Lucid Motors will soon launch its Gravity SUV. Will pricing come down to Earth?
On Sunday, I went to a preview event at the Lucid Torrance Studio, to see a prototype Gravity, a 3-row luxury SUV, due later this year.
I wanted to learn:
What will be compelling and distinctive about the Gravity?
Will it help Lucid get to profitability?
So, I explored the Gravity and a few variants of the first model; the Air sedan. I also looked at the design elements and components that were displayed around the studio.
Here’s my report:
Interior Comfort
Like the Air sedan, the Gravity offers comfort, materials and craftsmanship on par with the top German brands. But the Gravity won’t replace the leaders Bentley Motors and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars for physical comforts and aesthetics. Their interiors are largely handmade, with plush seating, opulent detailing and little plastic.
Infotainment / Technology
The Lucid Gravity will also offer infotainment / technology that’s good, but not at the same level of Mercedes-Benz AG and BMW Group. For example, Mercedes offers a 56-inch Hyperscreen dash, and BMW has a 31-inch, roof-mounted screen for 7-Series rear passengers.
Ride Quality
Early road test reviews of the Gravity prototype suggest it will have a quiet, smooth and refined ride, competitive with the luxury SUVs produced by Rivian, Mercedes, BMW, and AUDI AG. But like those brands, the Gravity will remain a notch below the magic carpet ride of the 3-row Bentley Bentayga, which is expected to offer a fully electric version by 2026.
Performance
The Lucid Gravity is expected to have strong acceleration, precise handling and impressive range for a large SUV, on par with the Tesla Model X and the Rivian R1S.
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Summing it up, the Gravity is likely to be a solid, well-rounded EV.
But as you’ve just read, it probably won’t lead its segment in any important criteria.
For this reason it’s essential to ignore the pricing structure of the Air —which is around $70,000 for the minimally-optioned Pure, and up to $249,000 for the Sapphire.
That pricing would make the Gravity more expensive than comparably-optioned EV SUV models from the competing (established) brands.
Keep in mind, the average transaction price for a new car in the US, is $48,644.
Lowering prices is obviously not a new idea. It’s just absolutely necessary to establish a healthy customer base.
Otherwise there are too many competent SUVs, from distinctive brands, at competitive prices.
Am I missing something in this analysis? What do you think?
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