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Is Lucid styling the problem?

dbsb3233 said:
Those are ICE or hybrid though. Range isn't an issue in ICE/hybrid, because refueling is fast and ubiquitous. Much harder to produce range in a BEV (especially with any efficiency), thus the wagon-like shape of the Gravity rather than a true SUV shape.

I'd love it if the Gravity were 6" taller with a taller/boxier rear window for better visibility, but I know that would seriously cut the range. The Escalade IQ gets there with brute battery size, but it's just too big for my needs. And too expensive.
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Visibility is one of the few things about Lucid vehicles that I'm not a fan of. I don't know exactly how they could solve that problem without compromising something else that I care about. I was excited to hear the discussion about view angle benchmarking against other vehicles when they were designing Cosmos, and I wonder if that will have notably better visibility.
 
TahoeMichael said:
Visibility is one of the few things about Lucid vehicles that I'm not a fan of. I don't know exactly how they could solve that problem without compromising something else that I care about. I was excited to hear the discussion about view angle benchmarking against other vehicles when they were designing Cosmos, and I wonder if that will have notably better visibility.
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They could at least mitigate the problem some by giving us a live rear camera view on the dash screen. If there's a cop behind me with his lights flashing, right now the only way I'll see it is in the side mirrors. I can't see anything above the hood in the rearview mirror now.
 
TahoeMichael said:
Visibility is one of the few things about Lucid vehicles that I'm not a fan of. I don't know exactly how they could solve that problem without compromising something else that I care about. I was excited to hear the discussion about view angle benchmarking against other vehicles when they were designing Cosmos, and I wonder if that will have notably better visibility.
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Not out the back apparently. The tailgate is going to be heavily raked for efficiency reasons.
 
TahoeMichael said:
Visibility is one of the few things about Lucid vehicles that I'm not a fan of. I don't know exactly how they could solve that problem without compromising something else that I care about. I was excited to hear the discussion about view angle benchmarking against other vehicles when they were designing Cosmos, and I wonder if that will have notably better visibility.
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I know what you mean. But the A and C pillars, for example, have to be extra large because they are steeply angled for aerodynamic purposes. Thinner pillars wouldn't be strong enough to provide adequate crash protection.
 

This kind of review, from today, sums up the problem with Lucid.

Final thoughts

Being behind the wheel of one made one thing perfectly clear: performance came first, software came second. Software aside, the car performed exceptionally well. No wonder Elon Musk was nervous about Lucid forcing them to put their money where their mouth is. The ride quality, speed, and handling put it way high on the top of my list of favorite performance EVs. But I just can’t get past how glitchy the technology was. I really wanted to test the DreamDrive function, but it wouldn’t turn on. The alarm situation royally upset me. And not being able to connect my phone was downright inexcusable.
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Yeah, I think the opinion is unanimous. The cars are fantastic when everything works. But man, what a fk* pain in the ass to live with.

I like my car, but I can't possibly recommend anyone else to buy one. That makes me sad.
 
I don't understand why anyone thinks the Gravity's styling is a problem. I think it looks badass. Ours is on the modest end of GT spec, (DD Standard, base interior, 5 seats, no tech package) which may help us in the bugginess department: we've had a few intermittent glitches but nothing too dramatic. I feel bad for those who have experienced all the myriad problems, but for us it's just an extraordinary comfortable vehicle with a remarkable combination of acceleration, agility & efficiency -- despite its size & weight.

IMG_7813.webp
 
Styling, of course, is a completely subjective thing. I really like how the Gravity looks (especially from the rear quarter). That said, comparing the reactions I received after getting our Air GT in 2022- lots of gobsmacked people coming to me in parking lots, charging stations or on the road- to the pretty much universal *meh* i've gotten from the Gravity (just one guy in a Mach-E giving me two thumbs up), I admit to being a little surprised. Even people who you would think should at least be aware of the Gravity don't seem to react at all. (Guy driving a brand new R1T pulled up next to me at a charger and asked me if it was Chinese).
So I don't know what that means, but I kind of like the anonymity.
 
mfdutra said:

This kind of review, from today, sums up the problem with Lucid.
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I didn't have access problems for several months (other problems yes), but ever since I wanna say...February? My car has been doing the exact same thing hers did. Can't get in. Doors unresponspive. But from October to Feb it was ok. Now its being torn down by enginerring again, at my expense of ownership, so they can try and figure out why thier own cars don't work. Crazies thing I've ever dealt with.
 
Gandalf said:
Styling, of course, is a completely subjective thing. I really like how the Gravity looks (especially from the rear quarter). That said, comparing the reactions I received after getting our Air GT in 2022- lots of gobsmacked people coming to me in parking lots, charging stations or on the road- to the pretty much universal *meh* i've gotten from the Gravity (just one guy in a Mach-E giving me two thumbs up), I admit to being a little surprised. Even people who you would think should at least be aware of the Gravity don't seem to react at all. (Guy driving a brand new R1T pulled up next to me at a charger and asked me if it was Chinese).
So I don't know what that means, but I kind of like the anonymity.
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Styling is highly subjective but also cultural -- and subject to influences such as marketing, social media, peers etc.

SUVs increased popularity over station wagons & minivans came about largely due to their less stringent "light truck" criteria for CAFE regulations -- and the consequent increase in manufacturers' highly effective marketing of the bigger & more profitable body-on-frame build technology as "family cars." (Someone here may know more specifics of that regulatory history -- I'm spitballing...)

What had previously been truly utility vehicles such as pickup trucks & their long-roofed panel-truck cousins evolved rapidly into upscale luxury family haulers with stylistic (& marketing) emphasis on ruggedness, outdoorsy vibes / names (Expedition! Excursion!) and a deluge of bigger-is-safer messaging. These vehicles quickly displaced station wagons & vans / minivans as family vehicles, and the manufacturers made more money per vehicle. Lots of wonderful cars were no longer imported to the US because they weren't SUVs and weren't selling.

I was always a fan of long-roofed sporty cars -- my favorite until the Gravity was my '99 Volvo V70R wagon. I also drove a Ford Aerostar for many years as my work vehicle -- but with a custom suspension, up-sized rims & sport tires. It had a 5-speed manual! 0-60 was casual but it handled beautifully (when it wasn't full of gear...)

So you're not going to get me to cringe at any minivan or station wagon vibes. To me the Gravity is a plus-sized shooting brake / sport wagon but it's also understated, stealthy and pretty damn unique.

I love that my GGT is a ass-kickin' sleeper. And I will always applaud unique.
 
I don't see how Lucid's styling would be an issue, particularly for me as I like sleek, clean cars. I despise all the angular, blingy crap on modern cars - Especially EV's. Even the front grille on my GMC Sierra EV is too much. but the rest of the truck is clean. The big two Europeans (BMW, M-B) Seem hell bent to see who can design an over the top hideous car. Only Audi and Porsche seem to be able to build a beautiful EV. So for a performance EV to me there are:
1. Taycan
2. Air
3. ETron GT
4. ............
after that a bunch of meh or worse. Sometimes I think I'll just drop $30K on a nice Mach-e for efficient, fun, utility and save the fun stuff for my 2015 911. But that makes my SierraEV battleship our road trip "car". Something that it actually does very well. I would love to trade the 911 and Taycan for a GGT and have something fun, efficient, and useful, if I could get past the reliability (I can live with evolving OTA software, but not repeated trips to the shop) but getting the wife to accept the minivan vibe is unlikely.
 
I of course love the Gravity's look, that's why I bought it. But I have been very surprised since I took delivery with how little attention it gets, and it's been out a lot! The very few reactions have been from people asking who makes it, not much in terms of how it looks.
So, there might be some truth in the assessment that it's not a design a broader market would embrace.
 
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