Words and Photos by Atif Kazmi for Por Homme
We get to drive a lot of cars. Most are world firsts and some we’ve likely seen in photos or read about beforehand. In the case of the all-electric Lucid Air, it’s been on our radar for a while and we even did a passenger ride along in a pre-production version a while back. After missing a few opportunities to get behind the wheel, we were finally able to secure some extended seat time in a Lucid Air Touring Edition.
The Lucid Air’s exterior impresses with an overall design that’s different from anything else on the market. Even before landing, talk about its aero-optimized profile and efficient space-saving details were hitting a fever pitch. Now, having experienced the Lucid Air firsthand, I can say there’s even more to this all-electric beauty than meets the eye.
The Lucid Air Touring boasts a sleek and aerodynamic exterior design, with an impressive 0.197 drag coefficient that helps it achieve some of the most exceptional range figures on the market. Inspired by aircraft designs, every detail is carefully sculpted to create a form that seamlessly blends beauty with functionality. Even autonomous driving sensors are seamlessly integrated into the exterior design, along with the Intelligent Micro Lens Array headlights, designed entirely in-house, and the sweeping speedform tail light at the rear.
The true magic of the Lucid Air Touring comes to life within its spacious interior. Despite its mid-size exterior, the interior offers proportions similar to a full-size sedan. This feat is achieved through exclusive powertrain components that have been miniaturized to create ample space for passengers that includes a generous rear-seat footwell room.
The car also maximizes storage space, offering SUV-levels of roominess. The clamshell-style deck lid opens to reveal a large bi-level trunk, and a spacious frunk sits beneath the hood, nearly four times larger than those found in other electric cars. The interior also provides numerous storage options, including door pockets and a bonus compartment behind the retractable Pilot Panel.
The Lucid Air Touring’s interior features supple 14-way power front seats that are heated, cooled, and wrapped in Nappa leather. Designed with sustainability in mind, the Lucid Air Touring incorporates sustainable materials like open-pore North American Walnut wood trim, Alcantara, surfaces covered in recycled materials, and responsibly-sourced, perforated Nappa full-grain leather, sourced from a carbon-neutral producer. Buyers can choose from a variety of interior themes, each meticulously curated with an array of fabrics, leathers, and textiles. The test vehicle we experienced had the Tahoe two-tone interior, with dark leather seating and details in the front and tan leather seating in the rear.
A key feature of the Lucid Air Touring is the Glass Canopy. You might catch it in photos or content online, but seeing it in person will ensure you won’t option your Lucid Air without it. The solid glass roof spans the entire cabin almost without interruption with protective interlayers to block out heat and sunlight. This offers passengers a view without sacrificing safety.
Cutting-edge technology is no stranger to the Lucid Air Touring. The Glass Cockpit, a 34-inch, 5K floating screen display provides essential information on a clean and crisp UI, while the retractable central Pilot Panel offers deeper-level customization when needed. Additional features include facial recognition, which automatically adjusts settings to your preferences, the optional 21-speaker Surreal Sound Pro system with Dolby Atmos technology, and DreamDrive, an advanced driver-assistance system that offers features like Surround View Monitoring for effortless parking, intelligent driver monitoring, and 32 on-board sensors for navigation.
Under the hood, sitting between the Lucid Pure and the Grand Touring, the Lucid Air Touring’s Dual-Motor AWD electric drivetrain is no slouch. It offers an EPA-estimated 425 miles of range with 19-inch all-season tires. Its 620 electric horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque delivers instant acceleration, and it handles like a sports car, with a 3.4-second acceleration to 60 mph.
The Lucid Air Touring also comes equipped with the Wunderbox, a key component of one of the world’s most advanced EV charging systems. It allows you to add 200 miles of range in just about 15 minutes, ensuring that owners spend more time on the road and less time charging.
The 2023 Lucid Air Touring starts from $95,000. The Glass Canopy adds $4,500 to the price, while other optional add-ons can bring the cost even higher. For more information and to configure your own Lucid Air Touring, please visit the official Lucid Motors website.
Right now, Lucid is offering a ton of incentives that are worth considering. A Lucid Air Touring starts at $95,000 but with a limited-time Air Credit, that number comes down to $87,500. You can lease one for $1,099/mo which means you’re getting a lot of car for the money. Happy hunting.
