The rivalry between Lucid Motors and Tesla is heating up.
Very last 7 days, Tesla unveiled the 1,100-horsepower tri-motor Design S Plaid, boasting a -60 mph time of a lot less than 2. seconds, a quarter-mile time of less than 9. seconds, and a top rated pace of 200 mph.
Lucid was already regarded to be creating a tri-motor edition of its Air sedan, and on Wednesday the business introduced a online video of that motor vehicle screening at—where else—Laguna Seca.
A automobile equipped with a “advancement” model of the tri-motor powertrain established a lap time of 1:31.3 for the duration of a latest “chassis-testing session.” That is more quickly than the 1:36.5 lap established by the Model S Plaid prototype in 2019, and just a second off the 1:30.3 claimed most just lately.
Lucid famous that the auto rode on wider-than-stock wheels and tires (and sported fender flares to protect them), but said the tires were being continue to road-authorized. The automobile also utilised generation-spec brakes, and was driven by senior mechanical engineer John Culliton, not a qualified driver from exterior the corporation, Lucid included.
The Air itself was unveiled in early September, but Lucid has not supplied a lot element on the tri-motor edition.
Lucid Air tri-motor prototype screening at Laguna Seca
The enterprise did say that the Dream Version, with a twin-motor powertrain and 1,080 hp, could do -60 mph in 2.5 seconds, attain a best pace of 168 mph, and operate the quarter mile in 9.9 seconds.
Tesla’s Product S Plaid seems to be set to defeat individuals claims, but the tri-motor Lucid Air could just one-up it.
These two sedans will probable be the vanguard for electrical-car efficiency.
Back again in 2017 Tesla claimed a 1.9-second -60 mph time for the up coming Roadster, as very well as a 620-mile assortment. But the Roadster would seem to have been place on the back burner as Tesla focuses on other, increased-quantity projects like the Cybertruck and Semi.
The Porsche Taycan presents sporty driving dynamics, but won’t be able to match the overall performance or variety figures claimed by Tesla or Lucid.
The Taycan and the Model S Plaid are probable motivating elements for BMW in producing an electric variation of the up coming-technology M5 sports activities sedan.