It’s been a four-plus-year adventure for Gravity – Lucid Motors’ 2nd flagship SUV. Because it was once first unveiled, I’ve adopted Gravity’s building intently, itching to get at the back of the wheel of a full-fledged manufacturing model to check pressure – and that day has in spite of everything come, my pals. Remaining week, I took a shuttle to Lucid’s design studio, the place I had my maximum intimate come across with the Gravity SUV so far, together with a short lived however informative take a look at pressure across the Bay House. There, I additionally realized that the reliable vary of the Lucid Gravity is an excellent 450 miles. Take a look at photographs and a video of my enjoy beneath.
As discussed above, Gravity has been a top-of-mind dialogue every time Lucid Motors comes up, and its adventure to manufacturing and shortly deliveries has been thrilling. Long ago when Lucid shared a release video of its flagship sedan, the Air, we stuck a short lived glimpse of its encore EV, Gravity, silhouetted by means of the solar.
Since then, I’ve been clamoring for extra information about this SUV, which represents Lucid’s subsequent step in turning in a much broader vary of car choices that can sooner or later turn into much less catered to the prosperous and extra to be had to all, particularly when its “Mid-size” EVs release after Gravity.
For now, then again, Gravity represents Lucid’s project into all-electric SUVs and has delivered a degree of design luxurious, technological innovation, and modularity it’s turning into famend for. We stuck our first public glimpse at Gravity in November of 2022 prior to catching some camo’d avenue checking out the next April.
In November of 2023, Lucid formally introduced Gravity, sharing some preliminary main points, together with a frunk seat and an estimated vary of 440 miles. This previous January, I were given 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 Traveling to be had now, adopted by means of a Traveling trim beginning at beneath $80,000 set to reach in past due 2025. Remaining week, whilst I used to be with the Lucid crew in California, it finished its first Gravity manufacturing construct set for buyer supply.
Because the early variations of the Gravity in spite of everything start to succeed in reservation holders, I were given the danger to check out a pre-production model and feature shared my ideas beneath. Moreover, we’ve realized that the reliable EPA vary of the Lucid Gravity shall be 450 miles, upper than to start with promised.
The Lucid Gravity “compromises not anything,” together with vary
To start out my newest talk over with to Lucid HQ, I did a walkthrough with Gravity and senior vice chairman of design and logo Derek Jenkins. Derek confirmed me a slideshow explaining the design that went into Gravity, a few of which I had noticed and a few completely new to me.
Jenkins defined Lucid’s new advertising mantra, “Compromise not anything. ” After studying extra about Gravity in and out and taking it for a spin, I will truthfully say that the American automaker stayed true to its new ethos in this one.
Gravity is a superbly assembled, for lack of a higher word, “hodge podge” of the most productive components in luxurious automobiles and SUVs, culminating in a modular, spacious, sumptuous, tech-forward, and in all probability most significantly, environment friendly fashion.
It was once right here that Jenkins knowledgeable me the EPA vary of the Lucid Gravity were secured, and the Grand Traveling trim it’s launching first delivers 450 miles of vary on a unmarried fee. That’s higher than the 440 miles at the beginning introduced.
Each time any individual ever questions Lucid’s good fortune so far or its long run in EV gross sales, I at all times level to the corporate’s era. It’s unrivaled. I’ve been a believer since I were given unique get right of entry to to Lucid’s powertrain facility in Arizona, and the general public is solely now beginning to snatch simply how forward of everybody this automaker is.
A main instance is the RWD Air Natural, which accomplishes a world-leading potency of five miles in line with kWh. That very same era went into the tri-motor Air Sapphire and is a big reason it is in a position to pressure so rapid and up to now with a considerably smaller battery pack than its competition.
Lucid is construction electrical motors which might be smaller, extra robust, and extra environment friendly than any individual. As such, the corporate can ship automobiles that require fewer batteries which might be lighter and value much less to mass produce, which in flip is helping pressure down the fee for purchasers. I don’t assume folks will actually snatch this benefit till mid-size comes out, however I digress; the proof has been proper in entrance of everybody this whole time.
Jenkins advised me that Lucid’s purpose with Gravity was once to out-space and out-utilize conventional SUVs and out-sport the Porsches and Lamborghinis. The pillars of that manner are design methods commonplace among all SUV producers, but it surely’s at all times been a give-and-take manner, e.g., area over agility, efficiency over vary, capacity over luxurious, or practicality over sustainability. Via compromising not anything, Lucid has assembled a brand new breed of SUV that assessments all of the ones containers and delivers 5 pillars in a single automobile:
Area: Software, convenience, flexibility
Potency: Vary, charging speeds, sustainability
Design: Sophistication, craftsmanship, once more, sustainability
Efficiency: On-road and off-road features, dealing with, acceleration
Virtual enjoy: A cabin this is Intuitive, immersive, hooked up
Because of this, I’d describe the Lucid Gravity as about ten vehicles in a single, combining the most productive qualities of each and every to create a actually spectacular EV with world-class vary and potency.
Except vary, Lucid Gravity marvels in area usage
A key issue many of us can’t actually snatch from 2D photographs of the Lucid Gravity is solely how spacious it’s, even for an EV this is similar and even smaller in top and duration than its competitor. As a lot of you understand, EV structure permits OEMs to customise the ground in their automobiles to permit extra inner and load quantity. Alternatively, you continue to wish to retailer all the ones batteries, motors, and inverters; some are higher at it than others.
I’d argue that Lucid is once more a pace-setter on this design manner, the use of a 900V platform however. For instance, the Lucid Gravity is shorter and less than the majority of its SUV competition, together with OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Rivian, and Chevrolet. On the similar time, the Gravity delivers much better shipment quantity (120 cu. feet. within the five-seat structure and 114.3 cu. feet. within the seven-seater). Lucid shared that’s over 40% extra shipment area than the Mercedes EQS SUV, which is fairly spacious in its personal proper.
Let’s now not fail to remember the Gravity’s frunk, which gives an extra 8.1 cubic ft of shipment area and a bench for individuals who need to sit down and tailgate, watch the sundown, or simply flex on everybody whilst at a public charger. Chances are you’ll first be grew to become on by means of the glance and vary of the Lucid Gravity, however while you enjoy it close-up, its the little additions that make it a standout within the SUV phase.
For instance, Lucid was once in a position to make use of an extra 6.2 cu. feet. of garage within the trunk at the back of the rear wheels. This phase is best for storing baggage or for hiding the 3rd row away cleanly and flatly. Talking of the 3rd row, that two gives probably the most maximum legroom in its category by means of most effective sacrificing just a little of headroom because of its low aerodynamic form. I climbed again into the 3rd row prior to my take a look at pressure and was once inspired at how a lot room I had, even with out transferring the second one row up, which you’ll be able to do if wanted. Take a look (I’m 5′ 11″):
In such a lot of SUVs, the 3rd row is most effective appropriate for kids as a result of adults’ knees ceaselessly finally end up pressed proper up towards the second one row. You both have to sit down at an perspective or suck it up, counting down the mins prior to you get for your vacation spot and will stretch out. Now not very best.
Or, you’ll be able to purchase an enormous SUV like a Chevy Tahoe, which gives you that wanted area, however it’s inefficient and sophisticated to park in tight spaces because of its monumental length. I wish to reiterate that Lucid has applied each and every sq. inch of Gravity’s footprint with the driving force and their passengers in intellect. It’s a family-friendly SUV that may stow everybody’s baggage and not using a roof rack and area an 8-foot surfboard. Did I point out that the Lucid Gravity Grand Traveling model additionally gives 450 miles of EPA vary?
Certain, its graceful and opulent and has a ton of area, however how does it pressure?
I’ve been asking myself that very same query for over a 12 months now, and in spite of everything, I were given my probability to check out Gravity on public roads. Spoiler alert—it was once superior.
Gravity feels such a lot like Air, I forgot I used to be riding an SUV
I wish to preface my riding impressions by means of declaring that I used to be in a pre-production Gran Traveling 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 enjoy but. Nonetheless, I’m certain I’ll get a for much longer pressure alternative quickly, and I will be able to apply up with a extra complete evaluate.
For now, I will percentage my ideas on a 20-minute pressure round Newark, California. In spite of the restricted time at the back of the wheel, it was once simple to snatch Gravity and the way it handles. Upon first getting at the back of the wheel and fending off, my preliminary impact was once in keeping with the whole really feel—now not simply in the case of the dealing with but additionally the inner and driving force positioning.
All I may just say in the beginning was once, “This drives like a Lucid.” The 2 techs within the SUV with me smiled at one any other and advised me they have been satisfied to listen to that as a result of that’s exactly what the crew was once striving for once they fine-tuned it.
My 2nd takeaway was once how small and nimble it feels for a bigger automobile. For those who’ve learn my paintings, you’ll know I’ve pushed each and every trim of each and every fashion 12 months of the Lucid Air so far, so I’m very aware of how the ones EVs pressure. I in an instant felt relaxed and in regulate of Gravity and would say it drives precisely like an Air regardless of being considerably greater. At one level, I forgot I used to be in an SUV till I checked my rearview replicate and noticed 3 rows at the back of me.
The twin motor was once A+ in acceleration, and you understand I’m a stickler for one-pedal riding. Gravity didn’t disappoint. The regenerative braking is stiff however now not jarring and is terribly simple to grasp. After hitting a few cloverleaf go out ramps as rapid as I may just, we hit a provider avenue to check out release mode. I hit 0-60 mph in beneath 3.5 seconds and would have liked to stay pushing it if I hadn’t run out of avenue.
The Gravity Grand Traveling’s 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque can’t be neglected and, once more, give a contribution to my argument that this SUV drives like a sedan. To show round, we hit a good u-turn to exhibit the SUV’s 38-foot curb-to-curb turning radius – any other useful slight benefit Gravity has over greater SUVs.
Alternatively, essentially the most spectacular function I realized about Gravity is its not obligatory air suspension bundle, which exemplifies the “all-in-one” design bundle I’ve described. The Grand Traveling I drove was once supplied with Lucid’s multi-chamber spring air suspension, which cannot most effective elevate the SUV to various heights however you’ll be able to additionally regulate its stiffness to ship 3 other sensations, whether or not this is a plush and easy experience in “Clean” 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 may be running to ship a “Terrain Mode” that can roll out as a tool replace to take the Gravity off-road. Derek Jenkins advised me it received’t make it easier to pressure up Moab, however it’s going to be offering aggressive off-road features within the SUV phase. Versatility is the nucleus of this EV, individually.
As a result of I used to be in a pre-production fashion, the UX of Gravity wasn’t all there, however Lucid is taking a look to ship what it known as “UX 3.0,” which will have to (with a bit of luck) remedy most of the insects that popped up in the course of the manufacturing of the Air sedan. I without a doubt hope so for the reason that loss of top class, loyal tool appears like the one issue retaining Lucid again from being the most productive within the industry in maximum EV classes.
The one closing little tidbit I spotted is that Gravity’s passenger doorways open a complete 90 levels to assist oldsters get right of entry to automobile seats and bushy pals extra simply. This is a wonderful concept that many purchasers will love, however most probably extra within the convenience of their very own driveway. The rear doorways are fairly lengthy and, when totally open, would certainly clang up towards a automobile within the spot subsequent to them. It’s now not very best for parking loads, but it surely’s a welcomed function however.
Total, the Gravity SUV is a slam dunk of an EV you probably have the cash to shop for one. Lucid continues to guide the business in vary and potency with Gravity and is even taking a few of the ones design classes and modular enhancements and circling them again into long run fashions of the Air sedan. I’m certain we can see many of those design components in “Mid-size” as smartly, so I’ll repurpose my Gravity countdown clock for that subsequent fashion.
Within the period in-between, I’m taking a look ahead to a extra prolonged pressure enjoy with Gravity and can percentage extra ideas on my enjoy after that. For those who are living close to a Lucid showroom, I like to recommend preventing in and seeing if they have got the SUV on show but so you’ll be able to discover the entire little main points that went into making an SUV that turns out to certainly “compromise not anything…” with the exception of possibly a 2nd loan on your home, however it can be price it.
The Lucid Gravity Grand Traveling is on sale now at a beginning MSRP of $94,900. Take a look at some video photos we shot with the Lucid Gravity beneath:
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