Choosing gravity GT vs DE

[Elfin]

It's to give the car more rear torque bias for balance for power out of corners, handling etc.. Lucid also when driving in smooth under light load is effectively 2WD.

That just changes the maximum torque. They could get the same front torque with an 8.7:1 ratio.
It would be interesting to see the efficiency map for Lucid's motors. As you said though electric motors are efficient over a wide range of RPM and load so it's probably a small difference.

 

[californiaboy935]

I’m not as convinced that the GT numbers were sandbagged.

DE and Sapphire for sure. Not sure about the GT-P.

I haven't driven the DE or Sapphire, But the GT-P and GT are not much different on the low end, but the GT-P keeps pushing on the high end which for me is the big difference.

 

[borski]

I recall in an interview Peter R said you could quote any number you wanted as long as it was lower than the real ones

 

[borski]

I haven't driven the DE or Sapphire, But the GT-P and GT are not much different on the low end, but the GT-P keeps pushing on the high end which for me is the big difference.

That’s the main difference. Handling-wise, they drive very similarly, assuming all other things are equal (same wheels/tires, etc.).

And on city streets, you’ll never know. But pass someone on the highway, or take it canyoning, and you can tell.

The Sapphire is another beast entirely.

 

[californiaboy935]

That’s the main difference. Handling-wise, they drive very similarly, assuming all other things are equal (same wheels/tires, etc.).

And on city streets, you’ll never know. But pass someone on the highway, or take it canyoning, and you can tell.

The Sapphire is another beast entirely.

I'd have to try the Sapphire, I am so torn between the GDE and the Sapphire. The NY event in the Meatpacking really sold me on the GDE... but the sapphire's raw power is very alluring, even tho I haven't experienced it.

 

[borski]

I'd have to try the Sapphire, I am so torn between the GDE and the Sapphire. The NY event in the Meatpacking really sold me on the GDE... but the sapphire's raw power is very alluring, even tho I haven't experienced it.

They’re very different cars. See if you can test drive an Air Sapphire sometime.

I’d pick the Gravity, but that’s because I have an Air DE. Between the Sapphire and the DE, I pick the DE because I like the glass roof and don’t want to give it up.

 

[TahoeMichael]

In a traditional SUV (with lockers) you can send all the torque to one wheel though. Kyle Conner was saying this limits the off-road performance somewhat and he'd like Rivian to put a physical locker on the quad motor. Obviously this only matters in pretty extreme rock crawling situations so it's not relevant to the Gravity.

Does Conner have a lot of off road expertise? I'm struggling to imagine an off road situation where you could successfully put down ~1000HP through a single tire. For ICE vehicles with much lower HP and torque, this seems like a more legitimate desire.

 

[Elfin]

Does Conner have a lot of off road expertise? I'm struggling to imagine an off road situation where you could successfully put down ~1000HP through a single tire. For ICE vehicles with much lower HP and torque, this seems like a more legitimate desire.

It's very easy to get most of the weight on a single rear wheel off-road. It's not about HP, it's about torque. Most EVs have single speed gearboxes so the 1000hp is only available at 80mph. ICE SUVs have lower gearing, a 2 speed transfer case that gives an additional 3x torque, a torque converter, and the ability to send all the torque to a single wheel.
Though none of this has anything to do with the Gravity since it's not going to be rock crawling.

 

[californiaboy935]

It's very easy to get most of the weight on a single rear wheel off-road. It's not about HP, it's about torque. Most EVs have single speed gearboxes so the 1000hp is only available at 80mph. ICE SUVs have lower gearing, a 2 speed transfer case that gives an additional 3x torque, a torque converter, and the ability to send all the torque to a single wheel.
Though none of this has anything to do with the Gravity since it's not going to be rock crawling.

I mean, never say never, someone will rock crawling this thing if at all possible… I am sure. (You willed it into existence by your comment)

 

[Elfin]

I mean, never say never, someone will rock crawling this thing if at all possible… I am sure. (You willed it into existence by your comment)

View attachment 28035

Here's a video that shows the issue. Foot to the floor and going nowhere:

Needs a rear locker or more torque.

 

[jered]

Any speculation on why the paint and interior choices are limited on DE if it's not going to ship early? (Like other reasons, "because they can?")

 

[borski]

Any speculation on why the paint and interior choices are limited on DE if it's not going to ship early? (Like other reasons, "because they can?")

Because they can.