Lucid Air order book opens for Australia

Australian customers are being invited to lay down cash deposits for the all-new Lucid Air battery-electric sedan – but there’s still some doubt as to whether the Tesla Model S-rivalling EV will be included in the first wave of international production.

The US car-maker’s global website, now with details of the launch range that will include four model variants starting from $US77,400 ($A108,000), included Australia among the list of countries that can place orders ahead of first deliveries in 2022.

As our picture of Lucid’s website shows (above), fully refundable deposits of $A400 will “secure your place in line when deliveries begin” for the entry-level Lucid Air, while $A1400 is required to reserve the mid-spec Air Touring and Air Grand Touring.

The top-spec Air Dream Edition is listed as “not yet available” for Australia.

Local pricing hasn’t been announced yet, nor have the locations of the ‘Lucid Studios’ (aka dealerships) and service centres.

What’s more, Lucid’s online reservation system – on some website browsers – appears to be no longer accepting Australian orders, which throws some doubt on whether we were meant to be included among the first markets.

That will be a concern for any Aussies who have already laid down deposits, so we have sought clarification from the car-maker.

The US starting price of $US77,400 – or $US69,900 with a $US7500 federal tax credit – means the Lucid Air could undercut the entry-level Tesla Model S Long Range variant in Australia, which starts at $133,175.

The mid-spec Air Touring is pegged at $US93,200 ($A130,000) not including US tax rebates, while the up-spec Grand Touring is a $US139,000 ($A193,000) proposition.

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Several options will available and Lucid says that it will “invite Lucid Air reservation holders to configure and order their vehicles as we get closer to the start of production”.

The Lucid Air is roughly the size of a Holden Commodore at just under five metres long (4970mm) and the base model is propelled by a single electric motor on the rear axle developing 358kW.

It has a range of 653km (406 miles) thanks to a circa-75kWh battery pack, and comes with leather seats, Level 2 autonomous driving capability and 19-inch alloy wheels.

It’s not yet clear whether the entry-level Lucid Air will get the massive 34-inch digital instrument display that joins a large infotainment display to cover the entire width of the dashboard in 5K screens.

The mid-spec Air Touring has a more potent dual-motor AWD powertrain that hikes output to 462kW. It has the same 653km range as the entry model but gets bigger 20-inch alloy wheels and more features, along with the option of a panoramic glass roof.

The up-spec Grand Touring offers the dual-motor AWD drivetrain with an impressive 597kW output and an extended 832km range, thanks to its denser 113kWh battery pack.

It has bigger 21-inch alloy wheels, a glass roof, Nappa leather seats, a top-spec sound system and a claimed Level 3 autonomous driving capability via the Dream Drive system.

The limited-run Lucid Air Dream Edition is listed at $US169,000 ($A235,000) and offers hypercar-like power of 805kW, making it an obvious rival for the Tesla Model S Plaid.

Shortly after initial US pricing of the Lucid Air was made public in September 2020, Tesla slashed the prices of its Model S to ensure it had competitive market positioning against the newcomer.

The Lucid Air will be built at the Californian-based car-maker’s Casa Grande plant in Arizona and will be followed by an SUV and other models.

“Lucid Air was designed as the first model in a full Lucid line-up – and we have even given the world a sneak preview of a luxury Lucid SUV,” the company says.

“There is clearly much more to come.”

Stay tuned for more details.