Lucid Air Sapphire crushes Tesla Model S Plaid, Bugatti Chiron, and Ducati in 9.1 sec quarter mile
Elon Musk may think Lucid Motors could be on the verge of death as a company, but its latest tri-motor version of its Air sedan sure says otherwise from a speed standpoint. In a recent video you can view below, the team at Hagerty put the Lucid Air Sapphire up against the Tesla Model S Plaid and Bugatti Chiron in a drag race. As if that wasn’t enough, Sapphire took on a Ducati motorcycle head to head as well.
After months of rumors about Lucid Motors developing a tri-motor version of its Air sedan, the American EV automaker officially debuted it during Monterey Car Week this past summer, kicking off a new Sapphire performance brand that should continue with its second EV model, the Gravity SUV.
The Lucid Air Sapphire delivers 1,200 horsepower – nearly 200 hp more than the Tesla Model S Plaid for comparison, empowering its makers to hail the new tri-motor EV as “the most powerful sedan in the world.” Here are some additional specs.
- 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds (from a standstill)
- 0-100 mph in under 4 seconds
- Quarter mile in under 9 seconds
- Top speed over 200 mph
Lucid has promised us our own spin with the Air Sapphire in 2023, but the team at Hagerty appears to already have gotten its hands on a prototype that is identical to the version that will go into production. Naturally, they put the Lucid Air Sapphire head to head with the Tesla Model S Plaid (who wouldn’t), but took it a step further by adding two additional ponies to the race.
Here’s how it went.
Watch Lucid Air Sapphire smoke a Tesla Model S Plaid below
While the Lucid Air Sapphire didn’t quite hit the sub-9 second quarter mile as advertised above, it came damn close and on regular asphalt nonetheless. Regardless, it was more than enough speed to dominate both the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Bugatti Chiron.
While the Lucid Air Sapphire and Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport both reached top speeds of of 156 mph, the former still beat out the latter and the Tesla Model S Plaid by 0.2 seconds. Plaid only reached 152 mph top speed, but still held its own against the Bugatti. Still, none could match the Air Sapphire.
The closest competitor was the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2, which actually reached a top speed higher than the Air Sapphire (157 mph), but was still no match for the tri-motor EV’s acceleration. It, too, joined the Model S Plaid and Chiron with a quarter mile time of 9.3 seconds.
Yes, the Lucid Air Sapphire has proven its speediness over the Tesla Model S Plaid, but it still has one foe to race before it can truly be named the fastest on the planet – the Rimac Nevera. That could prove a bit more difficult to win, but perhaps we can get both on the track in 2023 and decide once and for all. In the meantime, you can watch the Lucid Air Sapphire tear down the track in the video below.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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