10 THINGS LUCID NEEDS TO DO TO CRUSH THE TESLA MODEL Y

Lucid Motors recently showed off the first teaser for a new midsize crossover that will slot below the Lucid Gravity. The details are still scarce, but the new model will go into production in 2026, and be priced below $50,000. That puts it right into competition with the world's best-selling vehicle, the Tesla Model Y. We'd be foolish to think that Lucid will be able to swoop in and overcome the Model Y in sales - for reference, Tesla sold over 1.2 million copies of its small crossover in 2023 - but it could create a vehicle that is superior in a number of categories.

The Model Y is an outstanding vehicle, and its success is warranted. However, it's far from perfect. That is why we have come up with 10 ways that the upcoming Lucid crossover can outdo the Tesla.

Better Range From A Smaller Battery

Lucid has already promised that the new crossover, which is rumored to be called the Lucid Earth (based on trademark applications), will "deliver the same range as competitors while using a smaller battery," just like the current Air sedan. The Lucid Air is currently the longest range EV on the market, rated at 516 miles for the Grand Touring trim, using a 118.0 kWh battery. At the low end, the Air Pure uses an 84 kWh battery to go 420 miles, while the Tesla Model S requires a 100 kWh pack to travel 402 miles, though it does have two motors compared the the Lucid's one.

For the midsize crossover, 320 miles from the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive is the number to beat. Tesla achieves that number using an 81 kWh battery, so we expect the Earth to use a smaller one yielding superior range. Not only should the Lucid drive further than the Tesla on a single charge, but it should also charge quicker because the battery has a lower capacity.

Superior Performance

The Air, and the upcoming Gravity, use small and efficient electric motors called 'Zeus,' but the midsize models will get a next-generation powertrain called the Atlas Drive Unit. Lucid PR representative Justin Berkowitz says Atlas will be more cost-effective than Zeus, helping to keep the price down for the midsize models. Peter Rawlinson, Lucid CEO, shared some preliminary estimates that Atlas will produce 330 horsepower (likely with a single motor), meaning it could produce significantly more in dual motor configurations.

The Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive produces 340 hp from its single electric motor, so the Lucid could be on-par in terms of performance despite having a more energy-efficient motor. Tesla quotes a 6.5-second 0-60 mph for the entry-level Model Y, which will be the target for the Lucid Earth.

More Models?

While the Earth will compete against the Model Y, it's not the only midsize model from Lucid that's coming to steal Tesla's thunder. Lucid is currently working on three vehicles as part of its midsize program, one of which will likely be a sedan to rival the Tesla Model 3.

It's unclear what the third model will be, but we suspect it could be a high-performance Sapphire version of either the Earth or the unnamed sedan. Such a vehicle could challenge the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the Tesla Model Y Performance. Judging by how quick the Air Sapphire is - it set a quarter-mile record for production sedans - Lucid has a chance to dethrone Tesla as the dominant performance EV brand.

Better Quality

To steal sales away from Tesla, Lucid will need to deliver cars with perfect quality. We mean this relative to Tesla and compared to early Airs. When it first arrived on the market, the Air suffered from a number of major and minor issues including: door handles that wouldn't reliably deploy or retract, not being able to lock/unlock, infotainment glitches, poor fit and finish, and more. We can personally attest to some of these faults, as one of our press cars had a black screen during one drive and the driver's soft-close door wouldn't close properly.

Lucid vehicles reaching customers now have improved greatly, but with any new product there is risk for quality control issues. Tesla also struggled with similar issues during its infancy as a company, but has since reached a higher level of quality. The Earth can not ship with any major issues, or else it won't have a smooth launch.

More Luxury

Separate from quality, Lucid will need to offer a product that feels more luxurious than the comparable Tesla. This shouldn't be an issue, as the Lucid Air offers a better ride, nicer materials, and more luxury features than the comparable Model S. We'd love to see the Earth have available niceties like massage seats, a feature that's not available on any Tesla. Tesla interiors aren't basic, but they are very minimal. Lucid can design a more premium interior that will wow Tesla converts when they step inside.

Low Pricing & Good Lease Deals

You can currently purchase a Model Y for as little as $44,990. We know the Lucid Earth will be less than $50,000, but it's unlikely that it will undercut the Model Y on price, though it should be close. More importantly, we'd like to see Lucid offer a strong lease deal, as it does with the Air at present. You can currently lease a Lucid Air Pure (a $69,900 vehicle) for as little as $549 per month (for 36 months with $5,549 due at signing). If you put the same amount down on a Model Y LR RWD (a $44,990 vehicle), it would lease for $411 per month, so it's possible that Lucid could undercut that amount on a less expensive vehicle.

Qualify For Credits

Since Lucid will build its midsize crossover in the US, it should qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. This is hugely important because if Lucid manages to get close or undercut the Model Y on price but doesn't get the credit, Tesla does qualify for it, meaning the Model Y would be more affordable than the Earth despite having a higher sticker price. There are other criteria besides final assembly that dictate whether a car qualifies for the credit, including material and battery sourcing. The Lucid Air doesn't currently qualify because there is a $55,000 price cap on sedans.

Charging Solutions

Lucid has already pledged that it will follow the rest of the automotive industry by switching from the existing CCS charging standard to NACS, the port that it used by Tesla exclusively (as of this writing). The Gravity will be Lucid's first vehicle to include a native NACS port, meaning it will be able to use Tesla Supercharger stations. By the time the Earth enters production in 2026, Lucid's entire lineup should feature NACS.

This will give Lucid owners access to more than 15,000 Tesla stations in North America alone, though it remains to be seen how smoothly other charging companies will make the switch to the new charging standard. Lucid will be in a race with Hyundai, who recently announced NACS for the facelifted 2025 Ioniq 5, to see which automaker will be the first one besides Tesla to offer the charging standard. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 should arrive in showrooms starting in fall 2024, meaning it could get here before the Gravity.

Eye-Catching Styling

The Tesla Model Y is many things, but pretty is not one of them. It clearly looks like a Tesla Model 3 that someone stretched vertically on Photoshop to create a higher-riding crossover. That lack of a grille gives it a faceless appearance that only a mother could love, and the lack of color choices only enhances the 'Just An Appliance' aura.

Lucid won't have to try hard to outstyle the Model Y, but we'd like to see the company create something that makes every Tesla owner shed a tear of envy when they see it driving by or parked in the neighbor's driveway. The Lucid Air is the most aerodynamic production car sold in the US with a drag coefficient of just 0.197, which helps it be the most efficient EV with a record five miles per kWh. We know the Earth won't be quite as slippery, but judging by the single teaser image, it should boast a sleek front end and a sexy shape.

No Delays!

Lucid has vaguely announced the Earth will enter production in 2026. That technically means production could start in December with the majority of deliveries beginning in 2027. Whatever date Lucid is able to get the vehicle into customer hands, it needs to avoid production delays. So many automakers have faced recent delays, which kills the hype for upcoming vehicles. Some examples include the Aston Martin EV, Bentley EV, Dodge Charger Daytona, Jeep Wagoneer S, Volkswagen ID.7, and Volvo EX30.

A smooth, trouble-free launch will prove to customers that Lucid is a serious car company that is ready to go toe-to-toe with Tesla. If Lucid can achieve all of these goals, the Earth can be a huge success.

2024-09-16T03:36:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd