The Lucid Air Sapphire is coming for the Tesla Model S Plaid and the car manufacturer has just announced the breathtaking performance figures offered up by its flagship model.
The covers were lifted off the Air Sapphire at August’s Monterey Car Week but key details about it were not revealed. It has now been confirmed that the Air Sapphire can sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a blistering 1.89 seconds, making it 0.01 seconds quicker than the Model S Plaid, not that anyone will be able to feel that difference.
It’s not just the 0-60 mph time that makes the Air Sapphire impressive. Lucid has also confirmed that it requires just 3.87 seconds to hit 100 mph (160 km/h) and that it will continue through to a 205 mph (330 km/h) top speed. That is 5 mph more than the Model S Plaid and unlike the Plaid, it doesn’t appear as though Lucid will initially cap the Air Sapphire’s top speed through software.
Read: $249,000 Lucid Air Sapphire Has Over 1,200 HP And Runs The 1/4 Mile In Less Than 9 Seconds
Interestingly, Lucid hasn’t announced a quarter-mile time for the Air Sapphire other than saying it will need less than 9 seconds. On paper, it should be quicker than the Model S Plaid given its quicker acceleration and higher top speed but it’s possible Lucid has not yet achieved a quarter-mile time that it is satisfied with.
Allowing the $249,000 Lucid Air Sapphire to achieve such breathtaking performance numbers are a trio of electric motors that combine to produce over 1,200 hp, although a final horsepower figure has yet to be announced. These motors make the Air Sapphire the most powerful production sedan on earth.
Various other changes have been made to the EV. These include the fitment of carbon ceramic brakes as standard, stiffer front and rear springs, unique damper settings, stiffer bushings, and bespoke tuning for the ABS, traction control, stability control, and electric power steering.
