New Midsize Pic and Update

[gaskiller]

Inside EV's article so take it with a grain of salt

https://insideevs.com/news/783707/lucid-midsize-sedan-platform-winterhoff/

I'll let my personal bias come in and say this: the way I see it, sounds like an RS6-like performance wagon is still a possibility. I'm on my knees begging for a tri-motor Sapphire midsize stationn wagon with steel brakes and winter tyres. If there's an option to go with a regular interior, even better.

But in all seriousness, if this is true, I hope that means a wagon is more likely to be one of the midsize models. I'm getting tired of crossovers.

I don’t see a wagon, it will be a standard SUV, Off-Road capable SUV and a convertible which will come a bit later….thats my guess.

 

[tuffode]

Not really new news, I posted this back in February when this article came out.

"About 90% of my work right now is on three vehicles that share one mid-size platform. One of the main new products is an on-road, urban-focused, driver-oriented CUV with Lucid’s core DNA of space, efficiency and range, and the pure joy of driving. The second is more of a rugged crossover with a capable, weekend/outdoor focus and the third is in the SUV category. That’s where we’ll have the biggest departure from what you know today as Lucid."

Quote taken from https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/...sion-at-lucid-remains-very-pure/46719.article

 

[Need4Sleep]

I don’t see a wagon, it will be a standard SUV, Off-Road capable SUV and a convertible which will come a bit later….thats my guess.

Given that midsize is meant to be the volume seller, I don't think a convertible will be possible. My gut feeling is something still within the realm of SUV / crossover (...or basically a station wagon on stilts)

 

[Need4Sleep]

Not really new news, I posted this back in February when this article came out.

"About 90% of my work right now is on three vehicles that share one mid-size platform. One of the main new products is an on-road, urban-focused, driver-oriented CUV with Lucid’s core DNA of space, efficiency and range, and the pure joy of driving. The second is more of a rugged crossover with a capable, weekend/outdoor focus and the third is in the SUV category. That’s where we’ll have the biggest departure from what you know today as Lucid."

Quote taken from https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/...sion-at-lucid-remains-very-pure/46719.article

Do you have access to the article? It's behind a paywall

Also interesting detail on the quote:

"on-road, urban-focused, driver-oriented CUV with Lucid's core DNA of space, efficiency and range, and the pure joy of driving"

I'll let my bias speak here and what I'm reading is that a tri-motor sapphire "wagon" (or whatever is as close as possible to get to a wagon) is very much possible. If there's a winter tyre option and also a regular leather on the interior, Lucid will have me sold in a heartbeat

 

[The_Don]

Not really new news, I posted this back in February when this article came out.

"About 90% of my work right now is on three vehicles that share one mid-size platform. One of the main new products is an on-road, urban-focused, driver-oriented CUV with Lucid’s core DNA of space, efficiency and range, and the pure joy of driving. The second is more of a rugged crossover with a capable, weekend/outdoor focus and the third is in the SUV category. That’s where we’ll have the biggest departure from what you know today as Lucid."

Quote taken from https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/...sion-at-lucid-remains-very-pure/46719.article

My guess is the third, undisclosed SUV will be one built exclusively for level 4+ driving. Perhaps no steering wheel or other changes to optimize for such use.

 

[TahoeMichael]

My guess is the third, undisclosed SUV will be one built exclusively for level 4+ driving. Perhaps no steering wheel or other changes to optimize for such use.

No steering wheel would be very surprising. Partly because building "driver's cars" seems to be deep in the Lucid team's DNA. But even if that wasn't so, I don't think Lucid, Nuro, or Nvidia are at the point where it would be sensible to make a bet on steering wheels not being needed. Waymo is farther along on autonomous driving than anyone else, and even they still need a steering wheel from time to time.

 

[The_Don]

No steering wheel would be very surprising. Partly because building "driver's cars" seems to be deep in the Lucid team's DNA. But even if that wasn't so, I don't think Lucid, Nuro, or Nvidia are at the point where it would be sensible to make a bet on steering wheels not being needed. Waymo is farther along on autonomous driving than anyone else, and even they still need a steering wheel from time to time.

I think steering wheels are legally required at the moment. They might be able to make a steering wheel that tucks away. Without a solution, people can't sit in the driver's seat with L4 activated.

 

[joec]

No one is anywhere near being able to sell a car with no steering wheel to a customer. For companies like Xoox, that run robotaxis exclusively, that’s fine. But a car that is sold to a consumer needs to be able to drive anywhere. And we’re likely a decade or more away from that.

Sounds like the third variant will be just another SUV. Which sucks, if you ask me. But it does leave me curious as to how it could then be “different from anything we consider today to be a Lucid” or however he put it. More hyperbole? Likely.

 

[Need4Sleep]

No one is anywhere near being able to sell a car with no steering wheel to a customer. For companies like Xoox, that run robotaxis exclusively, that’s fine. But a car that is sold to a consumer needs to be able to drive anywhere. And we’re likely a decade or more away from that.

Sounds like the third variant will be just another SUV. Which sucks, if you ask me. But it does leave me curious as to how it could then be “different from anything we consider today to be a Lucid” or however he put it. More hyperbole? Likely.

I think it'll be focused on more hardcore off-roading, since Lucid has built itself on on-road dynamics and efficiency

 

[joec]

I think it'll be focused on more hardcore off-roading, since Lucid has built itself on on-road dynamics and efficiency

That’s already confirmed to be the second variant. It’s the third one that they are being coy about.

 

[illopp00]

Maybe a mini gravity? Like a mid-size 3 row like a Grand Highlander/Explorer which is the other biggest segment.

 

[Gravitas]

Maybe a mini gravity? Like a mid-size 3 row like a Grand Highlander/Explorer which is the other biggest segment.

Doubt that Lucid will make a smaller 3-row version of Gravity.
It would be self-defeating and cannibalize Gravity sales and "compromise" 2nd and 3rd row legroom; and we know that Lucid "compromises" nothing!

Mid-size model will be Lucid's "mini-Gravity" with 2 rows only.
To the best of my recollection, it's scheduled for reveal between April-June 2026.

 

[petergottlieb]

You could well be right, but I have to admit I bought a car with Dream DrivePremium last year because I didn’t expect Lucid to deliver the Dream Drive Pro hands-free driving they did in fact deliver last fall. Had I only been more trusting

This press release is entirely hot air. It's honestly a bit insulting to owners/buyers -- it's exactly the same as Musk saying that Tesla will have full autonomy next year (for the past six years and counting).

The Nvidia DRIVE AGX Thor platform is _already_ in the Gravity. I love my Gravity, but the ADAS is nothing special even though the sensor package and compute power are top of the line.

Lucid and Nvidia don't have the software, and have no timeline for the software, to deliver L3 (let alone L4) capabilities. Based on the overall Lucid software experience, they don't have a software engineering organization that will EVER be able to deliver this. It's just noise.

Buy a Lucid, but don't buy it on the promise of future high-level ADAS.

 

[Need4Sleep]

That’s already confirmed to be the second variant. It’s the third one that they are being coy about.

I interpreted the article with the 3 midsize vehicles as follows:
1. On-road focus meant for driving dynamics and urban environment
2. "Soft" off-roading like the Audi A4/A6 all-road and the Mercedes E-class All-terrain
3. Hardcore off-roading to challenge the capability of JLR and the Toyota Landcruiser

 

[RajD]

A good friend of mine spends a fair amount of time in China involved in various manufacturing enterprises. He’s a real car guy that I trust his opinion. He feels that the Chinese are going to be the dominate force in all things EV. He sights massive government support, ability to improve & innovate at a speed that makes everyone else look like they’re standing still. Combine this with the idiotic position and policy changes of our current administration and it’s effectively over for us. This looks sufficiently luxurious…

Interesting and eye opening video of the Nio

At the end they say the only car he’d rather have than this as a luxury sedan was Lucid Air.

 

[illopp00]

I interpreted the article with the 3 midsize vehicles as follows:
1. On-road focus meant for driving dynamics and urban environment
2. "Soft" off-roading like the Audi A4/A6 all-road and the Mercedes E-class All-terrain
3. Hardcore off-roading to challenge the capability of JLR and the Toyota Landcruiser

I am guessing no 1 will be quite sporty on road 2-row to compete with the new iX. And then no2 will be much more cushy and also more boxy SUV like for comfort. No 3 also needs to match Rivian R2.

 

[midelectric]

I was disappointed to hear Winterhoff's categorical denial that a midsize four door sedan would ever be made. I'm not as interested in unnecessarily tall vehicles like CUVs, much less offroaders. Wlll reserve judgment until I see them though.

 

[Tim-in-CA]

I was disappointed to hear Winterhoff's categorical denial that a midsize four door sedan would ever be made. I'm not as interested in unnecessarily tall vehicles like CUVs, much less offroaders. Wlll reserve judgment until I see them though.

Unfortunately that's pretty much where the sweet spot of the market lies. I have an Air and and a Rivian R1S, and for my next vehicle I am looking to boil them down to a single car and a CUV will most likely be what I will choose as it is the most flexible of all the configurations. Hopefully midsize will meet my needs!

 

[TahoeMichael]

I'm rooting for the 3rd top hat to be a van, with options for either seating or cargo in the back. Something that targets the NV200 market. Might be a terrible idea that only I would love, but there are a lot of NV200's on the road doing jobs that an EV could be great at.

 

[midelectric]

My last gas car was a Mazda5 and it was a great do-everything-mobile. Flexible seating, compact outer dimensions, good style; I'd love something like that in EV form so much I considered converting one back in the day. I hope a vehicle like that comes out in the next few years, but I understand the chances are slim.

I'm rooting for the 3rd top hat to be a van, with options for either seating or cargo in the back. Something that targets the NV200 market. Might be a terrible idea that only I would love, but there are a lot of NV200's on the road doing jobs that an EV could be great at.