The Lucid Gravity SUV Brings Big Range But Uses Half the Battery of Mainstream Carmakers
From the launch of the Air sedan, Lucid has cemented the fact that it can build a Tesla rivaling machine. That said, the sleek luxury sedan hasn’t dominated the market in the way the new automaker hoped. In an effort to bring the brand into the mainstream market, Lucid has just pulled the cover off of its all-new Gravity SUV, aimed at the center of the EV SUV segment.
The Lucid Gravity is a large SUV that will offer customers five, six, and seven seat configurations to work with. The truck’s new platform comes backed by an updated version of the brand’s 900V EV architecture, which includes even more powerful versions of their compact motors. In fact, Lucid says these are the most power-dense electric motors offered on sale by any company today. While the automaker hasn’t shared specifics about the Gravity’s powertrain layout, expect a choice between rear-drive and all-wheel drive models, accomplished through different motor counts. Horsepower and torque figures will vary between those powertrain options. The automaker has confirmed that the SUV will be fairly quick however, accelerating from 0-60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds. The truck will also do regular SUV tasks quite well, with a payload capacity in back of 1500 pounds, as well as a maximum towing capacity of 6000 pounds.
Lucid has also been cagey thus far considering the Gravity’s battery pack, but there are some assumptions we can make based on the Air lineup. The sedan offers two battery packs, measuring 92 kWh and 112 kWh, respectively. Considering the fact that Lucid claims the Gravity’s battery is nearly half the size of its major rivals, that 112 kW pack seems quite likely. For reference, GM’s Hummer EV and Escalade IQ models both utilize packs over 200 kWh. Regardless of the overall size of the pack, Lucid says the SUV will arrive with a projected range of more than 440 miles per charge. Thanks to that 900V architecture, it’ll only take around 15 minutes to add 200 miles of range back into that pack.
There is a familial relationship between the Air and the Gravity from a visual perspective, but the SUV just isn’t as successful in its approach. The aero-driven approach is clear, with the truck’s class-leading coefficient of drag of less than 0.243 coming as no surprise. That said, the final results look somewhere between a Kia EV6 GT and a Toyota Sienna. It’s not an ugly machine, but it isn’t as elegant as the brand’s sedan. Inside the Gravity is a different story, as the SUV rocks a gorgeous interior layout with plenty of modern flair. The dash is dominated by the large 34-inch curved Clearview Cockpit display, which works with a central infotainment screen to provide all your information. A large glass roof extends over the rear seating areas, which opens up the cabin nicely. Fold those rear two rows and you’re left with more than 112 cubic feet of storage to work with.
The Lucid Gravity SUV is slated to start production at the end of next year, which means we’ll have plenty of time to get all of the nitty gritty out of the engineers. Just like with the Air sedan, Lucid intends to offer the entry-level model at an MSRP starting under $80,000. Whether or not customers adopt this particular model is going to spell out the future of the brand’s success.
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