Lucid Air Sapphire has 1200 PS, does 0-97 km/h under 2 seconds

Did you know that there is an electric car start-up making waves and even beating out the likes of Tesla and new EVs like the Porsche Taycan, Audi E-Tron, and Tesla Model S Plaid? 

Say hello to Lucid Motors. Formerly known as Atieva, a company that made electric vehicle batteries and powertrains for other vehicle manufacturers, it is now at the forefront of the luxury electric super-sports sedan market. Lucid’s CEO and CTO is none other than Peter Rawlinson, who was previously Tesla’s VP of Engineering and Chief Engineer of the Tesla Model S. Lucid’s Vice President Derek Jenkins was Mazda’s Head of Design in their North American operations. The two are now heading the Lucid Motors charge and reshaping electric vehicles as we know them. 

Despite being a relatively new EV company, Lucid has made a model to rival the Model S, E-trons, and Taycans. It is called the Air Sapphire Edition. They recently tweeted about its three-engine setup coupled with their battery technology that produces 1,200 PS. This engine takes the vehicle from a standstill to 97 km/h in just less than 2 seconds and 0 to 161 km/h in less than 4 seconds, which is astonishing.

Yes, this setup has been done before but we can’t escape the results of the latest Air sedan. The Air Sapphire EV is also track-ready and will have more driving dynamics and increased body control for those tight turns. Add in a stiffer suspension setup and a unique tuning profile with ultra-high performance staggered Aero Sapphire wheels (with removable carbon fiber Aero disk covers for aerodynamic efficiency) wrapped in specially developed Michelin PS4S tires that measure 265/35R20 in the front and 295/30R20 in the rear, and you get a fully electric track star package.

These numbers wouldn't be possible without Lucid's performance division, Sapphire. According to the company, this is their new shade of speed. Special attention has been given to the details of the latest Air under the Sapphire banner, like the refining of the aerodynamic character of the body. This equals a balance between added downforce, stability at higher speeds, and reduced drag. The Sapphire treatment is not just in the performance and efficiency of the vehicle but it also bleeds into the look. With the announcement of the Stealth Look as standard for all Lucid performance editions, the Air comes out more sinister with its signature Sapphire blue exterior paint. 

To say the interior is futuristic is a huge understatement. From the highly bolstered 18-way adjustable seats to the black leather trim with black Alcantara and Sapphire Blue stitching, the new Sapphire Mojave theme exudes a sense of purpose. They have optimized the Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel interfaces with useful performance-focused menus and drive models, which also include a Sapphire Mode, which helps the driver get every ounce of performance from this remarkable EV.

Yes, we won’t be getting the Air Sapphire edition here in the Philippines. Heck, we might not get the brand Lucid any time soon. But it’s good to know that brands continue to push the boundaries when it comes to making high-performance cars, even electric ones. With such performance figures under its belt, perhaps the Lucid Air Sapphire might give traditional supercars (or hypercars) a run for their money thanks to its sheer acceleration.