Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
“I really shouldn’t be surprised by this at this point but… this car is incredible”. This was the opening line of the latest car review by Marques Brownlee, one of the most influential tech reviewers.
Also known as MKBHD, Brownlee has published on Friday a new video reviewing Lucid Motors‘ most luxurious variant of its first production model, the Air.
In the video, which currently has nearly 400 thousand views after the first 18 hours, he claims that the 1,234 horsepower variant Sapphire is “one of the best sedans ever made” adding that he’s also including the combustion engine sedans in that evaluation.
“This is one of the best sedans ever made. I’m not saying electric [models only]. It’s peak EV right now, as good as it gets,” Marques Brownlee stated before comparing it with Tesla’s faster model, the Model S.
When diving into the specifics, the reviewer admitted that the $250,000 variant is a “very, very expensive top trim car” adding that Lucid did not save with “top of its class” details.
Lucid’s flagship variant features three motors, carbon-ceramic brakes, a special aerodynamic package, and a track-tuned suspension. Sapphire achieves 0-60 mph in 1.89 seconds, 0-100 mph in 3.84 seconds, and the quarter mile in 8.95 seconds.
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When it comes to review the interior of the Sapphire, and while reiterating the “top of class for everything”, Brownlee says the variant follows the cheaper versions with “no surprise that there’s a ton of space”.
Featuring sporty seats but no glass roof as seen in the Lucid Air Pure, Brownlee also enhanced the considerable space in the trunk and frunk with a “pretty good sized” sub-trunk.
“There’s a lot of space, I have no complaints about the storage,” he said before adding that the second row space is “significantly higher” than the competitors Tesla Model S Plaid and Taycan Turbo S.
“This is way more space. They have moved the driver’s seat significantly forward and moved the passenger seat – what feels like – a little bit backward to give me endless knee room,” Brownlee stated before adding that the model has “best in class storage.”
The reviewer said Lucid’s software is “respectable” noting that there’s the option to use the Apple CarPlay software if customers prefer.
In conclusion, MKBHD said Sapphire he just doesn’t “see any downsides with this car. Simple as that, I think it’s the best sedan in the world, it’s crazy.”
The CEO Peter Rawlinson has recently criticized Tesla, suggesting the company is “distracted” and “losing its way” adding that it “really falls to Lucid to take the technology to a whole new level”.
In a previous talk with the Financial Times earlier this month, the chief executive had said manufacturers from China are “many years behind Tesla” despite admitting “they’re a lot better than they’ve been”.
In a new interview with the BBC program “Wake up to Money,” Rawlinson, who worked at Tesla from 2009 to 2012, expressed concern over Tesla‘s current direction.
“At Tesla, I was there for three years from 2009 through to 2012, and at that stage Tesla was truly at the cutting edge, developing the most advanced technology with a clarity of vision and purpose, and an absolute singularity of mindset,” Rawlinson said.
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Before joining Tesla, Rawlinson worked for several well-known companies, including Jaguar, where he was the Principal Engineer, and Lotus, where he was the Chief Engineer.
“What I’m seeing now is a worrying trend towards a sort of distraction. Tesla seems to be distracted, there’s an interest in social media, even politics, and it’s kind of losing its way. I don’t see it having that singular sense of purpose, and I think it really falls to Lucid to take the technology to a whole new level now.”
Rawlinson further emphasized the importance of focus in leadership for the electric vehicle industry.
“I think it is very concerning and as I say, I think there’s a clear distraction there from the leadership which perhaps doesn’t best serve those who are looking for an electric future. People rally to a sense of mission, and Lucid has that mission,” he added.
The electric vehicle startup is reportedly gearing up to announce a partnership providing Hyundai’s premium brand, Genesis, with electric motors.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of a new all-electric sports car slated for a 2025 launch by Genesis. Additionally, Hyundai plans to release the GV90, an electric sport utility vehicle from Genesis by late 2025.
As reported by EV on Friday, Lucid is cutting its workforce as part of a restructuring and cost reduction plan, according to former employees and some of the teams affected include vehicle engineering, IT, Human Resources, Powertrain, and Manufacturing.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
