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

 

[Bobby]

I feel for you, brother. To have to take a pass on one of the quickest, roomiest, and best-handling people/cargo haulers on the planet -- and probably the only one that combines all three -- because someone thinks it looks like a minivan must be a bitter pill for a car enthusiast.

If she’s happy I’m happy.

 

[xponents]

You have a very good memory. I think many recent ones are cool: my daughter has a new Kia Carnival and it’s pretty freaking nice. My wife has a thing against minivans, though. That’s why we have had two Suburbans, an Expedition, two GLs, and now an Explorer. I thought the Gravity would be the perfect vehicle for us, with two young grandkids, but my wife still has anti-minivan thing, and in her eyes, (I don’t agree) Gravity has too much of a minivan vibe to it. It’s a shame, because I would’ve loved to have had one. So instead, we are getting something different.

The Kia Carnival is a great car! A shame your wife thinks it looks like a minivan, I had assumed that the lack of sliding doors would somewhat get her (and other people like that) to not call it a minivan. What are you considering instead of the Gravity?

 

[EXOTIC2]

Has a Mercedes R class look from the past.

 

[Unmutual]

I see an Eletre in Bobby's future.

 

[hmp10]

- Limited character lines on the sides

So, wait. The Gravity is a minivan because it has limited character sidelines . . . like my Odyssey?

- Rear windshield rake

I don't understand the point here. I found so many pictures of both SUVs and station wagons with virtually the same rear windshield rake as the Gravity that I'm not even going to bother to post them (unless you want me to . . . ). There is absolutely nothing about the Gravity's rear windshield rake that makes it a minivan versus an SUV or a station wagon.

- Ground clearance

Here are some ground clearances:

Honda Odyssey Minivan: 4.5"
Audi S6 Wagon: 5.0"
Chrysler Pacifica AWD Minivan: 5.4"
Mercedes E350 Wagon: 5.75
Lucid Gravity: 6.1" (lowered)
Toyota Sienna Woodland Minivan: 7.0"
Ford Explorer SUV: 7.9"
Chevy Suburban SUV: 8.0"
Porsche Cayenne SUV: 8.3"
Lucid Gravity: 9.6" (raised)
Ford Expedition: 10.6"


I could go on, but suffice it to say that there is no indication that the Gravity's ground clearance places it firmly in any category. With its suspension raised, it is in large SUV territory. With it lowered, the closest vehicle to it in ground clearance is a station wagon.


Honestly, folks, these attempts to force the Gravity into the minivan mold are just getting more and more . . . er, um . . . creative.

 

[xponents]

Honestly, folks, these attempts to force the Gravity into the minivan mold are just getting more and more . . . er, um . . . creative.

My favorite argument has to be one with some fool on Reddit, whose argument essentially boiled down to "it's a minivan because it's a minivan."

 

[DrLucid]

My gut feeling, once the car is out and we drive it will have a new name ( other than suv and minivan) defying all the norms.

 

[Batteryman]

It absolutely looks like a mini van. Whoever doesn't agree is saying it doesn't because it's so silly that it does lol

Minivan has sliding doors, Gravity doesn't. It is a raised wagon. Whowver says it does doesn't know the definition of a minivan.

 

[hmp10]

Exactly this...i don't see why you're getting upset. I also think it's cool to have a minivan that has driving dynamic chops. I've always told people, if someone made a Plaid-like Minivan, i'd be all over it. (I know i know, the model X is kind of already this but it doesn't have any handling prowess, and the falcon doors aren't very reliable from what i've heard)

Sorry, I wasn't upset at you. I was a little ticked off by someone else presuming to tell what other people's motives are in not agreeing with him that the Gravity is a minivan.

And, yes, I do think a minivan can be cool in some ways, if for no other reason than signaling I'm willing to buy a car for sound practical reasons instead of as a fashion or ego statement.

But that still doesn't mean I think the Gravity is a minivan. I see as many design elements pointing away from the minivan category as pointing toward it. I'll say it again: it defies conventional classification. Lucid probably chose to call it an SUV for marketing purposes, but my guess is they are as flummoxed about how to categorize it as I am.

 

[hmp10]

Has a Mercedes R class look from the past.

I posted the same thought on this forum way back when the final design first emerged. And I found it interesting the Jason Cammisa said the same thing in his "Curmudgeon" podcast yesterday. (Like him, I once came very close to buying an R63 AMG some years ago, in my case when a 3-year-old one with less than 100 miles on it showed up on eBay.)

The Gravity is the closest thing I've seen to an R-Class since it departed the U.S. market. And then, as still now, it defied classification in the categories of the day.

Of course, one of the reasons it left the U.S. market (but soldiered on in Asia) was its styling. I'm hoping that "Autopian" is not right in his worry that the Gravity styling will do it in, too, and that the U.S. market taste has evolved in the interim as more and more cars are channeling into a similar groove driven by aerodynamic concerns.

 

[DeaneG]

It's all in the eye of the beholder - no sense in arguing about it.
Like it? Good.
Don't like it? OK.

 

[hydbob]

 

[hmp10]

View attachment 25127

Wow. Minivans are getting really wild.

 

[Lucken]

View attachment 25127

Bet it looks much better in fathom blue!

 

[borski]

I’m 37 - does that make me cool yet?

 

[Lucken]

I’m 37 - does that make me cool yet?

What makes me think you were never cool?

 

[AirQuality]

Honestly, folks, these attempts to force the Gravity into the minivan mold are just getting more and more . . . er, um . . . creative.

I'm going to assume that you are not saying that I am "forcing" Gravity into the minivan mold, because I'm not. I'm a huge fan of the Gravity design and of Lucid overall. What I am saying is that there are a sufficient number of people (in the Gravity's target market) who seem to have expressed this opinion, who are very much worth hearing out, and whose thinking I am trying to understand and respond to.

If someone says "hey, it looks like a minivan", and the response is "no you're wrong and look at all this data proving my point", that doesn't win Lucid new customers. If the response is more along the lines of, "yes some people might feel that way, but it's the best damn SUV in the world and here's why", now Lucid has a chance at getting those customers. Fortunately, Lucid's latest marketing campaign seems to be very aware of this, and I'm optimistic that it'll work to the benefit of Lucid and for all of us who admire the company, its products, and its people.

 

[momo3605]

I'll say it again: it defies conventional classification. Lucid probably chose to call it an SUV for marketing purposes, but my guess is they are as flummoxed about how to categorize it as I am.

Would be fun if Lucid came up with something new too. Lots of OEMs have come up with their own classifications. Kia uses “MPV” for their boxy carnival minivan. Recently watched a review of the Purosangue, and apparently that’s an “FUV” and there are others. SUV “Coupes” like the X6

 

[DrLucid]

"it's a minivan because it's a minivan."
Because a narcissistic,egocentric,narrow minded person said that, it GRAVITATES towards not being correct.

 

[xponents]

My gut feeling, once the car is out and we drive it will have a new name ( other than suv and minivan) defying all the norms.

Me and @hmp10 actually discussed this a while ago, and we do agree that it should have a new category. I suggested the name of a “OSW” (On-road sport wagon)!