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After years of development, Lucid Motors introduces its second electric vehicle (EV), the Gravity, a lavish SUV poised to challenge established luxury EV and internal combustion engine SUVs. This spacious electric SUV is designed to capture market share from vehicles like the Rivian R1S, Cadillac Escalade IQ, BMW X7, and Audi Q8, setting a new benchmark in the premium automotive sector.
The Saudi-backed automotive company aimed to engineer an SUV without compromise—an ambitious objective pursued by numerous automakers before, often with limited success. Following an initial test drive of the EV, with a starting price of $96,550, it becomes apparent that the company prioritized more than just opulent features, although those are abundant.
The Lucid Gravity arguably epitomizes over-engineering at its finest. This EV is replete with advanced technology and enhancements carried over from its predecessor, the Lucid Air sedan. While Peter Rawlinson, the former CEO and CTO of Lucid, who departed in February, is no longer at the helm, his engineering influence is unmistakable throughout the new Lucid Gravity.
Although consumers may not directly see the sophisticated technology underpinning the vehicle, they will undoubtedly experience its benefits.
The Lucid Gravity boasts an impressive EPA-estimated range of up to 450 miles, accelerates from zero to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds, and features rapid charging capabilities that surpass current EV standards. Leveraging a novel boost mode that utilizes the rear motor as a transformer to enhance charging efficiency, the Gravity can gain up to 200 miles of range in just 11 minutes using DC fast charging, according to company claims.
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This combination of luxury, technology, and generous space comes at a premium. The Gravity’s price ranges from $96,550 for the two-row Grand Touring trim to $99,450 for the three-row variant. A more accessible “Touring” model, priced at $81,550, is anticipated to debut later in the year.
Lucid Gravity: Exploring the Technological Core
Engineers developing the Gravity drew upon insights gained from the Lucid Air Sapphire and Lucid Air, resulting in the company’s next-generation Gen 2 system that serves as the SUV’s foundation. This advanced system incorporates a newly developed battery in collaboration with Panasonic—reportedly offering a 40% improvement in charging speed compared to competitors—a redesigned drive unit, a refined thermal management system, and an innovative charging architecture.
Specifically, engineers have engineered a system enabling the Lucid Gravity to achieve charging rates of 225 kW on 500-volt infrastructure (utilized by Tesla’s V3 Superchargers) and up to 400 kW on 1000-volt systems (underlying Tesla’s emerging V4 Supercharger network scheduled for deployment this year).
To accomplish this, the Gravity’s motor and inverter are ingeniously employed as a transformer, effectively boosting 500-volt charging to the battery’s required voltage without necessitating additional hardware. Furthermore, the system integrates plug-and-charge functionality, streamlining the charging process by eliminating payment and initiation complexities at compatible charging stations.
Innovation in EV Charging Infrastructure
These advancements align with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard, introduced last year. The announcement of this standard coincided with the near completion of the Gravity’s development phase.
The updated standard necessitated a substantial re-evaluation of the Gravity’s fundamental architecture when it was approximately 70% finalized in late 2022 and early 2023, according to Emad Delala, Senior Vice President of Powertrain at Lucid.
“When I joined in 2015, 400-volt technology represented the cutting edge,” Delala stated. “We quickly recognized the need to advance further, leading us to develop novel technology facilitating charging via both legacy 500-volt and future 1000-volt charging infrastructures. Our learnings from the Air in 2021 underwent a complete transformation.”
The Gravity development team also implemented several hardware modifications to enhance redundancy, support the infotainment system, and facilitate the future integration of more sophisticated automated driving capabilities into its advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS).
The company is leveraging NVIDIA’s Orin-X processors for AI-driven perception and video processing within its ADAS, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 for infotainment functionalities, and Infineon TC397 for vehicle dynamics and chassis control.
Currently, the Gravity provides Level 2 automated driving, a system that automates certain driving tasks while still requiring driver attentiveness. Lucid’s long-term objective is to offer Level 3 (L3) automation, typically enabling hands-free, eyes-off driving on highways under specific conditions.
The forthcoming Dream Drive 2 Pro, an upgraded iteration of its ADAS, is slated for imminent release, according to the company. It will offer enhanced features including visualization of up to five traffic lanes, curve speed adaptation, lane change assistance, curb damage alerts, and automated parking functionalities.
Lucid Gravity: Prioritizing Cargo and Passenger Volume
The Gravity’s design emphasizes ample space for both occupants and cargo. Engineers and designers successfully realized this objective. The interior is remarkably capacious, boasting 120 cubic feet of internal volume, which Lucid asserts is 40% greater than its closest competitor.
An initiative to minimize the use of traditional fuses inadvertently contributed to this spaciousness.
The company sought to minimize reliance on fuses due to their requirement for regular access and replacement upon failure, and their tendency to consume valuable interior space that could otherwise accommodate cargo and passengers, explained Jean-Phillipe Gauthier, Head of Software Engineering at Lucid.
Lucid opted for diffusers in the Gravity—essentially electronic circuit breakers. These diffusers automatically reset when the vehicle is powered off, respond more swiftly to system shorts, eliminate potential errors associated with installing fuses of incorrect amperage during replacement, and allow the fuse box to be positioned deeper within the vehicle structure, minimizing intrusion into the cabin. Diffusers can also selectively power down non-essential systems to mitigate parasitic energy losses.
To substantiate the Gravity’s superior roominess compared to rivals, the EV manufacturer showcased a Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S, and BMW X7 at an event in Los Olivos, California. Journalists were challenged to transfer boxes initially packed within the Gravity (including its sizable front trunk) into the EQS SUV.
The task proved insurmountable, highlighting the Gravity’s exceptional cargo capacity. One attending journalist, standing at 6 feet 6 inches, was able to comfortably recline in the Gravity’s rear compartment and close the tailgate without difficulty.
Driving Dynamics: Experiencing the Lucid Gravity on the Road
The Gravity is a substantial vehicle, measuring 198.2 inches in length and 87.2 inches in width. This positions the electric SUV slightly smaller than the Chevrolet Suburban in overall dimensions. Nonetheless, its generous size contributes to its expansive interior.
Typically, full-size SUVs of this magnitude tend to exhibit a resonant cabin and pronounced body roll, compromising handling, particularly on winding roads.
However, this is not the case with the Lucid Gravity.
During a test drive from Nipomo, California, along the Central Coast via Cuyama Highway and Tepusquet Road—a steep, narrow, and sharply winding route—to Los Olivos, the Gravity proved surprisingly enjoyable and, arguably, fun to operate.
The Gravity carries considerable weight, exceeding 6,000 pounds in the three-row configuration tested. While this mass was perceptible, engaging the “Smooth” comfort setting effectively managed highway cruising and sweeping curves with composure.
Switching to “Swift” mode for Tepusquet Road, the adaptive dampers and air suspension adeptly absorbed uneven road surfaces and curves, maintaining vehicle stability and minimizing body roll. The ride quality remained remarkably smooth even on the winding road in Swift mode, to the point where a passenger was able to fall asleep.
The Gravity, when equipped with the Dynamic Package (a roughly $2,900 option), incorporates rear-wheel steering, providing an additional 3 degrees of rear wheel articulation—operating both in-phase and out-of-phase depending on vehicle speed.
This rear-wheel steering system enhances vehicle agility, reducing its turning radius on narrow mountain roads and even unpaved surfaces, as demonstrated during a rally cross demonstration Lucid organized at a local ranch.
Even when pushed aggressively (and intentionally sliding) on dirt, the Gravity maintained impressive composure and comfort. Furthermore, the Gravity offers genuine light off-road capability with 7 inches of standard ground clearance, adjustable to over 9 inches in raised mode.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of the Gravity was its “squircal”—squarish-circle—steering wheel. In contrast to vehicles equipped with conventional yokes, this uniquely shaped wheel enhances the perceived agility and responsiveness of the Gravity. The electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering is precisely calibrated, ensuring direct and predictable vehicle response to steering inputs.
Lucid has also meticulously calibrated the one-pedal driving system, rendering it so intuitive that brake pedal use was unnecessary throughout the winding roads surrounding Los Olivos.
In conclusion, after more than four years of development, the seven-passenger, all-electric SUV delivers exceptional range, efficiency, agility, and practicality, making it an appealing option for affluent buyers seeking an American-made electric vehicle outside of the Tesla lineup.