Lucid unveils 1,070-hp seven-seat Gravity GT-S

On the manicured lawns of California’s Monterey Car Week, Lucid has placed a very large bet on speed and space. The California-based electric vehicle maker unveiled the 1,070-horsepower Gravity GT-S, a seven-seat SUV that it says can accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. Its electronically limited top speed is 155 mph.

The GT-S is the new range-topper for Lucid, a 10-year-old, Saudi-backed automaker, and carries a starting price of US$125,900. That figure becomes $127,750 with the mandatory $1,850 destination fee. Lucid is aiming at the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S, while positioning the SUV ahead of three-row electric entries from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Range Rover.

The performance is not just a matter of motor output. Lucid’s dual-motor powertrain sits alongside a Dynamic Handling Package that continuously adjusts a three-chamber air suspension to the road and driving style. Independent rear-wheel steering turns opposite to the front wheels at low speeds for tighter maneuvers, then turns with them during faster lane changes and corners. The suspension can vary ground clearance from five inches to nine inches, lower itself at highway speeds and drop the rear for easier cargo loading.

The electrical system is built around a 926-volt architecture and a 123-kWh battery. Lucid says the pack supports peak DC fast charging — direct-current charging — at 400 kW, adding 200 miles of range in 11 to 14 minutes with a 1,000-volt charger. A full 0% to 100% charge is listed at 52 minutes, while the claimed range reaches 373 miles. The vehicle’s 0.24 drag coefficient and lower overall weight than most rivals help explain those figures.

In concrete terms, the change is aimed at affluent families who want one vehicle to carry up to seven people without giving up sports-car acceleration. They also get a 34-inch curved display, a 12-inch central touchscreen, an infrared driver-attention sensor and a Pet Mode that keeps the cabin cool while parked. The performance and charging numbers are Lucid’s claims; the 3.1-second sprint and its fastest-SUV distinction still need independent testing.