Lucid enters the crossover market with $80,000 Gravity

Lucid Motors' first crossover, the Gravity, will offer seating for seven adults, sports-car performance, 440 miles (708 km) of range and a starting price of around $80,000 when the luxury EV launches next year, Lucid said.

The startup presented the three-row crossover at the L.A. auto show on Thursday, offering new features for the brand. They include a steering wheel that sits below a 34-inch horizontal screen, providing an uninterrupted view of the instrument cluster. A separate helper screen offers additional functionality.

"We have optimized the position and shape of the wheel relative to the 34-inch OLED display," Derek Jenkins, senior vice president of design and brand, told Automotive News. "The display is set right below your sightline, so it's optimal for visibility."

Lucid said the Gravity will accelerate to 60 mph (97 kph) in less than 3.5 seconds while offering payload capacity of 1,500 pounds and 6,000 pounds of towing on the top trim. Production is scheduled to start in late 2024 at the automaker's plant in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lucid said the Gravity has room for seven full-size adults or for significant cargo when the second row and third rows are folded down. The crossover could accommodate four adults and four surfboards by partially folding down the second and third rows, Jenkins said.

The Gravity is a key vehicle for Lucid, which has received industry acclaim for its leading EV range and performance but has seen slow sales for its first vehicle, the Air sedan. The new model will have a bigger potential market than the Air since crossovers are far more popular than sedans in the U.S.

Its estimated $80,000 starting price does not include shipping and Lucid didn't provide information on pricing for higher trim levels. The base version of the Air sedan, the rear-drive Pure trim, starts at $78,900 with shipping and the top Air Sapphire performance variant is priced at $250,500 with shipping.

"The market's screaming for a product in the SUV segment from us and we have been hard at work for several years on this," Jenkins said at Lucid's Newark, California, headquarters in early November. "It's really going to have that sporty, GT vibe that the Air has with even more utility and space."

Lucid is also having some fun with the Gravity. The front truck, or frunk, has an optional accessory that transforms the space into seating for two with cupholders. Future accessories may include a bluetooth speaker, Jenkins said. He imagines owners watching the sunset or front-trunk tailgating.

Exterior styling for the Gravity incorporates elements from the Air, including a front-end lighting treatment that Lucid calls the "noseblade," and an oversize "clamshell" opening for the trunk. The Gravity's upright front end is typical of a crossover, as are its large-opening doors and low height at the rear for loading, Jenkins said.

"Just like the Air, we have to keep the outside compact for agility and efficiency, for range, but keep the utility on the inside so you don't need a gargantuan vehicle," he said.

Eric Bach, Lucid's senior vice president of product, said the Gravity shares the goals of the Air in terms of performance and space utilization, but it's not simply a lifted version of the sedan. The Gravity has a unique platform, a new-generation drive unit and a modified battery pack.

The Gravity will have an optional air suspension, whereas the Air does not, allowing the crossover to adjust the vehicle's ride height. A lower setting is ideal for the highway while a higher setting is best for light off-roading. The air suspension can adjust the ride height automatically, Bach said.

"Apart from being an amazing-looking SUV that's full-size on the inside and a moderate size on the outside, it has a great suspension," Bach said. "We have active rear-steer as an optional package, which makes it super nimble and maneuverable."

The interior theme, Jenkins said, takes inspiration from mid-century modern furniture, featuring wood and glass elements. Leather is an option, although Lucid also stresses the sustainability of other materials used throughout the crossover.

"From meticulously chosen materials, exceptional fit and finish, and thoughtfully placed accents, every aspect of Gravity has been sustainably crafted with intention and eco-consciousness," Lucid said.

The Gravity's engineering also reflects that attitude, the automaker said, since greater EV efficiency means battery packs can be smaller than those of competitors while providing greater range.

"Gravity will take our customers farther with less batteries and therefore using less precious energy," CEO Peter Rawlinson said in a press release Thursday. "Its smaller, lighter, and higher-technology battery pack means fewer precious metals and minerals, less energy to charge, less electricity consumed, less pressure upon the grid, and a lighter weight and more dynamic vehicle."