I just watched the "InsideEVs" livestream podcast during which Kyle Conner gave additional thoughts on his test ride in the Lucid Air at the Amelia Concours. The Lucid discussion begins around -1:03:00 (the clock runs backward on the livestream).
A few interesting additions over what was in the video review Conner posted a day or so ago:
- He said the acceleration was really something different from any other EV he's experienced, including the highest performance Teslas and Taycans. He said that the explosive launch was really no different than from the over high-performance EVs, as they're all working at the limit of tire traction. What was different, though, about the Air was that, not only did it continue to accelerate strongly at upper speeds, but the
rate of acceleration was actually increasing at those higher speeds.
That was something he's never experienced in any other EV.
- He said that while he did not notice any uneven acceleration that other articles have mentioned, the motors are still exhibiting a bit of torque cogging at very low speed. (I'm wondering if we're not talking about the same phenomenon, but that Conner just labeled it correctly for what it was.) At any rate, he said Lucid is still working to address it.
- He said that he has known Peter Hochholdinger for some years and that he has absolute confidence in Lucid's manufacturing ability under Hochholdinger's tutelage.
- He said he took almost no notice of the glass canopy during his ride, which was on a sunny day in Florida. I hope this means heat and light is well controlled without the electrochromic glass. Conner also felt the sun visors were visually intrusive (as do I) and would have been better tucked away in the A-pillar as Tesla does with the Model X -- although he felt a trim-fold visor should be used instead of Tesla's inadequate bi-fold visor.