When Lucid first announced the Gravity SUV, the company was not only banking on the SUV appealing to a popular sub-market in the EV wars but that it would also be a proper follow up to the Air EV sedan.
The Gravity and the company itself have faced some stumbles in this regard, but with the first Gravity models just now beginning to make it into the hands of customers (after a small run of Dream Editions), is it all enough to help Lucid navigate rough financial waters and secure itself a slice of the EV SUV sales pie?
Gravity is a rare beast in some markets
To find out, we traveled to the 2nd annual Cars at The Station in the heart of Detroit to see for ourselves what the Gravity was all about. Cars at the Station is in its second year and not only did show organizers have more cars on display, but also more partnerships with manufacturers (Lucid included.) The Gravity was also in a unique class of rarity this time around with our particular tester being the only Gravity in the entire state of Michigan when it made its way to the train station to take part in the event.
The exterior styling of the Gravity shares alot of its DNA with the Air and some of that model’s core elements do bleed through when you look at it from some angles. However, since this is an SUV, the Gravity also goes off in its own direction in other regards with the SUV carefully using its enhanced size to make the styling elements feel more assertive and elegant.
“Base” Grand Touring models get 20/21-inch wheels standard front and rear but our example arrived in town with the uplevel 22/23-inch wheels which worked nicely with its black paintwork. The exterior also was designed for maximum aerodynamics with Lucid saying it was a key pillar of the Gravity’s development.
Gravity tech ech steals the show
Slip inside the Gravity and you’ll find that the interior continues to be a screen filled technological showcase. Lucid always prefers to identify itself as a tech company versus a formal automaker and the interior is a classic example of this in action. A large 34-inch screen floats over the dashboard while a second smaller display is to the right of the steering wheel.
This screen focuses on the bulk of the infotainment portion of the driving experience and is home to various features and adjustments with some of these adjustments being done by steering wheel mounted controls with the wheel itself maintaining the company’s signature “squircle” shape. High quality materials are splashed throughout and while leatherette seating is standard, our tester had the optional leather covered thrones. The second row seat backs als have pop up picnic tables and the tables themselves feature grooves to help hold small electronic devices in place.
The encompassing glass canopy lets in plenty of light and the second-row seats are very roomy places to spend time in. Third-row seats are optional and while they might not look very inviting to adults at first glance, they do offer a commendable amount of head and legroom. Fold the back two rows down though and cargo space becomes cavernous and it also resembles a minivan when it comes to how much room is available a fact that wasn’t missed by curious passersby.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard with the Gravity debuting the company’s UX 3.0 operating system which is supposedly smoother and easier to operate than the Air’s older system.
Grand Touring for now, but more coming soon
Our Grand Touring grade example is currently the only flavor of Gravity available for sale (Lucid actually revealed it started production of the Touring while Cars at The Station was in progress) but until those models arrive enmasse, the Grand Touring version will hold down the fort alongside the 1,000 plus hp Dream Edition. These models are powered by a dual-motor setup that makes a combined 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque. These motors work together to provide strong acceleration but while our street route avoided the freeway, a lonely stretch of road outside the event area allowed us to get in an acceleration run or two.
The suspension is smooth and composed and the Gravity appears to have a slightly softer tune which was noticeable when navigating some of the broken pavement that Detroit is known for. The steering was sharp and nicely weighted. The Gravity’s 123 kWh battery pack gets its charge from a NACS port at the rear which was a late addition to the SUV during development. CCS and SAE J1772 adapters are also included for full compatibility. Range is the lone weakness here with our three-row tester getting 386 miles of range on a single charge. Buyers that go for the two-row version and the smaller wheels see range go up to 450 miles. This is still a decent amount of range but it’s a smidgen lower than some of its rivals.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring starts at $96,400 with destination and fees. This pricing will soon be joined by the base Touring which will start at $79,900 and give Gravity buyers a lower pricing gate to go through when they are ordering their SUV.
As the Gravity has more time to become acclimated to the market, more trim levels will follow but the main issue remaining is whether the Gravity will help Lucid improve its financial position. On the surface, the SUV certainly has the goods to expand Lucid’s long-term reach but it will be interesting to see if the Gravity can weather the storm created by the elimination of EV-related tax incentives.
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