Lucid recently brought a prototype of its all-electric Air sedan to Laguna Seca and proved that large and luxurious EVs can be fast on a circuit.
The electric automaker startup rocked up to the famous circuit with what it calls a “showroom intent” prototype that had its interior changed out for one with a six-point roll cage, fire-suppression system, high-temperate brake pads, and brake fluid. Other than these alterations, the car was largely the same to what Lucid will eventually sell to customers.
Fitted with a set of Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires, the Lucid Air sprinted around the track in 1:41.67. To put that into perspective, a bone-stock Jaguar I-Pace recently lapped the circuit in 1:48.18 while a Tesla Model S P100D with upgraded brakes has previously secured a time of 1:47.62.
Eager to show just how fast the Air can be, Lucid then swapped out the road-going tires for a set of Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Rs and set a blistering 1:39.30.
In mid-2017, Lucid stunned many when it first took a prototype to 217 mph (349 km/h) and then a few months later, ran the same prototype up to 235 mph (378 km/h). However, since these tests and the premiere of a two-tone Lucid Air at 2017’s Monterey Car Week, little has been announced about the vehicle’s development.
On a management side, Lucid moved its headquarters to Newark, California towards the end of last year. Additionally, it was revealed in August that the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund is in talks to invest up to $1 billion in Lucid Motors and obtain majority ownership.