American EV producer Lucid has been giving Tesla complications ever because it first unveiled its manufacturing automobiles within the spring and summer time of 2021. The Mannequin S-rivaling Lucid Air has already been reviewed favorably, with established retailers, comparable to High Gear, suggesting it’s extra akin to Mercedes’ opulent S-Class than a mere Mannequin S.

Effectively, it is time for Musk to crack out the paracetamol, as a result of there’s one other thorn to puncture Tesla’s facet within the form of the Lucid Air Pure – arguably the ‘greatest worth’ Lucid on the checklist.

Pure joins the likes of Air Touring, Air Grand Touring and potent Air Sapphire fashions within the vary, promising a beginning worth of $76,475 after $7,500 EV credit score within the US (€109,000 in Europe, round £93,000 / AU$179,000). That is only a smidge over essentially the most fundamental $74,900 Mannequin S (€94,990, or round £82,000 / AU$156,000), which lately had its costs slashed, upsetting many house owners and fleet managers as a result of subsequent tanking of residual values.

That mentioned, Lucid is providing month-to-month lease offers from as little as $749 per thirty days, the place Tesla is asking for $1,099 per thirty days over 36 months within the US for its ‘entry-level’ Mannequin S.

However maybe extra importantly, Lucid claims the all-electric vary from its 88kWh battery pack might be as much as 419-miles on the stringent EPA testing cycle. Tesla’s official figures have been launched in 2022 and the EPA score got here out at a 405-mile most vary. 

Each automobiles function all-wheel-drive functionality, whereas Tesla claims its Mannequin S can smash the 0-60mph dash in 3.1 seconds, the place the Lucid Air Pure does it in 3.eight seconds.

Lucid goes heavy on the premium touches, with a PurLuxe leather-based various bedecking the inside seats, which additionally function 20-way adjustability for optimum consolation. In addition to this, Lucid gives 19-inch alloys and a complete infotainment system that consists of a completely digital cockpit and enormous touchscreen within the heart console. 

Prospects may step as much as a Touring trim, which beats Tesla’s Mannequin S Plaid in virtually each regard bar the 0-60mph time. Tesla claims 1.99-seconds, the place Lucid gives a extra real looking 3.4-seconds. However the latter is $2,490 cheaper and provides an extra 29-miles to the estimated electrical vary. 

In fact, Lucid can go to-to-toe with Tesla on the drag racing entrance, however you’ll must half with $249,000 (round £199,999 / AU$380,000) for the eye-watering Sapphire mannequin, which apparently accelerates from relaxation to 60mph in simply 1.89 seconds, manages 427-miles of vary and gives options like massaging seats and superior driver help methods.

Tesla has it coated

Arguably the largest hurdle to Lucid genuinely consuming into Tesla gross sales its is lack of a Supercharger community, a function that many Tesla homeowners declare is the lifeblood of the model, in addition to Lucid’s incapacity to at present promote in sure markets.

In the mean time, it’s focussing on the US, whereas present European markets embrace Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway, the place it has devoted showrooms. Lucid mentioned it has already made inroads to China, whereas it gives automobiles in locations like Saudi Arabia, too.

The UK continues to be a sticking level, as a result of right-hand drive conversion, however with elevated growth, it may effectively be a real premium rival to Tesla’s EV dominance.

Nonetheless, the Mannequin S is getting a bit lengthy within the tooth now, having been first launched in 2012. By the point Lucid begins actually consuming into gross sales, Tesla will probably have an all-new mannequin to flaunt, boasting the newest tech and competition-busting vary capabilities. 

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