Lucid Air Sapphire's high power and performance

The Lucid Air Sapphire is the high-end, sporty version of the American electric sedan, equipped with three permanent magnet synchronous electric motors. Two of these are integrated into the Mégawatt Drive at the rear, allowing the car to deliver up to 920 kW (1,251 hp) and 1,940 Nm of torque.

Power and energy consumption

The car is powered by an 118 kWh Samsung-SDI battery, with around 112 kWh usable capacity according to measurements. The battery is divided into 22 modules and operates at a nominal voltage of 810 V. Despite its high power, the car's energy consumption is influenced by factors like aerodynamic and rolling resistance, not just the power level itself.

Autonomy and efficiency

The Lucid Air Sapphire has a WLTP autonomy of 694 km, with a combined energy consumption of 19.1 kWh/100 km. This is significantly higher than the more frugal Lucid Air Pure, which consumes 11.8 kWh/100 km. The Sapphire's consumption is also higher than the Grand Touring version, which uses around 16.0 kWh/100 km.

Performance on motorways

On long motorway trips, the Sapphire consumes 24.9 kWh/100 km, giving a theoretical autonomy of 475 km. This is similar to the DS Numéro 8 and the BMW iX3 50xDrive. On a 930 km route between Lyon and Munich, the car used 28.4 kWh/100 km, which is high but impressive given its performance.

Aerodynamic design and efficiency

The Lucid Air Sapphire is one of the most aerodynamic cars in production, with a drag coefficient of 0.197. However, its performance-oriented design, including wing extensions and a carbon fiber ducktail wing, increases its drag coefficient to nearly 0.23. This, along with increased rolling resistance, leads to higher energy consumption on motorways.

Eco-driving and consumption

Despite lacking an Eco mode, the Lucid Air Sapphire's Soft mode still delivers 570 kW (780 hp). On a typical route, it achieved a consumption of 13.3 kWh/100 km, which is comparable to an SUV like the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro. This is 3.7 kWh/100 km more than the Grand Touring version.

Acceleration and performance

The Lucid Air Sapphire offers multiple driving modes, with the Soft mode delivering 780 hp and the Sapphire mode delivering up to 1,136 hp. In Dragstrip mode, the car can achieve a 0-100 km/h time of 2.47 seconds and a 400 m sprint in 9.5 seconds. These figures are slightly slower than manufacturer claims, which are based on specific conditions and tires.

Braking and energy recovery

The Lucid Air Sapphire features a high-performance braking system with 380 mm front and 375 mm rear discs. The regenerative braking system is highly effective, with the High mode allowing the car to stop from 90 km/h in just 91.4 meters. No other electric car measured by the team has such a powerful regenerative system.

Comfort and interior

The revised suspension of the Sapphire maintains the comfort level of the Lucid Air range, offering a smooth ride even on rough roads. The interior is luxurious, with high-quality materials and advanced technology, including a large digital screen and a retractable control panel. Recent software updates have improved the system's reliability.

Space and practicality

Despite its high power, the Sapphire has a spacious interior, with rear seating that rivals a luxury car. The trunk volume is 627 liters, and the frunk adds another 283 liters, totaling 910 liters. This makes it more practical than many large SUVs, even though the rear footwell is slightly smaller than in entry-level models.