My first drive of the Gravity

[Ktw13]

Surprisingly similar. The added weight and height was barely noticeable.

That is truly amazing!

 

[borski]

Which wheel/tire option and your impressions of it?

22/23, and they’re spectacular. Didn’t do a road trip of course, but in terms of handling it’s very very impressive.

And quiet. Oh my god, almost too quiet. It’s weird hearing your own breath lol

 

[borski]

That is truly amazing!

I agree btw. It felt very very natural after my Air.

It parks *easier* than the Air, because of the RWS, which I *definitely* didn’t expect. Took my wife a couple tries because she’s used to her Ioniq 5, but for me it was first try with no issues.

 

[borski]

The first thing I am going to ask is of course about fitting inside!

You said “comfort is unparalleled”, were you referring to specific aspects of seating (examples : cushy seats, adjustable headrest, etc) or something else?

Everything. Unable to find a way to be uncomfortable in it. Even the damn frunk I could hang out in for hours. I know, it sounds absurd; but I really couldn’t find a way to get uncomfortable without doing crazy things to the seats I’d never do anyway (tilting it for fun haha).

The seats are very cushy, at least for the leather. Cant speak to Purluxe.

The steering wheel I wanted to naturally keep a bit higher, but lowering it was the right call. Took a few minutes to get used to, but now I wish I could keep it that low in my Air. My body naturally adapted and the ability to have unencumbered vision is one I’ve never experienced like that before.

And, @Ughwhy and @borski, do the headrests move back and foward, and or up and down in the front seats?

The headrests have this manual ratcheting forward and back, in four spots (I think), and I really liked it; my Air headrests feel like they never go quite forward enough for my seating position.

They don’t move up and down, but they are fairly large headrests, so I doubt people will be left wanting.

 

[hmp10]

The steering wheel I wanted to naturally keep a bit higher, but lowering it was the right call. Took a few minutes to get used to, but now I wish I could keep it that low in my Air. My body naturally adapted and the ability to have unencumbered vision is one I’ve never experienced like that before.

As @JB67 noted, wheel/tires always come first with me. But the squircle was going to be my next question.

I still have PTSD from over a year of the Tesla yoke before we could get a proper steering wheel on it and, after a few minutes sitting behind the squircle in a showroom, I still couldn't get my head around it (so to speak). But I've yet to hear anyone who's driven with it (Throttle House, Top Gear, OoS) say they don't like it, and it's good to hear you do, too.

You said you didn't get to do a road trip. But did you get enough local driving in to get an idea how its efficiency compares to your Dream P in those conditions? Their EPA figures suggest 3.82 m/kWh on the Dream compared to 3.14 on the Gravity, i.e., a little over 80% of the Dream efficiency. Any guess about whether the change in EPA testing methodology since the Dream was rated narrows that gap in real-world driving?

 

[Adnillien]

You said you didn't get to do a road trip. But did you get enough local driving in to get an idea how its efficiency compares to your Dream P in those conditions? Their EPA figures suggest 3.82 m/kWh on the Dream compared to 3.14 on the Gravity, i.e., a little over 80% of the Dream efficiency. Any guess about whether the change in EPA testing methodology since the Dream was rated narrows that gap in real-world driving?

At the delivery event, I asked the head of power train how the highway efficiency of Gravity on 20/21" wheels would compare to my 2022 GT on 21" wheels. I was told the Gravity would be more efficient.

 

[Ughwhy]

As @JB67 noted, wheel/tires always come first with me. But the squircle was going to be my next question.

I still have PTSD from over a year of the Tesla yoke before we could get a proper steering wheel on it and, after a few minutes sitting behind the squircle in a showroom, I still couldn't get my head around it (so to speak). But I've yet to hear anyone who's driven with it (Throttle House, Top Gear, OoS) say they don't like it, and it's good to hear you do, too.

You said you didn't get to do a road trip. But did you get enough local driving in to get an idea how its efficiency compares to your Dream P in those conditions? Their EPA figures suggest 3.82 m/kWh on the Dream compared to 3.14 on the Gravity, i.e., a little over 80% of the Dream efficiency. Any guess about whether the change in EPA testing methodology since the Dream was rated narrows that gap in real-world driving?

This is the first vehicle I've ever driven with a square steering wheel and having my first drive be on an autocross course would normally have highlighted any issues with the steering wheel. It didn't, I jumped in the Gravity, buckled-up, got a quick explanation of the course, and was off. Not once did I notice or think about the steering wheel. It was transparent to me as I flung the Gravity between the cones.

 

[borski]

You said you didn't get to do a road trip. But did you get enough local driving in to get an idea how its efficiency compares to your Dream P in those conditions? Their EPA figures suggest 3.82 m/kWh on the Dream compared to 3.14 on the Gravity, i.e., a little over 80% of the Dream efficiency.

Tbh I’m not the best judge, because I don’t drive for efficiency. I *appreciate* the ability to drive to LA on a single charge, and have done it a number of times, but I’m really not a good judge because I do not try to max my efficiency. And in my DE, my lifetime efficiency is definitely more than

I will say that everyone I’ve spoken to at Lucid is very very excited about how efficient the Gravity is.

Any guess about whether the change in EPA testing methodology since the Dream was rated narrows that gap in real-world driving?

No idea. TBH haven’t even delved specifically into what the EPA changed, past that they changed something.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

 

[flarbear]

As @JB67 noted, wheel/tires always come first with me. But the squircle was going to be my next question.

With a grain of salt as I haven't driven either a Tesla yoke or a squircle car, it seems that one of the biggest issues with a yoke (that I've imagined and also read about) is that there is a large section of the wheel where there is no ring to grab and that means either having to hunt around for a part you can grab, one-hand it, or grab the bulky center which isn't the greatest for grip or control.

In contrast, a squircle at least has a "ring" section all the way around that your hand is comfortable holding and is an effective way to control the wheel. So, no more hunting or awkward grabs. It's possible that the fact that it doesn't have a constant radius might be slightly distracting, but many cars already have decidedly non-circular shapes to their wheels (flat parts on the bottom are common for easier entry/exit and many "sport wheels" have other non-circular sections) and nobody seems to have any issue with adapting to these non-symmetric rings.

 

[momo3605]

At the delivery event, I asked the head of power train how the highway efficiency of Gravity on 20/21" wheels would compare to my 2022 GT on 21" wheels. I was told the Gravity would be more efficient.

Interesting...2025 Air and Gravity should be calculated on the same EPA test cycle. Both claim 450 miles. Air does it with a slightly smaller battery. But minor difference. Would be great if they even end up being the same!

 

[borski]

With a grain of salt as I haven't driven either a Tesla yoke or a squircle car, it seems that one of the biggest issues with a yoke (that I've imagined and also read about) is that there is a large section of the wheel where there is no ring to grab and that means either having to hunt around for a part you can grab, one-hand it, or grab the bulky center which isn't the greatest for grip or control.

In contrast, a squircle at least has a "ring" section all the way around that your hand is comfortable holding and is an effective way to control the wheel. So, no more hunting or awkward grabs. It's possible that the fact that it doesn't have a constant radius might be slightly distracting, but many cars already have decidedly non-circular shapes to their wheels (flat parts on the bottom are common for easier entry/exit and many "sport wheels" have other non-circular sections) and nobody seems to have any issue with adapting to these non-symmetric rings.

This was my experience. It is very very different from a yoke.

 

[momo3605]

This was my experience. It is very very different from a yoke.

I don't think it matters whether it's a yoke, steering wheel, flat top, flat bottom, etc...you'll get used to whatever you want to get used to. Weirdly enough, if you watch long-term Tesla owner reviews, the bigger fans love their yokes lol.

 

[borski]

I don't think it matters whether it's a yoke, steering wheel, flat top, flat bottom, etc...you'll get used to whatever you want to get used to. Weirdly enough, if you watch long-term Tesla owner reviews, the bigger fans love their yokes lol.

Oh I know - I just never got used to the yoke. I’m sure given enough time I would have, although I still maintain that not having a full ring is extremely dangerous in an emergency situation, when muscle memory kicks in. Grabbing air is not great. (Does not apply to a steer-by-wire yoke like the Cybertruck)

The gravity took very little time to get used to because it still has a full ring.

 

[JB67]

I agree btw. It felt very very natural after my Air.

It parks *easier* than the Air, because of the RWS, which I *definitely* didn’t expect. Took my wife a couple tries because she’s used to her Ioniq 5, but for me it was first try with no issues.

Now I am curious as the low speed handling (ex. Parking) was another question I realized today I had.

Do you think it was because of the longer wheelbase? (Ex. She doesn’t have to plan as far ahead when to turn in the Ioniq 5)

Am I correct in remembering the turning circle is about the same as the Air when the Gravity is equipped with rear wheel stear?

 

[JB67]

This is the first vehicle I've ever driven with a square steering wheel and having my first drive be on an autocross course would normally have highlighted any issues with the steering wheel. It didn't, I jumped in the Gravity, buckled-up, got a quick explanation of the course, and was off. Not once did I notice or think about the steering wheel. It was transparent to me as I flung the Gravity between the cones.

Wait…..that was you driving?!?!?!?!?

Ok, officially jealous!

 

[JB67]

Oh I know - I just never got used to the yoke. I’m sure given enough time I would have, although I still maintain that not having a full ring is extremely dangerous in an emergency situation, when muscle memory kicks in. Grabbing air is not great. (Does not apply to a steer-by-wire yoke like the Cybertruck)

The gravity took very little time to get used to because it still has a full ring.

Yeah we test drove a Model X that had the yoke as standard equipment, and that was a hard “no” for us. (Along with a few other things)

On the other hand my wife drove the Cybertruck on a test drive, and with the steer-by-wire she took to the yoke quickly. (I couldn’t drive because of the evil high and narrow width bolstering in the front seats)
That experience though did firmly convince us that rear wheel steer is one of the must haves on longer wheelbase vehicles (mind you we drive an F150 for comparison).

 

[borski]

Now I am curious as the low speed handling (ex. Parking) was another question I realized today I had.

Do you think it was because of the longer wheelbase? (Ex. She doesn’t have to plan as far ahead when to turn in the Ioniq 5)

Yes. Her Ioniq has a much shorter wheelbase.

Am I correct in remembering the turning circle is about the same as the Air when the Gravity is equipped with rear wheel stear?

Shorter. It’s shorter. It’s bananas. (Well, it’s the RWS, but you get the idea)

 

[flarbear]

On the other hand my wife drove the Cybertruck on a test drive, and with the steer-by-wire she took to the yoke quickly.

The Cybertruck has a squircle steering wheel which has a ring that goes all the way around. I think the prototypes originally showed a yoke like the plaid X/S, but for production they went with a squircle design like the Gravity.

 

[MarzipanPear]

The green looks great, but surprisingly the Silver looked fantastic too, it will be a tough choice.

Is the silver color you mention the "Lunar Titanium" option on the build page?