First pre-production Gravity reviews are coming in

We finally got to test drive the Lucid Gravity which just nabbed an EPA range of 450 miles

It’s been a four-plus-year journey for Gravity – Lucid Motors’ second flagship SUV. Since it was first unveiled, I’ve followed...

electrek.co

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

Son bakes bread, which is wonderful for me because wife has a gluten allergy. I got the idea to turn our veggie garden into a wheat field so he can bake me "farm to table" sourdough. I tilled the garden and sewed winter wheat this fall. Then it didn't rain for 4 months. Got a few grass leaves in one corner, all bunched...bought another 4 lbs of seed and tried again ... looks like birds / mice ate them all. I have less than 1 percent coverage, maybe enough for one croissant, the rest all weeds.
I thought the threshing and winnowing would be the hard part...but apparently growing grass is much harder than it looks. I'm going to skip a few steps and just hand my son a baggie of seed and save myself the labor.
Farmers don't get paid enough ... it's a miracle they can make any food at all = everything is against them.

Did a trip to Switzerland last fall and guide pointed-out the Swiss cows on our way up to the Jungfrauloch. Said "Swiss cows are so buff, because they climb up and down the Alps all day. They are very muscular. Noticed legs on downhill side are longer. Did not see any milking parlors at 3k meters, the start of the famous Lauberhorn ski race. Are they hand-milked ???

Grew up next door to dairy farm in NH and helped with the milking, as one does when in farm country. The cows gotta be milked...they don't care if it's 9 degrees and you have the flu. I have insomnia, and like to be awake when the world is asleep...often in my garage, in my Lucid, listening to ATMOS tracks.

I see a bunch of Dream Editions on the market place...so many that I can choose Zeneth Red, Eureka Gold, Infinite Black, and Stellar White... leaning towards the Stellar as its universal like the Cosmos. Found Lucid too late to get on the Dream Edition list = very happy to read all the negative posts = idiots are selling them left and right. It's a fantastic car. Trying to decide if I should tell the wife before or after I buy it. Easier to get forgiveness than permission. Then again the black is better for solar gain in winter months, the red looks fantastic in natural light, and the gold is unique to Dream Editions. Good problem to have. Waiting for the universe to approve. Looks like Mercury goes forward on Sunday, and full moon in Gemini bodes well for a major change in transportation and communication. I gave up on rationality after Nov. 5.

Just to keep on topic ... haven't seen a Gravity, and don't care.

I live near KoP service center so probably can see a Gravity when they go there for pre-sale prep.
Would be interested in a roadster though = "The Muon" (something like a Miata with Lucid Pure tech).

Would like to see a sport wagon = I'd trade my Air and my house for a Lucid sport wagon with three motors. Perhaps the Germans will build this car? I don't think I saw a single SUV from Bern to Amsterdam. Saw lots of "Estates" ... Skoda Estates mostly...and a bunch of Mercedes E class estates. Would move to Switzerland if I could afford it ... a fairytale country that looks just like the pictures. Cleanest place I've ever seen. Everyone seem to be fluent in 4 languages.. every shop sells chocolate and $50,000 watches.

oh yeah ... Gravity. This post is about Gravity reviews. I'll post photos when I see one at King of Prussia service center.

 

[hmp10]

Folks on this Forum are not the only people who’ll will ultimately realize that Lucid makes a better product.

The question is the timeline. Will the Saudis stay behind Lucid long enough for this to play out?

I think so, because I think they're playing a very long game with their economy and that it includes owning key EV technology. But a reviewer recently wrote that, while he thinks all cars will eventually be EVs, we are going to be in a slowdown or reverse mode on the trajectory for the next several years. I agree, and I think these next few years could be very challenging for Lucid as EV incentives and incentives to develop and standardize the charging infrastructure will be reduced or removed.

And I don't mean just buyer tax credits, as Lucid is pretty much outside that tent, anyway, except for some lease sales. I think there will be things such as legislation to give dealers more clout in resisting legacy automaker attempts to foster EV sales. (The first auto dealer elected to the Senate is already in discussions with the incoming administration for just such legislation and claims to be getting a receptive ear.)

Again, I'm a worrier.

 

[borski]

Again, I'm a worrier.

 

[Bus Driver]

LOL…I am soooo not the type to kick someone if they made an incorrect call on something. I love that you put your worries out there.

I could be just as wrong!! We’ll see.

I actually think we will see a significant uptick in the sales of air as there are signs that Lucid is getting its marketing act together (the new ad is powerful), Air is now priced much more competitively, Peter is personally overseeing software / UI and Tesla continues to lag with the kinds of tech innovation that Lucid is now delivering.

We’ll see, right?

I’ll believe Lucid is gaining on Tesla in the software/UI department when they drop an update that includes “Lucid Dashcam”. I’m pretty satisfied with everything else, but that dashcam, that would be just the thing that would tell me that Lucid’s UI software has arrived.

 

[hmp10]

Electrek's latest podcast includes an interesting commentary by the guy who test drove the Gravity last week and wrote Electrek's article earlier this week praising the Gravity. Begins at 1:00:

 

[DeaneG]

....Again, I'm a worrier.

It's been a relief to see that someone over-thinks things more than I do.

 

[bryway]

If any of you have access to an Apple Vision Pro, I highly recommend downloading any high-res imagery you can from all the recent Gravity reviews. I did that this morning and converted them into 3D / Spatial photos, and WOW! The depth added to interior shots really gave me a sense of scale and proportion. I even picked up some details I hadn’t noticed in the original images — for example, rear seat HVAC vents under the front passenger and driver seats.

Very cool experience that just ratcheted up my anticipation for taking delivery of this amazing vehicle

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

RE: Saudi Arabia is a family business, not a country.
If they are all in on Lucid I'd consider it a sure thing.
Remember the scene in Syriana where Mat Damon is trying to convince them to build a pipeline to Europe?

"What do I think? I think that 100 years ago you were living in tents and cutting each other's throats, and in 100 years you'll be living in tents and cutting each other's throats. That's what I think."

Some family members have been in the UAE for years helping them build a state-of-the-art nuclear power grid.
Be the change you want to see in the world.

 

[hmp10]

Some family members have been in the UAE for years helping them build a state-of-the-art nuclear power grid.
Be the change you want to see in the world.

The UAE has the highest penetration rate of EVs in the region and fairly ambitious goals: 50% by 2050, with its two largest cities having higher goals. The government also builds charging infrastructure.

For a country whose economy is built on oil production -- and which still has almost 300 years of estimated supply at current production rates -- this really should tell us in the U.S. something.

But, of course, it doesn't.

 

[illopp00]

Pre-release order numbers can be a gross exaggeration of subsequent actual purchases, and I am glad Lucid hasn't disclosed them. One example - depending on which source you ask, Tesla's Cybertruck had between 250K and 2 million pre-orders. Yet they have recently given assembly line workers a temporary furlough.

In a recent interview, Peter R said he was extremely pleased with Gravity's market results so far. I'm glad to hear it.

They are still only open to current Lucid owners correct?

 

[illopp00]

I echo the sentiments and concerns on here and would really like to see the company realize it’s full potential. It’s certainly an uphill task for any automaker but more so for ones like Lucid and Rivian.

The wide scale EV adoption has just not materialized as automakers would have liked. Everyone is struggling, BMW, MB, Volvo, Porsche. The numbers are just not there. The vast majority of shoppers prefer hybrids over EV’s. Tesla’s success was almost a mirage, they had no competition to speak of and created market segments and conditions where none existed before. It would be near impossible to recreate that success in this environment. The difference is that none of the legacy automakers would face an existential crisis if their EV plans don’t pan out as intended. It will be but a minor blip in revenue. Unfortunately for companies like Lucid and Rivian there is a zero margin for error, if they don’t want to end up being the next Fiskars.

It’s near impossible to gauge public interest and response. The Air is a great example. I for one think it’s a near perfect electric vehicle. I agree that in certain configurations it has an old school Cadillac kind of vibe but with the metal roof and stealth package this car looks awesome coming down the street. Mine’s a Touring in all black and I even removed the aero caps, I swear it looks like a Batmobile!

On the other hand something like the BMW iX actually sells pretty well. That thing is hideous. So who knows what drives public interest. Maybe the Gravity will be success after all despite it’s “controversial “ looks.

I beg to differ on existential crisis, see China taking over the world, VW Group, Nissan, Stellantis are on the same track to bankruptcy that people claim Lucid is. After the EU tariffs, the Chinese decided German cars are irrelevant and stopped buying them, and China is the biggest car market in the world and already 50% EV+Hybrid.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

They are still only open to current Lucid owners correct?

No, anyone can go online and order one.

 

[msaunders9430]

No, anyone can go online and order one.@i

The Lucid press release states "current Lucid owners given priority for taking delivery of their Lucid Gravity".

No, anyone can go online and order one.

@illopp00 you're probably thinking of the part in the Lucid press release that states "current Lucid owners given priority for taking delivery of their Lucid Gravity".

 

[Batteryman]

I beg to differ on existential crisis, see China taking over the world, VW Group, Nissan, Stellantis are on the same track to bankruptcy that people claim Lucid is. After the EU tariffs, the Chinese decided German cars are irrelevant and stopped buying them, and China is the biggest car market in the world and already 50% EV+Hybrid.

Yep, I agree...VW is in a precarious situation. Nissan may will be bankrupt next year, Stellantis- which actually sells big trucks in US is in big trouble. Reason is loss of China market and Chinese exports to countries that don't have an auto industry- Brazil, Australia, SE asia, Africa- these countries will welcome cheap Chinese EV's...the traditional ICE manufacturer market will continue to shrink and there will be bankruptcies and mergers.

Lucid and Rivian- as long as funding continues, will grow exponentially. The whole auto market is going EV, whether anyone likes it or not. Only 2% of EV buyers go back to iCE vehicles- because EV's are just better. Guess why no one is buying luxury German/US vehicles in China?

There is a slowdown in growth due to political environment and lack of charging. But growth is still going to come.

This slowdown is good for Lucid and Rivian- they can become more lean, efficient and continue to invest, while ICE manufacturers slowdown their EV capabilities and development. The gap between Lucid/Rivian EV's and ICE manufacturere EV's will just grow. Lack of demand will make batteries cheaper while Lucid and Rivian establish.

 

[DeaneG]

They are still only open to current Lucid owners correct?

Anyone in the USA can order: https://lucidmotors.com/gravity

 

[Xminus6]

The Lucid press release states "current Lucid owners given priority for taking delivery of their Lucid Gravity".

@illopp00 you're probably thinking of the part in the Lucid press release that states "current Lucid owners given priority for taking delivery of their Lucid Gravity".

I have an order and don’t currently own a Lucid. Probably what they’re doing, similar to what Tesla used to do, is just move current owners to the front of the queue within reason of other factors being equal.

 

[Steveinarizona]

We stopped at 2 because I refuse to drive anything other than a sedan. The Gravity reviews may point to a possible redemption of the Dad forced to trade away the "cool" car for the wretched SUV/minivan.

Before I retired I had a colleague who decided it was time to trade in his BMWS X5. He told me that he had decided to replace it with a minivan. I told him it would steal his soul. He told me I was wrong because the minivan was going to his spouse, he was getting an Aston.

We are a community property state. I have lost contact with him since I retired and I don't know if he is still married

 

[Batteryman]

The question is the timeline. Will the Saudis stay behind Lucid long enough for this to play out?

I think so, because I think they're playing a very long game with their economy and that it includes owning key EV technology. But a reviewer recently wrote that, while he thinks all cars will eventually be EVs, we are going to be in a slowdown or reverse mode on the trajectory for the next several years. I agree, and I think these next few years could be very challenging for Lucid as EV incentives and incentives to develop and standardize the charging infrastructure will be reduced or removed.

And I don't mean just buyer tax credits, as Lucid is pretty much outside that tent, anyway, except for some lease sales. I think there will be things such as legislation to give dealers more clout in resisting legacy automaker attempts to foster EV sales. (The first auto dealer elected to the Senate is already in discussions with the incoming administration for just such legislation and claims to be getting a receptive ear.)

Again, I'm a worrier.

This slowdown is an advantage to Lucid...less battery demand, lower battery prices, ICE manufacturers will be less competitive in the EV market and will fall further behind.

 

[gavram]

Looking forward to seeing how Gravity sells with SUVs being the focus in the US. I was initially concerned about the sleeker look of the Gravity, due to the current SUV trend being a more squared off look, but now think it could have big appeal to families similar to the Lexus RX's that are all over my neighborhood. My only concern is with it being a high end EV as many are rightly concerned about depreciation...leases should be strong though.

I would think a big factor for Lucid's long term viability will be their success with the upcoming lower cost vehicles. I'm guessing they aren't nearly as profitable as Air and Gravity, but more vehicles on the road helps to build better brand awareness to drive higher end vehicle sales and will help to establish a market share in overseas countries that are being flooded with new Chinese low cost competitors.

 

[hmp10]

This slowdown is an advantage to Lucid...less battery demand, lower battery prices, ICE manufacturers will be less competitive in the EV market and will fall further behind.

You may be correct, but I don't view this as a good thing beyond the parochial question of Lucid's fate.

I believe that, for all the speed bumps along the way, automotive transportation in most segments is going to continue to move to electric propulsion. After watching the Big Three U.S. automakers sink into a morass largely of their own making beginning in the 1970's, I was delighted to see the U.S. again seize the lead in automotive technology and design, first with Tesla and then with Lucid (even if it took Saudi instead of American investment for the latter).

But we now seem poised as a country to relinquish this new technology lead just as quickly as we regained it, with nothing but talks of tariffs to hold the Chinese at bay. The collapse of political support for EVs, combined with the Big Three heading for the hills of hybrids, is a truly depressing reminder of our determination not to learn lessons.