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The Tesla Model S Plaid better watch out. Direct competitor of the firm of Elon Musk, Lucid Motors unveils the new Lucid Air Sapphire. With no less than three engines whose combined total power exceeds 1,200 horsepower, this version of the American manufacturer’s electric sedan is the most powerful to date.
Concretely, the engine of the Lucid Air Sapphire consists of two engines on the rear axle and one on the front axle. The abundance of power allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in “less than two seconds”, and from 0 to 160 km/h in less than four seconds. The Californian manufacturer therefore prides itself on having created the most powerful sedan in the world. As for the battery, Lucid ensures that it is improved in order to collect the increase in power. Its autonomy would be around 643 kilometers according to some of our colleagues.
An innovative vector torque system
Perched on Aero Sapphire rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, the Lucid Air Sapphire is also based on an improved chassis and stiffer spring suspension. Carbon-ceramic brakes make it possible to stop all the cavalry as it should. On the rear axle, the two electric motors finally offer a vector torque system, which makes it possible to reverse the thrusts and thus improve stability or even regenerative braking.
Specific look for the interior of the sedan
On the design side, few differences are to be noted in comparison with the other variants of the Lucid Air, except for a new body color called Sapphire Blue and a Stealth Look finish which reinforces sportiness. The cabin is presented in upholstery called Sapphire Mojave, which includes sports seats in leather and Alcantara with blue stitching. The dashboard and the inside of the doors are decorated with varnished wood.
The price of the new Lucid Air Sapphire
The starting price of the new Lucid Air Sapphire is set at $249,000 in the United States, or approximately €248,891 at the time of this writing. Lucid does not say if marketing in France is planned. Other Sapphire models should in any case follow, since the Lucid Air Sapphire inaugurates a line dedicated to performance.
In short
In the category of sports electric sedans, the Tesla Model S Plaid must count on a new competitor. Californian manufacturer Lucid Motors is launching the Lucid Air Sapphire, a high-performance variant of the Lucid Air. The car has a triple electric motor that develops more than 1,200 horsepower, which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in less than two seconds. Inevitably, it is based on an improved chassis and is equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires as well as carbon-ceramic brakes. The two motors installed on the rear axle finally allow the Lucid Air Sapphire to take advantage of a torque vectoring system to improve its stability and regenerative braking. The price of this ultra-sporty electric sedan is set at $249,000 in the United States, or around €248,891 at the time of writing.
