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It’s easy to compare the Lucid Air to the Tesla Model S, but the automaker is actually looking to compete with Germany’s big three.
Speaking to Autocar, Lucid Motors’ marketing manager, David Salguero, has revealed more details on its upcoming Air, an electric car claiming to have a 400-mile range. Its development is being led by Peter Rawlinson, who used to be the former engineering boss at automakers like Lotus, Jaguar, and Tesla. Rawlinson currently serves as Lucid Motors’ chief technical officer, and Salguero said his experience will ensure the Lucid Air delivers as a driver’s car that is capable of taking on sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
The Air’s most powerful model is expected to have around 1,000 horsepower thanks to a twin-motor, four-wheel-drive electric powertrain. But it’s not just sheer performance that will benefit the Air, Lucid’s engineers believe the low placement of its batteries will help the car handle as effective as its rivals.
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“The Air has been designed with enough flexibility to be future-proof,” Salguero told Autocar. “It’s the kind of car that lovers of driving will like to drive. Rawlinson is the best man for the job – he knows how to make a beautiful-handling car.”
Given that the Lucid Air is an all-electric sedan just like the Tesla Model S, it’s natural to make comparisons. Lucid is however, is aiming the Air at a wider window of luxury sedans, including the BMW 750Li. In fact, the long-wheelbase sedan was the Air’s benchmark for cabin space. The goal is to have a spacious interior comparable in size to the Mercedes S-Class, while the car’s overall dimensions is more like an E-Class.
And before you think the Air is vaporware, or another automaker just waiting to run into financial issues like Faraday Future, Salguero said the Air is 95-percent complete and is reaching its final stages of development. Production of the sedan will soon start at the company’s factory in Arizona with the goal of eventually producing 60,000 units per year.
[Source: Autocar]
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