Lucid Air passes the Canadian winter take a look at with flying colours

I had the chance to drive the Lucid Air Touring for slightly greater than per week throughout the holidays, and I can say with confidence that the California-designed and engineered electrical luxurious sedan passes the Canadian winter take a look at with flying colours.

I’m impressed. Let’s dive into it.

I had by no means had the prospect to drive a Lucid earlier than. Our personal Scooter Doll is our primary reporter on the Lucid beat, and he’s a giant fan of the Air, to say the least. His primary grievance has been the software program, which has been enhancing as of late, so I used to be excited to provide it a shot with a extra full model of the automotive.

Since launching in Quebec, they’d tried to get me in a automotive, however we couldn’t make it occur. Ultimately, they instructed me they’d one for me on December twenty third.

Although it was the vacations, I couldn’t cross on the chance and went to select the smooth pink Air Touring for my vacation travels.

I’ve been following the corporate for a very long time. From their transition as Atieva, an electrical powertrain and power storage firm, to Lucid, a whole electrical automobile maker. Attending to drive one felt like a very long time coming.

Lucid Air Touring

Now, I say it passes the Canadian winter take a look at, and in case you are from the area, you may say: “What winter?” Winters are certainly changing into milder round right here, however I had the automotive for simply over per week, and the timing was excellent for a real winter take a look at.

A couple of hours after choosing up the automotive in Montreal, I needed to drive it again residence to Shawinigan in the course of a good snowstorm. Two hours within the snow and the left lane on the 40 East wasn’t even plowed.

Typically talking, a brand new automotive I’m not acquainted with plus a snowstorm equals being further cautious, and I used to be clearly cautious, however the Lucid Air’s spectacular driving dynamics rapidly gave me an unimaginable quantity of confidence.

At 5,200 lbs, it’s a heavy automobile, however it’s an extremely well-balanced 5,200 lbs.

The Air Touring is simply the third strongest model of Lucid’s flagship sedan, however I by no means felt like I wanted extra energy, and that is smart, contemplating it’s pushing 620 hp and may speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

I used to be capable of cross autos simply, even within the snow, and at all times felt in full management of the automobile. It’s a enjoyable, comfy drive.

Talking of consolation, the Lucid Air is a real luxurious sedan with all of the consolation options you’ll count on and extra. The extent of customization can be spectacular for the seats. You might modify them for hours to get them excellent.

The backseat can be spectacular. Lucid did an excellent job optimizing the inside. The backseat appears like a limousine:

It’s an excellent automotive for drivers, for passengers, however the trunk area is the place some folks criticize the Lucid Air.

I perceive why, however I might argue that trunk area just isn’t an actual downside. The trunk opening is one. This can be very small and brief:

Nevertheless, when it comes to quantity, it’s greater than first rate. You simply want to have the ability to get issues in. Due to Lucid’s extraordinarily compact motors, there are very deep hidden compartments on the backside of the trunk and frunk.

It leaves loads of room for baggage, however once more, it wants to suit the opening first.

For our travels, it was simply my girlfriend, our cat, and I, however I may see this automotive simply becoming 4 folks and baggage for per week.

That’s factor as a result of this can be a nice highway journey automotive, because of its unimaginable effectivity.

The Lucid Air Touring is rated at an EPA vary of 406 miles (653 km), however like another EVs or gas-powered autos, your mileage might differ, and the chilly impacts the mileage badly.

As I mentioned, our winters have gotten milder, however I had the proper Canadian winter take a look at situation on Christmas day. We drove from Shawinigan to Quebec Metropolis, drove across the metropolis, parked for hours within the chilly with out charging, after which went again to Shawinigan on a single cost.

General, it was simply over 400 km (250 miles) and I arrived residence with 27 km:

That may not appear too spectacular for a 400-mile automotive, however the temperature on the drive ranged from -18 to -8°C (-1 to 18°F). You probably have drivem EVs in these temperatures, you already know that that is spectacular.

What’s most spectacular is that I didn’t need to adapt my driving because of the spectacular vary and effectivity.

Once I drive lengthy distances in an electrical automobile within the chilly, I might typically cut back my pace to be able to prolong the vary, however on this case, I acquired a fairly good thought of the effectivity on the drive to Quebec Metropolis, so I used to be assured on my means again that I may make it with out stopping to cost.

It enabled me to drive on the freeway at my normal 119 km/h on cruise management and make it with out breaking a sweat.

Electrek’s Take

That’s a game-changer. There’s no compromise. At Electrek, we like to emphasise that vary just isn’t every part with EVs. Non-EV drivers are inclined to assume that you simply want greater than 400 miles to have a viable EV. That’s flawed except you drive 400 miles or extra in a single go typically, which isn’t how most individuals use automobiles.

A 200-mile EV with fast-charging is a good answer for most individuals as you get up with a full cost daily and for the few occasions a 12 months whenever you drive lengthy distances, you’ll be able to cease for a fast 20-40-minute cost, which allows you to drive 300-400 miles in a single day simply.

Nevertheless, issues change in excessive chilly. When you begin hitting temperatures under -15°C (5°F), the vary begins to be affected badly, and that’s when an extended vary turns into tremendous helpful.

Actually, I’ve been driving EVs within the Canadian chilly for nearly a decade, and it hasn’t been a serious difficulty for me. When you adapt your driving, you may be OK, and over that decade, I’ve additionally seen vary prediction and effectivity enhancing, which assist with this difficulty.

However now, if in case you have the cash, you even have one other answer: the Lucid Air. It’s actually an excellent, no compromise automobile, so long as you might have the cash for the reason that Lucid Air Touring at $78,900 USD ($109,300. CAD).

When you do, it might be onerous to discover a draw back in comparison with different equally priced autos. As beforehand talked about, the software program has been a problem with early variations of the Air.

I’ve solely ever skilled the most recent model of Lucid’s software program and regardless of some points, I discovered it greater than first rate, particularly in comparison with legacy automakers.

It’s outfitted with Apple Carplay for many who prefer it, however the native navigation labored nice for me, and it additionally has a local Spotify app. Personally, I don’t want way more than that. It’s not all excellent although. On two events, I had difficulty connecting my telephone to the automotive and I needed to disconnect and reconnect it a number of occasions for it to work.

There’s additionally loads of room for UI optimization. I wish to see one thing like media controls for the passenger on the backside of the middle show or the proper of the highest show.