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Is Lucid styling the problem?

What was your source for your audio tests? I find that none of file formats I've saved on USB stick compare with the same track that's ATMOS encoded e.g. in Tidal. It feels to me like I'm using a whole lot less of the hardware capabilities if I'm not listening to ATMOS, so I have simply abandoned my USB stick as a source.
 
exxxviii said:
[…] I had some free time after my Gravity Demo Drive, and the Porsche dealer was about a mile away. So I went straight over to the Macan 4S Electric. Those two are very much not the same species. […] The Gravity was simply not in the same conversation. […]
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Did you expect the Gravity, a 3 row SUV, to handle like the Macan 4S electric, where even the 2nd row feels cramped on long trips? It’s apples and oranges.

Those who want the Gravity would automatically rule out the Macan 4S electric. Those who want the Macan 4S electric would rule out the Gravity. Different needs. The Gravity is the best handling vehicle in its class, but it can’t compete against smaller, lighter vehicles.
 
Saksak said:
Did you expect the Gravity, a 3 row SUV, to handle like the Macan 4S electric, where even the 2nd row feels cramped on long trips? It’s apples and oranges.

Those who want the Gravity would automatically rule out the Macan 4S electric. Those who want the Macan 4S electric would rule out the Gravity. Different needs. The Gravity is the best handling vehicle in its class, but it can’t compete against smaller, lighter vehicles.
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Not in the least. I was responding to a sentiment that the Gravity outperforms the Macan. It doesn't. It is not even close. But I never expected it to out-perform something like a Macan. The Gravity handles amazingly well for its size and weight. The braking is especially crazy good for its weight, so those steam roller tires are doing their job.

In the Electric Vehicle space, buyers end up cross-shoping a much broader selection, because there are very few in each class. I do not know of any other luxury 3-row SUV, so in a sense, the Gravity is alone in its class. (I do not count the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV9, or Hyundai Ioniq 9, since they are not in a traditional luxury class.) Someone shopping for a luxury electric SUV is pretty much looking across multiple sizes and classes, since many luxury automakers only have a single electric SUV.
 
borski said:
Ah yes, that’s “all they had to do.” Because nothing else about the car mattered. It’s not like it’s an engineering marvel or anything.

I think you mean “all they had to do, in addition to everything else they did, was get the software right.” Fixed it for you.

Also, railing on past marketing stunts is cool and all, but sometimes they work. When they do, they’re called genius. When they don’t, they’re called a waste of money.
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They shouldn’t have come out with UX 3.0….they should have mastered the 2.0 version, make sure it was completely bug free and released it in the Gravity. Then, in a few years come out with 3.0. All people want is software that works. Not yoga music and videos of waves. They shot themselves in the foot.
 
nelslens said:
What was your source for your audio tests? I find that none of file formats I've saved on USB stick compare with the same track that's ATMOS encoded e.g. in Tidal. It feels to me like I'm using a whole lot less of the hardware capabilities if I'm not listening to ATMOS, so I have simply abandoned my USB stick as a source.
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I couldn’t agree more. I listen to Tidal Atmos tracks exclusively, now. Other audio sources pale in comparison. Even with Atmos, some songs have been encoded badly while others are superb.

My reference standard is the Volvo B&W system where the system is tuned for the car. Lucid Gravity with Atmos is a close second.

Part of the listening enjoyment is having a quiet enough car at highway speeds that you don’t have to crank the volume up to drown out road and wind noise. This is also an area where I appreciate my Gravity.
 
L-Dude said:
I don't see how you guys can use Tidal. That may be the most poorly designed app I've ever experienced.
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True. It's just for the sound quality. I use the phone app and add things to my collection, then I use the car's app to play them
 
gaskiller said:
They shouldn’t have come out with UX 3.0….they should have mastered the 2.0 version, make sure it was completely bug free and released it in the Gravity. Then, in a few years come out with 3.0. All people want is software that works. Not yoga music and videos of waves. They shot themselves in the foot.
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Having used 2.0 in a loaner Air for the past 3 weeks, I can say that I much prefer the 3.0 in my Gravity. Yes 3.0 had issues in the beginning but with 3.6 it is pretty stable and usable. 2.0 still has it’s own issues also and is not nearly as intuitive and versatile (switching apps between screen) as 3.0.
 
Bdr100 said:
Having used 2.0 in a loaner Air for the past 3 weeks, I can say that I much prefer the 3.0 in my Gravity. Yes 3.0 had issues in the beginning but with 3.6 it is pretty stable and usable. 2.0 still has it’s own issues also and is not nearly as intuitive and versatile (switching apps between screen) as 3.0.
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Having used 2.0 in a loaner Air for the past 3 weeks, I can say that I much prefer the 3.0 in my Gravity. Yes 3.0 had issues in the beginning but with 3.6 it is pretty stable and usable. 2.0 still has it’s own issues also and is not nearly as intuitive and versatile (switching apps between screen) as 3.0.
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What I’m saying is, when trying to get traction in the market, don’t reinvent the wheel. You can do that in a few years. Lucid now has a reputation for bad software reinforced by UX 3.0 that was released with the Gravity.
 
nelslens said:
What was your source for your audio tests? I find that none of file formats I've saved on USB stick compare with the same track that's ATMOS encoded e.g. in Tidal. It feels to me like I'm using a whole lot less of the hardware capabilities if I'm not listening to ATMOS, so I have simply abandoned my USB stick as a source.
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The USB stick can play FLAC and Atmos-encoded m4a’s, but yes, you have to give it a good source. If you’re playing from Spotify, it will highlight all the bad qualities of the format.

I hadn’t thought of this, but this was almost certainly the problem.

Or we just have different ears.
 
L-Dude said:
I don't see how you guys can use Tidal. That may be the most poorly designed app I've ever experienced.
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I use it in spite of the UX, because of the sound quality. I agree it’s terribly designed.
 
exxxviii said:
Not in the least. I was responding to a sentiment that the Gravity outperforms the Macan. It doesn't. It is not even close. But I never expected it to out-perform something like a Macan. The Gravity handles amazingly well for its size and weight. The braking is especially crazy good for its weight, so those steam roller tires are doing their job.

In the Electric Vehicle space, buyers end up cross-shoping a much broader selection, because there are very few in each class. I do not know of any other luxury 3-row SUV, so in a sense, the Gravity is alone in its class. (I do not count the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV9, or Hyundai Ioniq 9, since they are not in a traditional luxury class.) Someone shopping for a luxury electric SUV is pretty much looking across multiple sizes and classes, since many luxury automakers only have a single electric SUV.
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I'd probably put the Cadillac EscaladeIQ in the luxury category
 
ke2 said:
I'd probably put the Cadillac EscaladeIQ in the luxury category
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Great point. And the Vistiq. I forgot about those.
 
borski said:
The USB stick can play FLAC and Atmos-encoded m4a’s, but yes, you have to give it a good source. If you’re playing from Spotify, it will highlight all the bad qualities of the format.

I hadn’t thought of this, but this was almost certainly the problem.

Or we just have different ears.
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M4A uses lossy compression and AFAIK the problem with FLAC is it does encode multi-channel surround, but does not carry Dolby Atmos so is finicky to export -- unsure if that is a noticeable quality deficit. I gave up on doing further A-B testing when I realized Tidal just sounds better than my first attempts at USB stickery.

Agree that the Android Auto Tidal app is a nightmare mess of a effed-up UI. Alternative is to run a cabled CarPlay and run directly off a phone -- Tidal shoves too much data to run properly over Bluetooth. But as others have said one can just use the Tidal mobile apps to set up playlists / favorites etc. then access them via the compromised built-in AA interface.
 
borski said:
This is where you and I disagree most. The Macan is a fantastic driving car, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the Gravity in either acceleration (unless you purely mean from 0-45) or roadholding.
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I agree...we had a Macan loaner while our Taycan was in the shop and I drove it home over Hwy 17...meh; It's ok but
Gravity's a way better vehicle on that curvy mountain highway and passes much more quickly when the opportunity presents.
When put to the test the GGT drives more like the Taycan than the Macan does and it's a much heavier vehicle!
 
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legacy said:
We all know that Lucid styled the gravity for "maximum efficiency".. I dont mind it, its a decent looking vehicle imo if not a bit restrained, it can fly under the radar especially in the greyscale color pallete they offer..

However, there is a decent demographic in the $100k and up price bracket that would prefer something more unique and/or edgier. IMO the GT could use a bit more sportiness or aggression to let you know it has 800+hp, and differentiate it from the Touring. People that shop for G-wagons, range rovers, etc, most likely arent going to consider a gravity...if the product is going to be truly successful, it needs to go after that segment and the Gravity screams family-hauler, which may not be a good thing for those buyers (eg, single). Its possible they need to make a short-wheelbase version..

Same thing with the Air, it can be considered a good looking vehicle, classically-speaking, but its not really going to excite any younger buyers.
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As a younger buyer I’m offended
 
nelslens said:
M4A uses lossy compression
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It can be up to 6144 kbps per channel though. This is the same format that Tidal streams. Sounds great off a USB stick in the car. I use both, since it’s not rare for me to drive out of cell coverage.
 
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