Throttle response, power delivery

[alee]

In summary: Do all drive modes of the Air Touring feature what I'll call "power swell" throttle response that builds the power gradually? Does the GT feature a more "crisp" throttle response down low? Curious if there are differences.

Since delivery two weeks ago, I've had a few thoroughly enjoying drives in the Touring. I LOVE driving this thing. I'm trying to get a better understanding of power delivery in the Air. I find the drive extremely sublime and relaxed in smooth which is my default mode. I've tried swift and sprint a few times but one thing stands out to me as different from my last EV experience: The way this car delivers power is more of a gradual build that begins to pull strongly at around 60 MPH it seems - which really amounts to a few seconds ramp. I've noticed that even in sprint, the throttle response has that same gradual build. From a standstill, hold the throttle at any opening and you can feel the power slowly build then begin pulling - hard.

So my past experience - I had a Tesla Model S Performance. And good or bad, I got used to driving around in "ludicrous" mode - the equivalent of sprint in the Lucid. "chill" mode, was way too soft with almost sluggish response vs smooth in the Air, which is very satisfying. In ludicrous mode, the throttle response was nearly instant. The slightest move of the pedal would invoke a response. It wasn't jerky. Just instant. The power delivery was almost the inverse of the Air. Very crisp, almost violent acceleration from a standstill if you wanted it, but you could drive it around smooth as butter if you wanted as well. It was a great all around mode to be in. But, it had a flat feeling at speeds above 70 or 80 where you could feel it running out of steam. There was no perceptible "pull" feeling like in the Air. My friend who drove a GT said that in sprint, the throttle response was much more crisp like I described in the Tesla. Is that true? I'm getting used to it, but I'm really learning to appreciate the throttle response in the Air much better than the Tesla overall for 99% of the driving we do. Anyone with similar experiences?

 

[timpossible]

I have a Pure AWD. I don't really punch down from standstill all that much, but the pull going from about 60mph to 90mph with just a slight flick of my foot feels great. Feels like a split second before reaching 90mph. It also feels as if it can keep pulling but I'm not that daring.

 

[LuvLucy]

I find the Air Touring way faster from 60-90 where I want it than the Model 3 Performance I had prior. The M3P line performance was a cool one trick pony for getting to Starbucks before my neighbor that got old real fast. I'd rather have the Air's higher end acceleration by a mile - very handy on the freeway. I find myself using Smooth around town and Sprint on the highway.

 

[Samo23]

In summary: Do all drive modes of the Air Touring feature what I'll call "power swell" throttle response that builds the power gradually? Does the GT feature a more "crisp" throttle response down low? Curious if there are differences.

Since delivery two weeks ago, I've had a few thoroughly enjoying drives in the Touring. I LOVE driving this thing. I'm trying to get a better understanding of power delivery in the Air. I find the drive extremely sublime and relaxed in smooth which is my default mode. I've tried swift and sprint a few times but one thing stands out to me as different from my last EV experience: The way this car delivers power is more of a gradual build that begins to pull strongly at around 60 MPH it seems - which really amounts to a few seconds ramp. I've noticed that even in sprint, the throttle response has that same gradual build. From a standstill, hold the throttle at any opening and you can feel the power slowly build then begin pulling - hard.

So my past experience - I had a Tesla Model S Performance. And good or bad, I got used to driving around in "ludicrous" mode - the equivalent of sprint in the Lucid. "chill" mode, was way too soft with almost sluggish response vs smooth in the Air, which is very satisfying. In ludicrous mode, the throttle response was nearly instant. The slightest move of the pedal would invoke a response. It wasn't jerky. Just instant. The power delivery was almost the inverse of the Air. Very crisp, almost violent acceleration from a standstill if you wanted it, but you could drive it around smooth as butter if you wanted as well. It was a great all around mode to be in. But, it had a flat feeling at speeds above 70 or 80 where you could feel it running out of steam. There was no perceptible "pull" feeling like in the Air. My friend who drove a GT said that in sprint, the throttle response was much more crisp like I described in the Tesla. Is that true? I'm getting used to it, but I'm really learning to appreciate the throttle response in the Air much better than the Tesla overall for 99% of the driving we do. Anyone with similar experiences?

Turn off the traction control and then let it rip. The car is throttling at first in order to maintain grip, floor it in sprint no TCS and it will feel like a totally different monster

 

[alee]

Good points all. I'm liking the greater headroom up top. I don't usually drive around that fast but the highway passing power is pretty addictive. My friend tested his Pure with regen off and said the throttle response was very crisp like I mentioned but he hated having to use his brakes. I read a post here about regen off producing sharper throttle response.

 

[AlDente]

I also feel the 60+ boost. Samo23 mentioned turn off traction control, which I was thinking about reading through this thread. I haven't had mine for a month, but yesterday I was driving in the rain thinking about how in my previous performance vehicles there was either slippage, or a total power cut by traction control. With the Air, I can't sense any intervention, but it almost has to be there with all the instant torque on tap. 880 is an incredible amount. When the rain stops it's time to do some traction off experimenting.

SavageGeese really praised the accelerator smoothing. Smoother than an i5, which I can attest to. Also, the Model 3 long range feels faster off the line just because it gives you 100% instantly.

Also try launch mode. It will give you more of an instant boost.

I can't fault Lucid for going this route. Everyone I have in the car talks about how smooth it is. I'd like to have a hooligan option, maybe traction off is it.

 

[Samo23]

I love the idea of Hooligan option Traction off is a fun and wild ride. The car doesn't hold back at all. And given 819 ft lb of torque, it has to fight to maintain traction. Although I think the gearing/power delivery in the car is also tuned this way as well intentionally, so there will always be a consistent and awesome pull instead of the one trick pony Tesla method of a 0-60 gut punch then emptiness after 70.

 

[illopp00]

The Smooth and Swift modes are at 50% power reduction on the touring, and have a ramping effect to power from the accelerator for off-line and drive-ability in traffic. Sprint is full beans and instant response. Sometimes on the highway I have felt some sort of 'old-school' gas style kickdown, when above 50-80mph it just gives me full power for passing in the lower drive modes. I am a huge fan of launch control on my 19in wheels in dynamic/partial stability in Sprint in the dry, get some 4-wheel burnout launches