Photo: Out of spec reviews on YouTube / edit autoevolution
The 2025 Lucid Air Grand Touring (GT) is a very promising all-electric vehicle. The specs alone are enough to convince a well-heeled new-car buyer to stop looking at what other brands are selling. The only two downsides are that it’s (very) expensive and it’s a sedan. But if you have the cash to spend and aren’t interested in crossovers, SUVs, and pickups, here’s what this luxury barge could do for your mobility needs. Hint: You’ll be impressed.
Considering it has a starting price of $110,900, this Electric vehicle should impress you. Not many people living in North America can comfortably drop six figures on a battery-powered ride. But those who can afford that kind of money should seriously consider handing it over to Lucid for an Air Grand Touring. It’s just that good.
As for the specifications, this EV has a 118-kWh battery built on a 920+ V architecture, which allows it to charge very quickly and take full advantage of the 350+ kW DC Pedestals. It also helps that it has a decent charge curve (i.e., maintains a high charge rate for as long as possible).
Weighing in at around 5,200 pounds (2,359 kg), the 819-hp Air GT should, according to the EPA, be able to travel around 512 miles (824 kilometers) on a fully charged battery. Those are some pretty impressive numbers, numbers that will take the edge off your range anxiety! But then again, you're paying big bucks for that kind of performance.
However, we shouldn’t blindly trust what automakers and regulators tell us. It’s better to look at real-world verification that confirms some entities’ data.
Photo: Lucido
The Out of Spec team received a Lucid Air GT with about 2,000 miles on the odometer from the Newark-based Saudi automaker and took it on a 70 mph highway range test in Colorado. Before that, the EV had been driven from California to Colorado with only two DC charging stops! So, the outcome of this range test should be juicy!
An exhausting day
Since most Americans spend a lot of time on this type of road, the speed makes sense. The EPA not only conducts its range tests in the lab, but also limits the average speed to 60 mph. That's why these range tests are important to consumers. They provide everyone with efficiency numbers that make sense and are not exaggerated or insufficient.
The driver made sure the tire pressure was correct and set the air conditioning to 70 F (21.1 C) for the driver and front passenger only. The outside temperature was 92 F (33.3 C). The eight-hour trip revealed the following important range thresholds:
- from 100 to 75 percent charge, the electric vehicle traveled 122 miles (196 kilometers);
- from 100 to 50 percent charge, the electric vehicle traveled 252 miles (406 kilometers);
- from 100 to 25 percent charge, the electric vehicle traveled 364 miles (586 kilometers);
- From 100 to 0 percent charge, the electric vehicle traveled 482 miles (776 kilometers).
However, the driver continued to travel at around 110 km/h, despite the low battery warning appearing on the instrument panel.
Photo: Out of spec reviews on YouTube
After 27 miles (43 kilometers) of extra highway driving, the EV displayed a “turtle warning,” telling the driver that acceleration was limited. But it didn’t matter. The driver continued at a GPS-measured speed of 70 mph.
Ultimately, the Lucid Air GT gave it its all and managed to travel 513 miles (826 kilometers) before losing enough power to become unsafe for highway driving. After nearly eight hours of driving, the man pulled over to the side of the road and waited for a Tesla Cybertruck to tow him to a DC charger.
However, they continued moving at about 20 miles per hour toward safety, adding another 1.7 miles to the odometer.
Probably the best electric vehicle in the world
The updated Air Grand Touring has officially put range anxiety to rest. It has proven that an EV can be just as reliable on longer journeys as a highly efficient gasoline equivalent or a diesel-guzzling machine. This sedan is a luxurious road trip machine that proves that great engineering and aerodynamics matter more than cutting costs and fooling people into believing their cars can become revenue-generating robotaxis.
Photo: Lucido
The only problem here is that most Americans and Canadians are still reluctant to ever go to a gas station again. Hybrids are growing in popularity, although an EV like the Lucid Air could serve as a portable generator or power bank for other EVs.
Ultimately, while the Lucid Air Grand Touring has proven itself in a tough, independent, real-world highway range test, my only wish is to see this awesome powertrain come to vehicles half the price. Americans (and pretty much everyone else) deserve electric vehicles that can go long distances. Shrink the battery, halve the power output, shorten the wheelbase, eliminate some of the nicer cabin materials, and it should create a mini-Air that more people will be able to buy.
Until Lucid figures out how to make a much better Tesla Model 3, we’ll have to be grateful for the used car market. That’s where you can buy similar, awesome cars at a discount.
