When it comes to electric vehicles, the Lucid Air Pure stands out as a remarkable choice for those seeking high performance without breaking the bank. The Lucid Air Pure is the more accessible sibling in Lucid Motors’ lineup, yet it doesn’t compromise on the impressive features and engineering that the brand is known for. This is the Lucid Air Pure, and it’s priced at $69,000 or $549 per month, making it a toned-down version of its $249,000 Sapphire sister. But don’t let that deceive you because this has got some seriously impressive numbers.
We’re talking about 4.7 miles per kilowatt hour of efficiency, a number that jumps to 5 miles per kilowatt hour of efficiency at the 2025 model year. The Lucid Air Pure also boasts a drag coefficient of 0.197, offering a range of 420 miles according to the EPA or 464 miles under the WLTP. We’re talking 330 kW of power—this is punchy performance, ridiculous range, and sensational engineering, all at mid-range prices. The question is, how and why?
The Lucid Air Pure – Price
| Performance and Efficiency | – Efficiency: 4.7 miles per kilowatt hour, improving to 5 miles per kilowatt hour by the 2025 model year. – Drag Coefficient: 0.197 – Range: 420 miles (EPA) or 464 miles (WLTP) – Power: 330 kW |
| Driving Experience | – Test Drive Locations: Skyline Boulevard and Highway 1, California – Handling: Nimble and capable on twisty, winding roads – Suspension: Active damping and coil suspension with split upper and lower control arms – Stability Control: Can be turned off for a more engaging driving experience |
| Interior and Technology | – Cabin Design: Wraparound 35-inch screen, cockpit-like environment – Materials: Plush, high-quality materials – Attention to Detail: Precise engineering and design review evident in every aspect – Driving Comfort: Manageable and comfortable in both urban and highway settings |
| Engineering Approach | – Design Philosophy: Harmonious blend of design and engineering, working in tandem – Technology Development: In-house development for advanced EV technology and efficiency |
| Lucid Motors’ Strategy | – Goals: Advance EV technology, make it more affordable, and increase range – Vertical Integration: High degree of in-house technology development for a unique e-architecture |
| Comparison with Competitors | – Main Competitor: Hyundai Ioniq 6 – Lucid Air Pure Advantages: Lighter, more efficient (4.75 miles per kWh vs. 3.9 miles per kWh for Ioniq 6), larger frunk (283 liters) |
| Motor and Efficiency | – Motor Development: In-house production in Arizona – Motor Innovations: Smaller, more efficient motor with bespoke copper winding and optimized cooling – Efficiency Achievements: Average efficiency of 4.75 miles per kilowatt hour, aiming for 5 miles per kilowatt hour in 2025 |
| Future Strategy | – Target Market: Initially high-end products with a future focus on more affordable electric vehicles – Pricing Goals: Aiming to reach a $48,000-$50,000 price point for future models – Technology Licensing: Already partnering with Aston Martin to license Lucid’s EV technology |
| Conclusion | Lucid Motors is pioneering advanced EV technology with a focus on efficiency and vertical integration. |
Lucid Air Pure Test
The Lucid Air Pure has active damping and coil suspension, not air suspension, which is a little unusual. It also has split upper and lower control arms, which create a virtual kingpin. This allows the engineers to fine-tune the vehicle’s dynamics and make it feel however they want from a steering perspective.
And the drivers get to feel the real benefits of that. Unusually for an EV, you can turn off stability control in a Lucid, which allows you to truly experience the driving character of this vehicle. From Lucid’s perspective, it’s a badge of honor—allowing drivers to turn off stability control and really see what this car is all about. In this sense, the Lucid Air Pure is a driver’s car, built for those who really, really enjoy driving.
Inside the Lucid Air Pure – Interior
However, if you’re also driving around town or on the highway, the Lucid Air Pure feels totally manageable and really, really comfortable. Inside, the cabin feels beautifully crafted, with a wraparound 35-inch screen that cocoons you in a cockpit-like environment.
The materials feel plush, and while I would always love a glass canopy roof, I understand that’s a first-world problem. Everything inside the Lucid Air Pure has an acute attention to detail as if you can still hear the murmurs of the engineering or design review that determined those details. Even the noises on the HMI make delightful mechanical sounds.
Driving along the hairpin bends, you’re constantly aware that while lines of code define EVs, springs, dampers, and other physical mechanical parts too do. When coordinated correctly, they can conjure the feel of gliding on rails. But the key to that magic lies in the insane engineering. To find out more, I visited Lucid HQ. Making a car is an extremely difficult and costly endeavor—so why bother making something from scratch?
Lucid Motors’ Groundbreaking Engineering and Design Approach
The aspiration behind Lucid Motors is to advance state-of-the-art EV technology. It’s important to do this to make it more affordable and to make EVs go further with less. The only way to achieve that was to develop in-house technology. That’s why Lucid exists. The phrase “design from the ground up” isn’t just a marketing slogan for Lucid. It wasn’t necessarily design-led or engineering-led but rather a harmonious blend of both.
Most cars are designed stylistically in the studio, and then engineers retrospectively fit the parts in. That’s how the Tesla Model S was developed. However, the studio doesn’t always know what’s possible with new electric technology.
Lucid turned everything on its head. The studio and engineering teams worked in sequence, almost like a game of tennis, sharing the design and engineering responsibilities. This approach allowed Lucid to design the Air from the inside out, creating the most advanced car in the world.
Between the base-spec Lucid Air Pure that I was driving and the Sapphire sit the Touring and GT versions. Later this year, Lucid’s $80,000 three-row SUV, the Gravity, will join the lineup, following the same ground-up approach.
Lucid Motors’ In-House Technology Development
Lucid has developed numerous technologies in-house, aiming for a high degree of vertical integration. This means that components are made bespoke in-house to fit perfectly within a unique e-architecture, rather than being picked off the shelf.
This method creates a product that’s truly fit for purpose but also introduces significant costs, especially for a new company still manufacturing at relatively low volumes. However, vertical integration is crucial for achieving Lucid’s mission of creating the world’s best electric vehicle.
Lucid has two main goals: first, to license their technology (as they already have with Aston Martin), and second, to maintain a laser focus on efficiency. Peter’s mantra, “every millimeter counts,” drives the creation of technologies that increase miles per kilowatt hour, with the hope that more people can eventually benefit from smaller, lighter, and more affordable electric vehicles.
Why Vertical Integration Matters for Lucid
Vertical integration is only important if what you’re doing is extraordinary. If what you’re doing isn’t superior to what you can buy off the shelf, then it’s not worth the effort.
Lucid’s focus on vertical integration is only justified because they have something unique and extraordinary. That’s why they make all their electric powertrains in-house. If you’re thinking that a luxury sedan EV is slightly at odds with Lucid’s mission, consider the Lucid Air Pure’s coefficient of drag.
We’ve already mentioned that the Lucid Air Pure has a drag coefficient of 0.197, but to put that into context, the Ioniq 6, which sits at a slightly different price point but has a similarly swoopy shape, has a drag coefficient of 0.21. Several factors contribute to the Lucid Air Pure’s impressive aerodynamic performance, including its swoopy shape, air ducts that guide airflow neatly over the vehicle, aerodynamic wheels, and a lower profile. There’s also a rear diffuser and a battery pack that arches upwards, helping to optimize weight and guide airflow underneath the vehicle.
Lucid Air Pure vs. The Competition
Continuing with the comparison to the Ioniq 6, despite the Ioniq 6 being cheaper and having a smaller battery pack, it’s 340 kilos heavier than the Lucid Air Pure. It’s also less efficient overall, with 3.9 miles per kilowatt hour compared to the Lucid Air Pure’s 4.75. This efficiency is due in part to Lucid’s lightweighting strategies and efficient packaging, showcased by the Pure’s enormous frunk. The 283-liter frunk is three times larger than the Tesla Model S’s, demonstrating how efficient the Lucid team has been with their packaging.
The Motor Behind Lucid’s Efficiency
The Lucid Air Pure’s incredibly efficient packaging is also due to Lucid’s in-house motor development. They now produce these motors at their factory in Arizona. Electric motors are already very efficient, so Lucid had to do something extraordinary to create any kind of step change. They’ve combined the motor into a single-drive unit, making it much smaller and more efficient.
This includes a very bespoke copper winding, maximizing the amount of copper squeezed into the motor without needing additional spot welding. They’ve also addressed cooling at the source, reducing the need for a large cooling system. These innovations allow Lucid to push the rev range, increase the torque range, and improve overall efficiency.
Lucid Air Pure: Efficiency at its Best
This version of the Lucid Air Pure claims to have an average efficiency of 4.75 miles per kilowatt hour, which will increase to 5 miles per kilowatt hour in the 2025 model year.
Without driving sensibly, and even while trying to get B-roll shots with acceleration and braking, I managed to achieve 3.5 miles per kilowatt hour. In my Ioniq 5, I’d have to focus on driving to hit 3.5 miles per kilowatt hour, so the Lucid Air Pure’s efficiency is truly impressive. I’ll see if I can reach that elusive 4.75 miles per kilowatt hour on my drive back.
Lucid’s Focus on Technology Licensing
Lucid’s licensing of their technology to Aston Martin is a significant move, as Aston Martin won’t be making their own battery tech. In the next few years, Lucid will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in electric vehicles, focusing on vertical integration and efficiency.
Their goal is to create the best electric vehicles in the world while paving the way for more affordable, efficient, and sustainable transportation solutions.
Lucid’s relationship with Aston Martin is the start of something that will play a crucial role in their business. What’s even more exciting is how far they’ve gone in terms of performance efficiency.
Lucid has refined the Air Pure’s coefficient of drag, making it one of the most efficient vehicles on the market.
Read Also –2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Review: The Ultimate Electric Driving Experience – EV Gear Review
