Meanwhile, there are those who doubt the four plus billion dollars Tesla has will see them through the ramp up for the Model 3. Lucid needs another $2 billion to have a slight chance of launching that car into the teeth of offerings from Tesla, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar...what is the argument for how Lucid will be able to sell enough cars at a healthy enough margin to finance future development and growth? If other people saw a realistic path to success for Lucid, they would readily have the money they need. Having a pretty good prototype is far from enough for an EV start-up with Tesla moving forward with huge momentum.
Agreed on what both of you've said, but keep in mind, this company is actually backed by the same business who bought off all those U.S. automakers brands while back and they still have billions of dollars to "burn"...
Also, keep in mind this is actually a Chinese company funded by few of the large investment corporations wuch as Tsing Capital, Sumitomo, Venrock, LeEco, JAFCO, and others, and we all know how much money they love to spend regardless if they succeed or not, they just... have billions of dollars sitting there.
So in reply to "Tribalypredisposed", don't worry about the spending, oh they will spend it for sure, just not sure if they will succeed, or simply copy from its competition and call it a day, at least that's what Chinese and Korean do anyway, copycat!
You see how Korean automaker Hyundai copies Audi's front grill, Mercedez Benz's rear back, BMW's interior for their genesis and possibility their new flagship Equus model, then you can get an idea how this company might go, same with the Chinese automaker, copy copy and copy... save lots of R&D, possibly just reverse engineering and bunch of attorney standing by to get away with patent design by changing little things here and there, that's what they are good at during those years, from computer to vehicles to aircraft...
I would love to see Lucid succeed, but we see how much money Tesla is burning through with EVERY advantage so far just to make it to sustainable growth based on sales...and Lucid is short of the $700 million they need to build their factory. Meanwhile there are those who doubt the four plus billion dollars Tesla has will see them through the ramp up for the Model 3. Lucid needs another $2 billion to have a slight chance of launching that car into the teeth of offerings from Tesla, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar...what is the argument for how Lucid will be able to sell enough cars at a healthy enough margin to finance future development and growth? If other people saw a realistic path to success for Lucid, they would readily have the money they need. Having a pretty good prototype is far from enough for an EV start-up with Tesla moving forward with huge momentum.
So best wishes to Lucid, but they have a very uphill climb ahead.
