Is {that a} minivan? Is {that a} wagon? Is that an SUV?
The reply to those questions so as isn’t any, form of, and sure. The Lucid Gravity is the startup automaker’s upcoming crossover SUV, however in some ways it redefines the style by way of packaging, design, and the way it drives.
Right here’s what I discovered after an ever-so-brief stint behind the wheel of an early alpha construct prototype earlier than it headed to the crusher.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Lucid’s electrical SUV might be a chameleon
All of it comes right down to the angle during which the Lucid Gravity is seen. The camo-clad prototypes I noticed in varied phases of improvement made it tougher to decipher its proportions. It’s form of wild what a bunch of tape will do to a automotive’s visible look.
From the aspect the Gravity seems like a squished SUV or a bulked-up wagon. The lengthy greenhouse, cab-forward proportions, and tall beltline add to the overgrown wagon really feel in a great way. This isn’t going to be one other automotive cosplaying an SUV.
From the rear, from the suitable angle, there’s a severe Chrysler Pacifica likeness. And I imply that as a praise to each the Gravity and Pacifica. Each are fairly sharp automobiles for his or her respective courses and have some issues in widespread. The Gravity may be the primary crossover SUV in historical past with a third-row seat that tucks right into a rear effectively.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Essentially the most SUV-like angle is when trying on the Gravity head-on. It’s visible mass, and top, are probably the most obvious, particularly when parked subsequent to a slinky, low-slung Air. The entrance finish’s top is accentuated by the vertical LED gentle pipes sitting at each corners.
I additionally get a robust sense that, simply as with the Air, the Gravity might be a car the place shade issues vastly by way of the way it seems and its perceived presence.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Gravity rides on air
The parents at Lucid weren’t prepared to completely focus on varied packaging of various trims and choices, however the Gravity I drove rode on a three-chamber air suspension. Launch automobiles will all possible function this technique, which is able to seemingly be the most costly and superior. Cheaper fashions will make the most of a single-chamber design I didn’t get to expertise.
As I opened the door to the alpha construct Gravity prototype, which was a suspension and platform mule, the automotive didn’t get up. One in all my engineer chaperones requested me to shut the door and let him reset the automotive. I opened the door a second time and the Lucid got here to life. Type of.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The prototype digital gauge cluster immediately lit up with some warning lights. There are mounted digital buttons on the left just like the Air sedan, plus primary controls displaying the local weather management temp and steering wheel adjustment controls. The dashboard had some wrapping on it in order to not look haggard; the gauge cluster was lacking its again plate; and the middle touchscreen didn’t hassle to return to life. And the hacked-together inside featured the requisite (for any improvement car) pink cease button—in case we shortly wanted to close every thing down.
As I slid into the driving force’s seat a Lucid spokesperson famous these weren’t even the Gravity’s seats. These have been seats ripped out of an Air as a result of the prototype Gravity seats have been wanted in a more recent mule being examined on the street.
This translated to a seating place that wasn’t production-correct, and it meant that my view of the 34.0-inch curved OLED digital gauge cluster was obstructed by the squircle steering wheel supposed to assist the scenario.The steering wheel itself was a prototype and the touchpads on both aspect have been blanks. It felt totally different than something I’ve ever used to steer earlier than. The squircle form is flatter than what’s used within the Chevrolet Corvette, whereas the diameter felt excellent and proportional to the car. It’s a greater idea than a yoke if a automotive isn’t going to have a steer-by-wire system with solely 180-degrees of steering enter.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The suspension tune and powertrain’s output was managed through a pc hooked straight into the automotive’s methods through an ethernet cable from the rear seat by an engineer. As I guided the Gravity prototype out of Lucid’s car parking zone I requested which mode the powertrain and three-chamber air suspension was in. “It’s equal to Easy within the Air,” the engineer responded—referring to the softest setting. Within the Gravity, this may deliver within the neighborhood of 500 horsepower, which is 60-70% of the powertrain’s output.
I punched it with the accelerator matted to the ground and the Gravity’s dual-motor powertrain launched us again into our seats because the overgrown wagon took off. I let up shortly as this was a public street. By my very own estimation, 60 mph got here in lower than 4.0 seconds. It’s fast even in its slowest setting.
Navigating to a faster-moving four-lane suburban street I picked up the tempo a bit. Cresting a hump within the street, admittedly with most likely just a little an excessive amount of pace, brought about the steering to go gentle and numb because the suspension unloaded and the mass went up. The touchdown was easy and managed.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Air Sapphire affect in Gravity trip and dealing with
The engineer sitting within the entrance proper seat advised me the crew goals to scale the trip and physique management from ulta luxurious and gentle—softer than within the Air sedan—to extremely sporty with high-quality physique management just like that of the Air Sapphire. “Breadth of functionality” is the secret, I used to be advised.
The engineering crew had me drive to a aspect street with a pointy left-hander that led right into a straight after which a sweeping right-hand flip. This all led into a protracted straight street that ended with a car parking zone. The crew stated I may hustle the Gravity via all this to see the breadth of the present suspension tuning and practicality of the squircle steering wheel.
My first crack at this makeshift street course was with the suspension and powertrain cranked to 11, or what can be generally known as Dash mode in an Air. Earlier within the drive I used to be warned the automotive was “low on juice” so I’d by no means get the total beans. Whole output ought to examine in at over 800 hp in Dash mode.
The suspension saved the Gravity shockingly upright with little physique roll regardless of the pace at which we have been going across the flip. It partly felt like an overgrown Porsche Cayenne, or one thing one would possibly discover rolling out of the Mercedes-Benz AMG buildings. The within wheels clawed on the pavement and I may really feel the push and pull of the ability shifting because the Gravity hustled across the first nook. The second nook was extra sweeping and the Gravity was clearly able to way more than this street may present me.
Whereas initially all Gravitys might be twin motor–one at every axle delivering all-wheel-drive—a triple-motor mannequin with Sapphire badging is anticipated in some unspecified time in the future. The Lucid crew was mum on the subject, however did inform me that classes from Sapphire’s torque vectoring are being utilized to the Gravity via the digital stability management system and brake system plus the rear motor.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The prototype rolled on the Gravity’s mid-spec staggered 21-inch entrance and 22-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin all-season tires, nevertheless it lacked the rear-wheel steering system manufacturing automobiles may have with the three-chamber air suspension. Meaning the manufacturing automotive may have an excellent sharper turn-in than what I skilled.
The engineer within the rear seat of the Gravity clicked a number of keys on the pc because the prototype neared the start of this make-believe street course once more. “OK, we must be in one thing just like the bottom Easy mode once more” he stated. No one seemingly cared if I punched it, so I did. Because the Michelins clawed the Gravity’s weight noticeably shifted way more than the primary time because the softer suspension parameters allowed much more lean, and I had no alternative however to maintain the pace decrease because the physique rolled. Whereas nonetheless managed, the Gravity immediately made me extra conscious of its heft.
Lucid Gravity prototype
Lucid Gravity appears like an Air wagon
Regardless of the inaccurate seating place, I did get a strong sense of what it feels wish to be contained in the Gravity on the street. The view from the entrance seat again via the rear window jogged my memory of driving a wagon. That was principally as a result of form of the rear window itself, which is compressed as a result of squished roofline. Word that the prototype didn’t have a third-row seat in it, and the second-row seats weren’t production-spec.
Lucid Gravity prototype
The view ahead, the position of the entrance pillars, the huge windshield into the glass roof, and the general really feel from the driving force seat jogged my memory of an Air that has been supersized. If a futuristic sport wagon that rode a bit too excessive existed, this may be it.
Strolling away from my temporary stint within the early suspension and chassis Gravity prototype one factor grew to become clear: No different electrical automotive available on the market drives like or seems like this factor. It’s seemingly going to ship household consolation for a each day commute and sporty driving dynamics for the great distance house in a method no different electrical seven-seater delivers but.
