At the Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week, Lucid Group, Inc. introduced the company’s new Sapphire ultra-high-performance brand with a new range-topping version of its Air model, which it calls the world’s first fully electric luxury super-sports sedan.

Last year, Lucid launched the Air, a benchmark in EV range, efficiency, driving dynamics, and interior space, enabled by the company’s in-house technology. Read more from Futurride at https://bit.ly/3AF2c8I and https://bit.ly/3PFtyQb.

When production of the car begins in the first half of 2023, it will challenge Tesla’s Model S Plaid and even electric hypercars for EV performance bragging rights. Key acceleration numbers are a sub-2 s for the 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) sprint, sub-4 s for 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h), and sub-9 s quarter mile—along with a top speed exceeding 200 mph (321 mph).

“Today, with the introduction of the Sapphire line, we take the next logical step of advancement,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group—and former Tesla Vice President & Model S Chief Engineer. “Lucid Air Sapphire, being the very first Lucid product to bear the Sapphire name, builds upon our technical prowess to take electric high-performance on to the next level.”

Sapphire versions will be available for all Lucid models moving forward.

“Sapphire is among the most valued gemstones, prized for [its] brilliance, color, and hardness,” added Derek Jenkins, SVP of Brand and Design, Lucid Group. “Imperial Blue has long been the de facto national color for American motorsports teams engaged in international competitions. As Lucid’s dedicated ultra-high-performance brand, Sapphire references this history while setting new standards for innovation and technology.”

The increased performance comes from a Lucid-first three-motor powertrain featuring one front and a new rear twin-motor drive unit.

Because a three-motor Lucid Air was always part of the development program, “it retains all the strengths of Lucid Air variants already on the market—including limo-like rear legroom, a voluminous trunk and frunk, and impressive efficiency,” said Eric Bach, SVP of Product and Chief Engineer, Lucid Group—and former Director of Engineering at Tesla Motors.

The technically innovative electric motors incorporate Lucid’s microjet stator cooling and wave winding. The twin rear-drive unit also introduces new heat exchanger technology and an increased coolant flow rate. The battery system is also upgraded for higher power and more precise thermal logic.

The three-motor powertrain is estimated to deliver over 1200 hp (895 kW), making the Air Sapphire the most powerful electric (or conventionally powered) sedan in the world. For comparison, the dual-motor Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance sibling makes 1050 hp (783 kW), and the Tesla Model S Plaid produces 1020 hp (761 kW).

The stated performance figures are said to be achievable with no extra-cost equipment upgrades or protracted preconditioning routines. Final power ratings will be announced later, along with instrumented demonstrations of the vehicle’s performance capabilities.

Along with the output increase came upgrades to other facets of the vehicle’s performance.

The aim of the first Sapphire model “is to complement the exceptional powertrain with sharper, more responsive driving dynamics and increased body control,” said David Lickfold, Director of Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics, Lucid Group. “At the same time, it was important to retain the exceptional ride quality for which Lucid Air has come to be known.”

The Sapphire edition features stiffer front and rear springs, unique damper settings, stiffer bushings, and a unique tuning for the ABS, traction and stability control, and electric power steering. The chassis setup is engineered to maximize the benefits of the torque-vectoring capabilities of the three-motor powertrain as well as the wider, more aggressive wheels and tires.

The twin rear-drive unit allows for torque vectoring that extends the car’s capabilities beyond that achievable with a passive all-wheel-drive system. The benefits for drivers are wide-ranging with improvements to turn-in, cornering balance across all speeds, corner exit, and high-speed stability and disturbance rejection. The driving experience differs across drive modes to give variable dynamics to the steering, suspension, powertrain, and brake settings.

The system can effectively pivot the rear of the vehicle, providing torque to the rear wheels to promote either turn-in or straight-line stability. Lucid said it is similar to a brake-based setup and a rear-wheel steering system but faster, quieter, and more seamless. In tight corners, the system can apply regenerative braking on the inside wheel while powering the outside, enhancing vehicle turn-in rotation and with much quicker response times than rear-wheel steering systems.

The car rides on a staggered setup of Aero Sapphire forged wheels with specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires—265/35R20 front and 295/30R21 rear. Standard carbon ceramic brakes provide the stopping power and contribute to high-performance-driving endurance.

The aerodynamic character of the body has been refined to balance more downforce, which enhances vehicle stability at higher speeds, and less drag, which affects efficiency and top speed. The wheels feature removable carbon-fiber disc wheel covers to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.

The launch of the Sapphire brand marks the introduction of an exclusive exterior color. Initially, all Lucid Air Sapphires will be finished in the new Sapphire Blue color to mark the brand introduction. The color is augmented with the recently announced Stealth Look exterior replacing most bright work to emphasize the car’s sporting character.

The cabin gets a new interior theme called Sapphire Mojave that includes new highly bolstered 18-way power sport seats with the same heating, cooling, and massage functionality. They are upholstered in black leather and Alcantara and Sapphire Blue contrast stitching, with headrests having Lucid’s bear logomark reflecting the California origins of the brand. The logo also appears elsewhere on the vehicle including the wheels and twin rear-drive unit inverter cover.

The dash and doors get Mojave dark wood veneers, and the steering wheel and upper roof structure around the standard Glass Canopy are trimmed in black Alcantara. A unique Sapphire-themed on-screen display has specially configured drive modes and performance settings.

The Air Sapphire will be offered as a limited-production model, with deliveries planned in the U.S. and Canada next year at $249,000 and $325,000 (Canadian), respectively. Reservations go live Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 9 am Pacific Time. The company promises more information to come about availability for markets outside of North America.