Lucid Motors’ electric car coming later this month, could have 1,000hp

By Stephen Edelstein Published December 8, 2016

Many companies are targeting Tesla Motors with new electric cars, but Lucid Motors, the California-based startup formerly known as Atieva, may actually hit the bullseye.

The company plans to unveil an “executive sedan” December 14 and, if a new report from Automotive News (subscription required) is any indication, it could be quite the contender. The Lucid sedan will come standard with 1,000 horsepower and a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack offering 300 miles of range, according to the industry trade journal.

Recommended Videos

That matches the largest available battery pack in the Tesla Model S, and exceeds that car’s maximum power output by a significant margin. With 1,000 hp on tap, the Lucid sedan will reportedly do 0 to 60 mph in under 3.0 seconds. Tesla quotes 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds for the top Model S P100D, along with a 315-mile range.

Keep in mind that these specs reportedly apply only to the base model of the Lucid electric car. The company apparently plans to offer a version with a 130kWh battery pack, affording 400 miles of range. Lucid announced Tuesday that Samsung SDI would supply lithium-ion cells, and that it would use a new cell design with greater energy density and tolerance for repeated fast charging than current cells.

Lucid plans to start production in 2018, and is building a factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, for the purpose. The car will reportedly be sold directly to customers, just as Tesla does. But Lucid only plans to sell between 8,000 and 10,000 cars in the first few years, then gradually ramp up to about 60,000 cars per year, according to Automotive News.

The company is backed by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting and his LeEco tech empire. Jia is also one of the main backers of Faraday Future, which plans to launch a Tesla-fighting electric car around the same time as Lucid, and is also building a factory from scratch. LeEco has been an enthusiastic backer of automotive projects, also partnering with Aston Martin and even designing its own concept car. But recent cash-flow problems could put an end to that.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Topics

Cars

Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Computing

Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Cars

Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut

Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.