Lucid Gravity in the wild

Turns out there are a number of cars that have had this feature.

Thanks for this more detailed photo:

Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 11.27.40 AM.webp


From the earlier photo I was guessing that the locking mechanism somehow rotated into the sill slot, and I was wondering about how much mechanical complexity (and future maintenance issues) that would entail. But it looks like this "slot and hook" is quite simple and probably never comes into play unless the door is pushed inward in a collision. I'm wondering if it even allowed a reduction in the size/weight of the side impact beam in the door?
 
“Lucid Gravity: The SUV that turns physics into poetry.”

When I drove the PRODUCTION GRAVITY on Saturday, I noticed this interesting piece of engineering and I inquired further. It’s the only one I’m aware of that uses the “hand in glove”, “

Thanks for this more detailed photo:

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From the earlier photo I was guessing that the locking mechanism somehow rotated into the sill slot, and I was wondering about how much mechanical complexity (and future maintenance issues) that would entail. But it looks like this "slot and hook" is quite simple and probably never comes into play unless the door is pushed inward in a collision. I'm wondering if it even allowed a reduction in the size/weight of the side impact beam in the door?
Since it wasn’t on the earlier models I am guessing they figured this out late and winged the easiest fix possible at it by putting a hole in the body. Otherwise it would have been there from the very beginning.
 
My brother saw a video in which someone at Tesla said the new Model 3 used a similar latching mechanism (although under the center of the door) due to the car's being so low. I assume that means a concern that the bumpers of some of the gargantuan pickups and SUVs on the road could override the side impact beam?

In any case, my guess is that the mechanism on this Gravity was retrofitted to the car after production. Surely Lucid will paint that black latching hook and its bolts in the body color so that it doesn't stick out so much visually?
 
Doubt it gets painted. I've never seen a car with it painted to match the body color.
 
Doubt it gets painted. I've never seen a car with it painted to match the body color.

It varies. For instance, Tesla does:

Screenshot 2025-03-15 at 3.22.26 PM.webp


Subaru doesn't:

Screenshot 2025-03-15 at 3.25.48 PM.webp


That hook on the Lucid is fairly large and in a location that sort of jumps out at you when the door is open. It would look a lot less like a bolt-on afterthought if it were the body color. If our Gravity arrives with it in black, I'm already thinking about painting it myself. I don't think it actually touches anything except in a collision, so the paint should hold up. (For some reason the large grommet in the door frame doesn't bother me in black. I actually think it looks kind of "industrial cool".)

Also, I wonder if the front doors have these hooks, too?
 
Correction: That white tab is on a BMW, not a Tesla.

Here are two shots of the Tesla mechanism, both appearing to be painted in the body color:

Screenshot 2025-03-15 at 3.59.50 PM.webp

Screenshot 2025-03-15 at 4.02.17 PM.webp
 
Back in the 1980's a Corvette was introduced with extending pistons that locked the rear of the passenger doors into the side frame of the car. That, however, was not done for safety reasons but rather to give the body enough torsional rigidity to allow the suspension tuning to be backed off from buckboard-on-washboard harshness to merely bone-rattling.
great historical perspective!
 
It varies. For instance, Tesla does:

View attachment 27250

Subaru doesn't:

View attachment 27251

That hook on the Lucid is fairly large and in a location that sort of jumps out at you when the door is open. It would look a lot less like a bolt-on afterthought if it were the body color. If our Gravity arrives with it in black, I'm already thinking about painting it myself. I don't think it actually touches anything except in a collision, so the paint should hold up. (For some reason the large grommet in the door frame doesn't bother me in black. I actually think it looks kind of "industrial cool".)

Also, I wonder if the front doors have these hooks, too?
If I'm being honest, and I always try to be, it seems like a last minute add to the Gravity and the design would have been more part of the mold if it wasn't, especially with that picture you had of the prototype. But, since its for safety, I'm glad its there and I concur about painting it. Not sure about the front doors tho.
 
I can’t tell if I like this. Looks kinda like a Chrysler Pacifica (from rear in particular) and minivanish. Other pics look good. Really want to see one in person! I’m not sure I’d call this an SUV. It looks closer to an electric minivan in half the pics. Again, not hating, just stating my opinion. I do need to see on in person and I can’t wait for that.
 
I can’t tell if I like this. Looks kinda like a Chrysler Pacifica (from rear in particular) and minivanish. Other pics look good. Really want to see one in person! I’m not sure I’d call this an SUV. It looks closer to an electric minivan in half the pics. Again, not hating, just stating my opinion. I do need to see on in person and I can’t wait for that.

Yes, if you're on the fence about ordering a Gravity due to looks, you really do need to see one in person. It looks much more striking -- racier, even -- in person than in photos.

Jason Cammisa of "Hagerty's" noted that it was like the Air in this regard: sort of "meh" in photos but exuding much more presence in the flesh. The first time I saw one in person was when I entered the West Palm Beach Design Studio through a side door and saw the Gravity at the far end of the long showroom axis. I immediately turned to my partner and said, "that thing looks like a bullet train". I later saw that same Lunar Titanium car at the Miami Brickell showroom and then an Aurora Green one at the Miami Worldcenter showroom. The sense of its presence never faded.

(Full disclosure: I'm on my second minivan -- a Honda Odyssey -- which I drive proudly. So to the extent that people might think the Gravity gives off minivan vibes, that doesn't put me off the Gravity at all.)
 
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Do minivans ride in a range of 9 to 5?
 

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A complete and roundly circular discussion of this exciting topic is available here:
 
A complete and roundly circular discussion of this exciting topic is available here:
I hate that thread
 
Photos posted in the lucid NJ Facebook group day before yesterday. Photos taken in Manhattan, likely the vehicles that will be on the floor at the meatpacking studio this weekend.
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Was gonna go and glance early but they foiled my plans…
 

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Was gonna go and glance early but they foiled my plans…
They are closed on Wed and Thur till 7p to "prep", I was told by the rep on the phone. Was pleasantly surprised that someone took the time to update studio hours on Google tbh.
 
Photos posted in the lucid NJ Facebook group day before yesterday. Photos taken in Manhattan, likely the vehicles that will be on the floor at the meatpacking studio this weekend.
View attachment 27511View attachment 27512
Didn't realize there were two Gravities! A black and green. Can't wait to see them. Manhattan studio rep told me last week that those two have been the most popular colors so far (and speculated that those orders might get delivered early but ... brick of salt)
 
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