- The 2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring’s batteries have been improved to allow it to charge faster and lose less energy under acceleration.
- It also gets the heat pump from the Air Sapphire for increased efficiency, and better real-world range.
- Prices now start at $109,900.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring is borrowing a few tricks from its siblings’ to become more efficient than ever in 2024. While the improvements are subtle, they will no doubt be welcome as prices for the model now start at $109,900, which is down from an MSRP of $125,600 in January.
The biggest change will doubtless be felt at the charging station. Lucid says that thanks to improved automatic preconditioning while the vehicle is in motion, the Air Grand Touring can now refill its batteries 15 to 30 percent quicker at DC fast charging stations.
Read: It’s Possible To Lease A Lucid Air Grand Touring For Just $604 Per Month
In addition, enhancement to the Air Grand Touring’s batteries and motors mean that less energy is wasted as heat when the car is pushed hard. That means that it can perform at its best, even under repeated hard acceleration events.
Finally, for 2024, the car borrows the heat pump from the high-performance Air Sapphire, further improving the efficiency of the powertrain, especially in colder environments. Although its impressive EPA-tested range of 516 miles (830 km) remains unchanged, CEO Peter Rawlinson says that customers will go farther in the real world.
“The Air Grand Touring has retained its 516-mile range estimate, achieving this despite more-stringent EPA testing,” said Rawlinson. “More importantly, it delivers improved range and efficiency in a broader range of everyday, real-world conditions.”
Power output remains unchanged for the Air Grand Touring, though that’s not a bad thing. Despite its impressive range, the car offers drivers a more than adequate 819 hp (611 kW / 830 PS) to get them moving.
Like other EV startups, Lucid has struggled recently, missing its 2023 production targets, and seeing its share value drop more than 40 percent so far this year. The automaker appears to be a victim of changing consumer tastes, as inflationary pressures and high interest rates leave buyers shopping for cheaper EVs, prompting it to cut prices multiple times in recent months. Whether these tactics will help the automaker stay afloat long enough to introduce the more affordable model it promised in January remains to be seen.
