2024 Lucid Air Sapphire First Drive: Supercar-Shaming EV Outshines Plaid

The Sapphire model of the Lucid Air has undergone several suspension improvements to minimize body roll. These include the use of stiffer springs, retuned dampers, stronger sway bars, and higher durometer bushings. By making slight modifications to the control arms and front knuckles, the negative camber of the tires has been increased. The wider tires, measuring 265 millimeters in the front and 295 millimeters in the back, result in a wider track. To comply with regulations in most states, fender flares have been added to provide proper coverage. These fender flares give the already-wide spaceship-like vehicle an even more distinctive appearance, along with the addition of a front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and carbon-fiber rear spoiler.

In addition to enhancing the aesthetics, these aerodynamic components also improve the vehicle’s performance profile by increasing downforce at high speeds. The inclusion of carbon-ceramic brakes is particularly eye-catching. These brakes, equipped with massive 10-piston calipers and rotors measuring 420 millimeters in the front and four-piston calipers with 390-mm rotors in the rear, effectively handle the power and weight of the vehicle. The absence of aero discs can be attributed to the decision not to install them on the press car, most likely to showcase the stunning brakes. The increased braking power necessitated a complete recalibration of the ESC, traction control, and ABS systems. As a result, Lucid developed an in-house traction-control system that performs computations every millisecond, as opposed to every 20 milliseconds with the previous supplier. This new system not only improves traction during normal driving but also allows for precise modulation of traction loss.