Lucid Air beats the Tesla Model S with EV 1000 challenge win and a 1200 HP Sapphire Edition that is the world's fastest sedan

Tesla cars are not the only game in town when it comes to performance electric sedans and neither are the Chinese brands like NIO with its ET7. Enter Lucid, whose Air EV just got a tri-motor Sapphire Edition model introduced at the Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week. It sports a combined 1200 HP that accelerate it from 0-60 MPH in under two seconds, faster than Tesla's top-of-the-line electric sedan, the Model S Plaid. Tesla promises a 1.9 seconds acceleration number for its upcoming Roadster 2 that will, however, be much lighter.

Sapphire is set to be Lucid's new luxury high-performance brand from now on, according to Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid Group, who noted that "after painstaking development work, I am able to confirm Lucid Air Sapphire has achieved a satisfactory performance, and I trust the most discerning drivers will agree."

The Sapphire's three electric motors - two on the back with 500kW inverters, and one at the front - can propel it "from a standstill to 60 mph in less than two seconds, from zero to 100 mph in less than four seconds, and the standing quarter mile in under 9 seconds," claims Lucid. Needless to say, there is an enormous carbon ceramic disk brakes set to ensure that the fastest production sedan will also be able to stop on time.

The new planetary gear reduction system allows for ingenious torque distribution models to greatly improve cornering stability, too. It can, for example, apply opposing torque or regenerative braking on each wheel individually for easier control. The suspension has been reworked with tighter springs and bushings, as well as tailored damper settings and custom-tuned ABS, traction, stability control, and electronic power steering systems. They account for the wider wheels and the custom Michelin PS4S performance tires (265/35R20 at the front and 295/30R21 in the back).

Lucid Air's award-winning luxury interior got a Sapphire Mojave upgrade with Sapphire Blue contrast stitching on seats with "decadent comfort," while the exterior is painted in a new Sapphire Blue color for immediate recognition. Here's the Lucid Air Sapphire specs, price, and release date list:

• Price: US$249,000
• Preorders start on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 9 AM PT
• Release date in H1 2023
• 1200HP
• 0-60 MPH acceleration: <2 seconds
• Three electric motors
• Carbon ceramic disk brakes
• New Sapphire Blue color and Mojave interior

As if to prove Lucid's claims that it is making the most performance-oriented electric cars, its current Air Grand Touring model just won Car and Driver's EV 1000 challenge, beating the Tesla Model S record. The Air covered the 1000-mile distance for 15 hours and 41 minutes with 95 minutes on the charger, surpassing last year's Model S win by 33 minutes. When the Air Sapphire Edition hits the showrooms, it may as well beat Lucid's own EV 1000 record at this time next year.

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