Lucid's powerful Gravity SUV offers one hell of an electric ride

Yahoo

10-05-2025

First those wizards at Silicon Valley start-up Lucid Motors conjured up the futuristic Air saloon and now they are set to shake up the electric SUV market with the slick and effortlessly powerful Gravity.
This second child from the Californian newcomer is another sign that things are changing at the upper end of the SUV segment.
While the established luxury brands still hesitate to electrify their large SUVs, Lucid hopes the Gravity will attract all those customers for whom high-performance cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the Kia EV9 or the Volvo EX90 are not powerful enough.
The seven-seater will come to Europe from the US in autumn and pricing will probably start at around €130,000. The initial ticket will later fall to just under €100,000 with a slimmed-down entry-level model.
Yet this is not just a king-sized Lucid Air with three rows of seats. Yes, it is certainly big at 5.03 metres, but not overbearing or covered in plastic cladding like some of the competition.
It would easily pass off as a cool van and looks sleek, fresh and friendly. The shape is more streamlined than most other off-road vehicles which prompts Lucid to claim a range of more than 700 kilometres, according to the European measuring standard.
Inside, the Gravity entices with a spread of modern luxurious materials and an elegant screen landscape. The Gravity's blade-like screen is located higher, making everything visible at once.
There is an amazing amount of room in this SUV whether with the five- or seven-seat arrangement. Anyone can get comfortable in row two, while full-size humans can fit into the third row without having to pull up their knees and risk bumping their heads.
The perches will not massage or ventilate your back, but they are at least heated. Since the Gravity is meant to be a touring car, there is ample luggage space. The boot will swallow up to 3,200 litres and the frunk under the front bonnet has another 200 litres.
The Gravity offers not just space but plenty of pace too. The name hints at the heft which sends this car charging ahead.
The SUV tips the scales at just under three tonnes and provides blistering performance from its two engines rated at a total of 609 kW/828 hp and with some 1,200 Nm of torque on tap.
The stats are from the world of sports cars. The Gravity accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, and tops out at 270 km/h. This makes its faster than most combustion engines in this class.
Even when standing still, the Gravity outperforms the competition: because its 123 kWh battery runs at a voltage of 926 volts. This means it charges at a previously unrivalled 400 kW, providing enough juice for 400 kilometres in less than 15 minutes.
These enormous forces which this car can unleash are kept in check by a solid braking system with a high recuperation rate, air suspension with incredibly fast adaptation and steering that shrinks the turning circle thanks to the active rear axle.
Now if only they had fitted a round steering wheel instead of an odd rounded square one (automotive pundits call it a "squircle").
Once the driver gets used to this, he or she will be happy to leave the motorway behind, switch to a twisty country road and carve up some tight corners.
Remember though, even if the back seat passengers start off looking relaxed, some may quickly go queasy if you take the bends too fast in this big car.
When it comes to power, the Lucid has few competitors in its class and its remarkable technology makes the Gravity an attractive alternative in the luxury class.
It is, however, still an outsider and in Europe, the company's sales staff will have their work cut out persuading buyers to part with so much cash for a fledgling brand car.