The Press Embargo Has Been Lifted

[Pragmatic]

It would be impossible for me to overstate how cautious and risk-averse traditional automotive manufactures are regarding safety features.

Can't blame Mercedes for being cautious after a 3 car crash occurred while they were demoing their Pre-Safe automatic braking/collision avoidance system to the press back in 2005.

 

[borski]

To clarify, that's not to diminish what these companies (and other similar ones) are doing -- this is a fundamentally unscoped problem that is being solved. Above all of them, what Waymo has accomplished is truly shocking, and a testament to the power of being about to throw hundreds of engineers for close to 20 years at a complex set of problems. Lots has been written about this elsewhere, but highway driving is fundamentally "easy" compared to the problem of "where do I drop someone off at a shopping center with a busy parking lot, and how do I get there". There are uncountable edge cases in the best of conditions, even before you consider the nuisance of having to interact with humans.

What Tesla has built is also amazing, but not even remotely at the same scale. It's incredibly useful in a variety of conditions (especially highways) and I depend on it almost daily, but it is absolutely terrifying in less controlled conditions and I can't imagine using it in any sort of unsupervised way (again, except tightly controlled conditions) in the next decade. Even the "FSD Beta" is not solving the same problem.

I have no idea where you came from, but please stick around <3

 

[kopik]

So nothing can be a technology company unless their core business is computing and software. Because computing and software is the only technology. In the "accepted sense".

Got it.

In my line of business, we try not to use absolute terms (like 100% or 0 percent, never or always, nothing or only). Technology is everywhere. And yes, the "tech company" term has been traditionally applied to companies involved in communication technology, data, robots, software and hardware related to it etc. Even Amazon has been called an "online retailer" up until they truly evolved into a tech giant. Not sure why is it inappropriate to call the company that only makes cars "a car or automotive company"? But by the end of the day, it all is just semantics...

 

[jered]

I have no idea where you came from, but please stick around <3

Ha! Thanks; I came from wanting a more comfortable electric SUV for long trips... we're due for a refresh, and the Gravity is definitely the best fit. (The Genesis GV90 is also intriguing, but I have much lower expectations for the tech. And it's further out.) We also have friends who has a relatively early Air that they love.

I'm not usually one for getting the first model year of something and hoped to eke another 2 years from the X but the Musk situation is just too much, and also my husband is getting antsy for more power. He has a Challenger Scat Pack right now and maybe if we get a 1k hp SUV he won't go find a used Porsche that will be a maintenance nightmare. (The Audi RS e-Tron GT is also exciting, but going in completely the wrong direction from a price perspective.) And luckily for everyone, my night vision is now too bad for a new motorcycle.

Of course, the resale value of the X has dropped $10k in the past month (even controlling for other factors). Annoying. But, yeah, I'll be sticking around if we manage to take delivery of one of these things.

 

[Knucklehead]

Did any of the reviewers test hauling a sheet of drywall?

 

[HaltheAerialist]

It’s not a dongle; it’s an option, and it takes no time to attach. We have one in our trunk right now; it lives in the side, and if we ever want to attach it, it only takes a minute or two.

You remove a piece of rubber (three flathead fasteners, use a coin or flathead), attach it, good to go. You don’t even need screws. The receiver has a locking cylinder you turn.

Then when you’re done, takes no time to remove and stow (or leave it up, up to you). It’s a really nice solution.

Which review video shows the trailer hitch? I interested in seeing how it operates, but I haven't come across it in the reviews that I've watched so far.

 

[Batteryman]

So what makes companies such as Meta or Palantir technology companies when, by your lights, nothing outside the information or software space is? The fact that their technology centers around computer science? And what makes your extremely narrow definition of technology the "accepted sense"? The fact that it is your definition, even though clearly out of square with long-standing definitions of the word "technology"?

And what makes Tesla a "technology company" and Lucid not, even though the growing consensus is that Lucid has stolen a march on Tesla with powertrain engineering? The fact that Tesla has user software you like better?

Get real. Computing and software is but one branch on a large tree of technologies.

As for your stretch to use Nike to push your point into the realm of the absurd, there is a difference between using technology -- something I am doing sitting at this keyboard right now -- and developing technology, something Lucid is doing in spades.

Musk realizing car sales have peaked, pivoted to Tech/AI company to pump the stock price. Simple. Tesla and Lucid are CAR companies, they just add more tech than others and vertically more integrated. What do you buy from them - CARS……

 

[hmp10]

Musk realizing car sales have peaked, pivoted to Tech/AI company to pump the stock price. Simple. Tesla and Lucid are CAR companies, they just add more tech than others and vertically more integrated. What do you buy from them - CARS……

Okay, I know this discussion is aggravating others, but I'm going to throw in one last time and then leave it alone.

Of course Lucid is a car company. But here is the post to which I first responded on this point:

"The funniest statement in this clip is towards the end, when one of the execs says: 'We are a technology company'. I think for now they better stick to 'automotive' or 'EV making' line.
They definitely make great EV's and cars in general, but technology is their weakest part IMHO."

I took umbrage at the blithe dismissal of the major technological advancements Lucid made with powertrain and power electronics engineering in the Air and now the Gravity -- and even in things such a headlights. My point was that "technology" is a much wider set of disciplines than just software and information technology . . . despite the stock market's adopting the term to refer only to one segment of commercial enterprise that it thinks is today's hot trading ticket.

I worked in the aircraft engine division of a major corporation for several years. To claim that is not a "technology" business because its end products are jet engines instead of software would be a rather odd position. Yet that is just where using the stock market's narrow and self-serving definition of the term takes us.

 

[hmp10]

The "Road & Track" review of the Gravity test drive just came up:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a64504384/tested-2026-lucid-gravity/

However, that's the only significant addition to the press coverage since Tuesday's deluge of reviews.

I'm feeling as if a whole bag of Chips Ahoy was put in front of me on Tuesday, I downed the whole thing in one sitting, and now I'm hungry again as I try to scrape up the crumbs.

Is there no end to this suffering?

 

[Neuner89]

One odd thing about the reviews- they all pretty much say the same thing, almost scripted. It's all great, and I wish it well, but from a marketing strategy, it might have been better to release reviews on a rolling scale over weeks than a nuclear bomb of one day. I watched 4, they all say the same thing, I won't watch anymore. Up to 80k miles on my AGT, went from Stamford, CT to Boston and back yesterday without charging. I'll stick with my sedan, but hope the Gravity slays it.

 

[msaunders9430]

These reviews are so subjective. Surprise, surprise.
Two totally different opinions on the third row seating for adults.

The best thing Lucid can do is get this thing into showrooms for customers to drive and owners to talk about. Done.


R&D Quote

"Two adults can sit back here without much of a problem. That's even tall people".

 

[hmp10]

These reviews are so subjective. Surprise, surprise.
Two totally different opinions on the third row seating for adults.

The best thing Lucid can do is get this thing into showrooms for customers to drive and owners to talk about. Done.

I've seen this in several areas. I read a review yesterday (don't remember which one) that said the differences between the drive modes was less pronounced, almost to the point of unnoticeable, than in most other cars with adjustable drive modes. Yet several other reviewers found that the Gravity becomes a totally different beast as you move through the drive modes.

 

[jered]

I worked in the aircraft engine division of a major corporation for several years. To claim that is not a "technology" business because its end products are jet engines instead of software would be a rather odd position. Yet that is just where using the stock market's narrow and self-serving definition of the term takes us.

I think there are two factors at play in becoming a marque.

If you start by building technology, as Atieva did, you have to have someone to buy it. If you're an existing manufacturer (integrator, really) there's a lot less risk in buying your motors from Bosch or ZF or whomever, and your batteries and BMS from LG, and get everything from companies that have been around for decades and will be around for decades, that have the capacity to deliver hundreds of thousands of units, and have the pockets to pay for screw-ups. So if you are developing enough of the high-cost/high-risk components and want to be an independent company, you might have to just keep going and build a car.

The other factor is that saying you're "building a car" is way sexier than saying you're "building an electric motor", and high-paid CEOs like to do shiny things.

 

[msaunders9430]

The "Road & Track" review of the Gravity test drive just came up:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a64504384/tested-2026-lucid-gravity/

However, that's the only significant addition to the press coverage since Tuesday's deluge of reviews.

I'm feeling as if a whole bag of Chips Ahoy was put in front of me on Tuesday, I downed the whole thing in one sitting, and now I'm hungry again as I try to scrape up the crumbs.

Is there no end to this suffering?

Suffering?
Ahh surely you jest. And yes, I did just call you Shirley.

You've got at least two more bags of Chips Ahoy ready to open.
You love this stuff.

Car company/tech company?
Tire/wheel combinations? Which Pirelli P?
Tahoe orange or Tahoe tan?

You've got a bag in your lap right now.

 

[jered]

The "Road & Track" review of the Gravity test drive just came up:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a64504384/tested-2026-lucid-gravity/

This is a great point:

As with the Air models, the Gravity can be had with a California bear emblem on the front fenders. This is a great idea that reflects Lucid’s Golden State design heritage. But why does that bear go nose first on the left side of the Gravity and ass-end forward on the right? Lucid should spend the extra pittance it would take for the bear to face forward on both sides of the Air and Gravity.

Will the signature Dream Edition bear be the right way 'round, and is it any different than the optional decal apparently available on all models?

 

[hmp10]

Suffering?
Ahh surely you jest. And yes, I did just call you Shirley.

You've got at least two more bags of Chips Ahoy ready to open.
You love this stuff.

Car company/tech company?
Tire/wheel combinations? Which Pirelli P?
Tahoe orange or Tahoe tan?

You've got a bag in your lap right now.

Actually, I'm only eating metaphorical cookies these days. Down almost 40 pounds in the past few months.

Regards,
Shirley

 

[hmp10]

This is a great point:

Will the signature Dream Edition bear be the right way 'round, and is it any different than the optional decal apparently available on all models?

I may be an outlier on this, but I'm thinking about pulling the decals off the Gravity Dream before the PPF goes on.

 

[WeighingGravity]

I may be an outlier on this, but I'm thinking about pulling the decals off the Gravity Dream before the PPF goes on.

Me too.

I am thinking about this:

COLORFUSION® PPF - Demon Black

ColorFusion® by VViViD combines the durability of Paint Protection Film (PPF), with the eye-catching beauty of VViViD’s industry-leading wraps, ensuring your vehicles’ finish remains pristine twice as long as other films. Hybrid Dry or Wet Application: Wet application suggested for low-stretch...

vvividshop.com

 

[AirDoll]

Me too.

I am thinking about this:

COLORFUSION® PPF - Demon Black

ColorFusion® by VViViD combines the durability of Paint Protection Film (PPF), with the eye-catching beauty of VViViD’s industry-leading wraps, ensuring your vehicles’ finish remains pristine twice as long as other films. Hybrid Dry or Wet Application: Wet application suggested for low-stretch...

vvividshop.com

Please do that color wrap so we can all see pics of it!

 

[illopp00]

The "Road & Track" review of the Gravity test drive just came up:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a64504384/tested-2026-lucid-gravity/

However, that's the only significant addition to the press coverage since Tuesday's deluge of reviews.

I'm feeling as if a whole bag of Chips Ahoy was put in front of me on Tuesday, I downed the whole thing in one sitting, and now I'm hungry again as I try to scrape up the crumbs.

Is there no end to this suffering?

Honestly, they did kind of just flush through what I call the Tier 3 reviewers, all the clickbait ones with high-level reviews in short time frame. None of the professionals have done reviews that actually properly test cars or do technical deep dives, track tests et outside of OOS and State of Charge charge testing.