Lucid is trying to make its impressive all-electric sedan even more attractive to consumers by introducing a new entry level model to the lineup. The Air Pure RWD comes with a starting price of $77,400 (excluding destination fee), and offers drivers up to 410 miles (660 km) of range.
Power for the base variant comes from a single motor that delivers 430 hp (320 kW/436 PS), allowing the car to speed up to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a pretty solid 4.5 seconds. It joins the Air Pure AWD, which has two motors delivering a total of 480 hp (358 kW/487 PS), a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds, and rings in at $82,400 (excluding destination fee).
Despite having less power and fewer motors to operate, the Lucid Air Pure RWD doesn’t achieve a greater range than the Air Pure AWD, which can also cover 410 miles (660 km) on a single charge. However, Lucid points out that the new model benefits from its smallest (and lightest) battery pack to date.
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Inside, the Air Pure RWD is much like other models in the lineup, and gets standard Apple CarPlay, a 34-inch curved glass display, a touchscreen, and Lucid’s patented Micro Lens Array LED headlights for nighttime driving. In addition, it will come with the automaker’s suite of advanced driver assistance systems, and will be capable of receiving over-the-air updates.
Even though it has been a hit with critics, the Lucid Air has struggled to find customers, as inflationary pressure forced Lucid to raise prices on the already expensive luxury sedan early in its life. However, following the introduction of the Air Pure AWD, and other price cuts, CEO Peter Rawlinson claims that sales have been on the rise.
With an expensive SUV, the Gravity, coming in November, attracting more customers will be crucial to Lucid’s survival. That may explain why the automaker has chosen to introduce another, even cheaper EV in the meantime.
“The new Lucid Air Pure RWD has it all; style and technology, range and performance, space and practicality,” said Rawlinson. “I’m delighted that the most accessible Air surpasses the range of any other electric car from any other brand. With a starting price of $77,400, I believe that this new addition to the Lucid Air lineup is the car so many have been waiting for.”
