Are you available in the market for a long-range electrical automotive? Then maybe you might have already considered evaluating the Lucid Air Dream vs. Tesla Mannequin S Plaid.
Tesla’s model recognition has lengthy been the driving power behind the corporate’s year-on-year success.
Nevertheless, the Lucid Air Dream Version has gained reputation within the final couple of months, significantly in the US, Norway, and Canada.
So, Lucid Vs. Tesla, which of the 2 firms’ autos must you select?
On this article, we’ll put the Lucid Air Dream Version up towards the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid by evaluating their worth, efficiency, and battery charging capabilities.
We put a whole lot of work into designing, researching, writing, modifying, and reviewing these articles. Please take into account supporting us by making a purchase order from one of many affiliate hyperlinks included on this submit.
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Lucid Air Dream Version Vs. Tesla Mannequin S Plaid (Comparability Desk)
Lucid Air Dream Vs. Tesla Mannequin S Plaid (Visible Comparability)
Lucid Air Dream
Credit score: Teslarati, Inside EVs, The Automobile Connection, Forbes
Tesla Mannequin S Plaid
Credit score: Tesla, Inverse, High Gear
Lucid Air Dream Version
Exterior
Let’s begin this Lucid vs. Tesla comparability by trying on the Air Dream Version.
From the get-go, you may inform that Lucid is making a powerful assertion with the Air Dream’s exterior.
The edgy design exhibits the corporate’s want to move the traditional Sedan into the long run.
The Air Dream version is available in black, white, and Eureka Gold. What’s extra, every automotive comes with a smooth and distinctive silver-painted piece that stretches throughout the automotive’s glass roof.
The Entrance
The Lucid Air Dream’s futuristic really feel begins on the entrance of the automotive. From an exterior viewpoint, that is the place it feels most distinguished.
A single mild bar together with the model title (lit up) illuminates the entrance of the EV — each draw your consideration to what’s a really polished and distinctive bonnet.
Credit score: Doug DeMuro, Lucid
And on both facet of the entrance bumper, you’ll discover somewhat unorthodox but eye-catching vertical flip alerts. Moreover, you’ll discover air inlets subsequent to the flip alerts and above the headlights, each of which serve to reinforce the aerodynamics of the EV.
Final however not least, you might have a charging port that you could find on the automotive’s driver’s facet.
Entrance Trunk
Lucid has determined to incorporate a pretty big entrance trunk that’s each extensive and flat.
Very similar to the rear trunk, you may elevate up a leather-based deal with to disclose a hidden compartment. We should take a second right here to notice that this is likely one of the largest EV trunks at the moment available on the market.
The Rear
The rear of the Air Dream consists of a giant, unbroken tail mild that wraps across the again of the automotive.
You’ll discover that the lights are significantly skinny, with no separations or slits current all through the design.
Rear Trunk
Lucid’s resolution to veer away from a hatchback-style EV has resulted in a automotive with a bit extra “junk within the trunk”.
The trunk has a really extensive opening, stretching nearly your complete width of the automotive, so that you received’t have any bother with becoming extensive objects into the automotive.
Nevertheless, the trunk isn’t significantly deep. To counteract this, Lucid added storage compartments beneath the trunk, even together with separate space for storing for charging cables (see the left facet of the trunk house within the picture).
Wheels
The Lucid Air Dream’s wheels have a flat profile for improved aerodynamics. Additionally they include detachable black panels — somewhat odd if you happen to ask us.
Roof Racks
Now, this was a shock — a pleasing one at that!
On every nook of the large glass panel that makes up this EVs roof is detachable panels for roof rack placement. So, ought to you end up needing to move gear of any form, you may contact Lucid to buy their roof rack add-ons.
Inside
Supplies
Let’s begin with supplies, lets?
The Santa Monica beach-inspired 2-tone inside (see photographs) is decked out with Nappa full-grain leather-based complemented by Silvered Eucalyptus wooden and vibrant Platinum steel trim.
For these of you searching for a extra animal-free choice, you’ll be happy to know Lucid presents another known as Purluxe together with alpaca wool trim doorways and sprint — not fully animal-free however much more sustainable than cow-hide.
House
Inside room — that is the place the automotive’s inside actually shines. The Air Dream is just so long as the BMW 5-Sequence however the inside house is longer than in a Mercedes S-Class. Briefly, there’s an unlimited quantity of room within the again.
That is due to packaging – an electrical automotive doesn’t have a large engine upfront, so the powertrain doesn’t require a lot house.
Lucid has made different developments in its powertrain system to make them smaller and due to this fact maximize inside house.
Windshield
On to one of many Lucid Dream’s greatest quirks — an uninterrupted glass windshield that spans from the highest of the hood to the entrance seats.
This offers the automotive a really open, ethereal really feel.
Whereas the glass above you can’t be shaded, it’s closely tinted and comes with UV safety. Moreover, there’s a metallic coating on the skin that stops an excessive amount of solar and warmth from getting in.
Interface
The display format and interface are a tech-junkies dream.
You have got three separate screens mounted on a pod-like construction that seemingly floats above the dashboard, adopted by a middle console.
On the far left dashboard display, you’ll discover primary automobile capabilities and controls – lock/unlock button, wiper controls, headlight controls, defroster, and so on.
Within the heart, proper in entrance of you, you might have a gauge cluster, which provides the fundamentals akin to your velocity, present cost share, journey odometer, warning lights, headlights, parking vibrant lights, and so on.
What’ll actually catch your consideration, although, are the screens within the heart of the automobile (to the suitable of the steering wheel). These embrace the dashboard’s third display and the middle console display.
What’s fascinating about these screens is that they work collectively. Apps like Spotify and maps might be opened and operated utilizing each screens, benefiting each the motive force and the passenger.
The middle console additionally comes with further options — you may change between driving modes and lighting screens, regulate your seats, mirrors, and steering wheel, and even entry the automobile’s 3D digicam system!
These of you who take pleasure in “old-school” touches will admire Lucid including bodily buttons to the inside of the automotive. Right here, you’ll be capable of entry local weather management settings.
Lastly, if you happen to maintain down the bottom of the middle console, it’ll retract and reveal a nifty storage compartment.
Steering Wheel
The steering wheel comes with some bodily, albeit unorthodox controls.
On the left-hand facet, you might have your flip alerts, wiper controls, and dream drive (cruise control-related system).
The odd-looking dial on the highest adjusts your following distance from the automotive in entrance of you if you’re utilizing the dream drive system.
On the right-hand facet, you might have audio controls, your gear selector, and a dial to regulate your quantity.
Passenger Seats
Transferring to the again of the inside, you’ll discover a heart console that opens to disclose a storage compartment with cost factors for gadgets.
There’s a display to offer sunshade in addition to numerous temperature controls.
As for the seats themselves, they’re completely different in colour from the entrance seats. The entrance seats are darker whereas the rear seats are lighter. Lucid selected this design choice as a result of they wished to offer the entrance a extra centered, sportier look whereas giving the again a extra lounge-type really feel.
Distinctive Components
Remaining quirks embrace trigger-type inside door handles, a microphone embedded within the heart of the roof, and pictures of bears hidden all through the inside.
The bear is the unofficial mascot for the automotive and Lucid generally. It’s modeled after the bear on the California flag the place lucid has its headquarters.
Vary
In accordance with the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), the Dream Version Vary is able to an estimated 520 miles on a single cost.
San Diego to San Francisco.
The automotive delivers 4.4 miles per kWh. Solely the Lucid Air Grand Touring surpasses this with a 112kWh battery pack and achieves 4.6 miles per kWh.
Energy Practice
| Motors | 2 permanent-magnet synchronous AC |
| Mixed Energy | 1111 hp |
| Mixed Torque | 1025 lb-ft |
| Battery Pack | liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 118.0 kWh |
| Onboard Charger | 19.2 kW |
| Transmission | F/R: direct-drives |
Value & Supply ETA
The value for the Efficiency and Vary editions of the 2022 Lucid Air Dream 19″ is $169,000.
Whereas we’d love to have the ability to give you a definitive reply, there doesn’t appear to be one; not even from Lucid themselves.
Solely when you place an order and are assigned a Supply Advisor will you be capable of decide your particular supply time.
Tesla Mannequin S Plaid
Exterior
It doesn’t take a talented eye to acknowledge how comparable the Mannequin S Plaid is to the outgoing Mannequin S. However, whereas that’s the case, the automotive’s exterior does nonetheless include some distinct variations.
The Mannequin S Plaid options wider tires and is, due to this fact, a bit wider than the common Mannequin S.
What was additionally chrome on the earlier automotive is now black, together with the encompass for the home windows and trim on the automotive’s rear.
Transferring to the facet of the automotive, you’ll discover flush door handles a bit pod the place the facet view digicam is housed.
The Entrance
The entrance is the place you’ll discover the largest design distinction between the Mannequin S Plaid and Mannequin S – the Mannequin S Plaid is sleeker and extra aggressive, from the lights to the bonnet itself.
Credit score: Doug DeMuro, CarWow, Drive2
Entrance Trunk
The entrance trunk, or “frunk” as Tesla likes to name it, might be opened with the important thing or through the infotainment display.
The cargo house itself is small, so don’t count on to retailer something substantial in there — take into account it an area for extra baggage or smaller objects.
The Rear
The rear is extremely just like the usual Mannequin S, though it’s a bit wider and extra muscular trying.
There may be nevertheless the addition of a boot lip spoiler that comes with black trimming.
Rear Trunk
The rear trunk within the Mannequin S Plaid is somewhat massive. In accordance with Tesla, it’s attainable to suit a complete bicycle within the again with out eradicating a wheel.
Nonetheless not pleased with the trunk dimension? Merely elevate the ground cargo panel to disclose further cargo house!
Higher but, unlatch the seats utilizing the 2 little buttons for the seats on both facet of the again as a way to fold them over — sadly, you’ll have to fold them over manually.
Wheels
Tesla has determined to offer Plaid wider tires than the common Mannequin S.
Wheel sizes begin at 19 inches however you may pay extra to go as much as 21 inches.
Distinctive Components
The charging port has been seamlessly built-in into the taillights. Extra particularly, the rear reflector on the motive force’s facet. Merely faucet the reflector and it’ll open.
Inside
Supplies
So, what has the Mannequin S Plaid executed otherwise? Effectively, the inside has gone via a full redesign, aside from the seat rails.
Happily, the inside high quality hasn’t suffered within the course of. Actually, the Mannequin S Plaid has taken an enormous step ahead with improved supplies — the carpet and pretend leather-based areas are softer and extra snug, and the seats include higher high quality stitching.
Trim-wise, the presence of carbon fiber and aluminum is elegant and distinctly Tesla.
House
Tesla’s redesign for the Mannequin S Plaid has yielded a way more spacious inside compared to the outgoing Mannequin S.
The backseat space specifically is way roomier and features a welcome addition — a 3rd seat.
Interface
For starters, the Mannequin S Plaid features a gauge cluster display with all the standard suspects.
These embrace vary, exterior temperature, velocity, autopilot options, and so on.
Then there’s the primary attraction — the middle display. The overhauled system feels distinctly tablet-like — it’s extra intuitive than ever earlier than and it’s designed to be simply customizable for each the motive force and passenger.
The minimalistic nature of Tesla’s design means you’ll be capable of discover the whole lot you want through the primary display — from local weather controls and seating choices to navigation and a few fairly unbelievable leisure options. You may even play video games on the middle display and use the steering wheel as a controller!
There may be nevertheless a little bit of an overreliance on the digital interface for what must be easy actions, akin to opening or closing the glove compartment. Including a easy and discreet deal with to the compartment would have been a significantly better transfer and nonetheless consistent with Tesla’s minimalistic design.
Steering Wheel
That is the place the true controversy kicks in. Tesla determined to suit the Mannequin S Plaid with a really unconventional yoke steering wheel.
Some may take pleasure in this race car-esque addition, whereas others will view it as nothing greater than an annoying gimmick that tarnishes an in any other case improbable inside. Both means, it’s actually a speaking level.
Take a look at the steering column, and also you’ll see no stalks for flip alerts or windshield wipers. As an alternative, these capabilities (amongst others) have all been built-in into the yoke or the middle display within the type of buttons and multiple-purpose dials.
Passenger Seats
As beforehand talked about, the backseat passenger compartment has a 3rd seat and is mostly good and spacious.
If there’s no third passenger, you may unfold the center seat to disclose an enormous armrest with cup holders, extra space for storing, and extra charging pads.
Rear seat occupants can use a 3rd contact display that features local weather controls, seat heating choices, and leisure apps akin to Netflix, Youtube, and Twitch.
If you happen to’re keen to spend a bit further, you may splash out on a devoted Tesla handhold management that enables your passengers to play some video games whereas on the transfer.
Distinctive Components
In an effort to declutter, Tesla has launched a number of distinctive components to the Mannequin S Plaid.
For starters, they’ve hidden the local weather vents. You’ll discover them above and beneath the gauge cluster display if you happen to look carefully. On the passenger facet, you’ll discover them hidden throughout the trim of the dashboard.
The middle console additionally carries no further controls and is extremely minimalistic. Nevertheless, there’s a little shock additional up from the hazard lights – a velvet pad that acts as two cellphone charging pads.
However it will get much more attention-grabbing. If you happen to look across the yoke, you’ll discover that there’s no gear selector; there aren’t even any buttons within the heart.
So how does it work? Effectively, the gear system is predictive — the automotive will predict the gear you need to be in and robotically choose it.
For example, if you happen to step into the automotive whereas it’s stationary and there’s an obstruction in entrance of the automobile, the automotive’s system will immediate you to place your foot on the break to place it into reverse.
Fairly spectacular stuff!
If the considered a predictive gear system makes you are feeling uneasy, don’t fear! You may simply override this predictive gear selector on the central console.
However what if the display fails and you may’t get the automotive into gear?
Ought to this occur, there’s one other backup gear selector. Within the heart console — subsequent to the hazard lights — you may faintly see the letters “P, R, N, D.”
Vary
In accordance with the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) estimate on Tesla’s web site, the Mannequin S Plaid can journey 396 miles on a single cost.
Sacramento to Los Angeles.
Energy Practice
| Motor | 3 permanent-magnet synchronous AC |
| Mixed Energy | 1020 hp |
| Mixed Torque | 1050 lb-ft |
| Battery Pack | liquid-cooled lithium-ion |
| Transmission | F/R: direct-drives |
Value & Supply ETA
The official worth for the Mannequin S Plaid is $129,990.
If you happen to have been to pay that hefty sum proper now, you may count on an estimated supply interval round June – July 2022.
Remaining Ideas
There you might have it, Lucid Air Dream vs. Tesla Mannequin S Plaid — two of the best EVs on the market, laid naked so that you can evaluate!
Earlier than you begin selecting sides, take a while to understand these two marvels of engineering:
Lucid has executed a strong job as a relative newcomer to the EV market — the Air Dream Version is each edgy and splendid.
It caters to those that want extra by way of house and practicality — its roof racking functionality coupled with its exceedingly lengthy 520-mile vary make it a road-trip fanatic’s finest good friend!
Whereas Tesla continues to impress as they all the time do, the Mannequin S Plaid considerably improves upon its predecessor. Its redesigned inside with improved supplies, easy-to-use infotainment system, and blistering velocity make it a minimalist/velocity demons dream!
Ultimately, whichever EV you find yourself leaning in the direction of, we’re assured that you simply received’t remorse your resolution!
