Test-Driving The 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire, The World’s Quickest Sedan

A recent announcement by Lucid Motors touted the Air sedan as the world’s most efficient EV, capable of achieving five miles per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity and a 146 MPGe rating from the EPA. But counterintuitively, the technological prowess that makes such world-beating efficiency possible also allows Lucid’s electric drivetrains to produce serious power when called upon. The Air’s range-topping Sapphire trim, in fact, is the world’s second-quickest production vehicle ever made.

With neck-snapping acceleration that truly borders on painful, the Sapphire also happens to be a full-size luxury sedan that can fit five fully grown adults. To learn how driving such an unbelievably powerful car holds up in real life, I took a Sapphire loaner and drove it every day over a long weekend in Los Angeles.

Three Motors Packaged into the Air Sedan

The Sapphire’s traditional power stats simply bedevil comprehension: This futuristic rocketship’s three electric motors can crank out a combined 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 lb-ft of torque. That’s good enough for a 1.89-second sprint to 60 miles per hour, and a 3.84-second jaunt to 100 miles per hour. Yet thanks to additional battery cells installed versus lower-spec Air variants, the Sapphire houses 118 kilowatt-hours in a 900-volt lithium-ion pack that allows for up to 427 miles of range. For those doing the math, the Sapphire still manages 3.62 miles per kilowatt versus the base-spec Air Pure RWD’s 84-kWh battery, which is capable of 420 miles of range but “only” 430 horsepower.

The Sapphire package adds more than just an additional motor and more juice, however, to justify a $249,000 starting price tag. Carbon trim on the exterior helps with aerodynamic downforce and efficiency, while more heavily bolstered front seats snug driver and passenger into place. Alcantara upholstery drapes over many interior surfaces, and a slicktop replaces the panoramic roof available on other Airs.

Driving the Sapphire Hard

Lucid intends the Sapphire to debut as a package on the Air but continue as a sort of sub-brand for future models. And of course, the most fun I enjoyed over the course of my weekend was each time I toggled over to the new Sapphire mode on the center touchscreen and simply stomped on the go pedal. Even in Smooth, the Sapphire launches harder than just about any car in the world not named Rimac Nevera (an electric hypercar that costs at least 10 times more with options). But Sapphire mode, with the traction control settings properly adjusted, unleashes full power to maximize all-wheel-drive output and find the edge of traction for the four Sapphire-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

That traction-control programming prioritizes fun, as well as brutal acceleration. Using three motors gave Lucid’s engineers a chance to explore the drifting potential of such an unbelievably powerful sedan, something that before the electric era probably only applied (and usually unintentionally) to Hellcat Chargers. Instead, the rear tires can put down a bit more power while the fronts scrub and countersteer into higher yaw angles than ever expected, all without sacrificing driver confidence and control. Track mode then features three pre-set performance options: Dragstrip, Hot Lap, and Endurance to go along with regenerative braking and stability control toggles.

The Dual Personae of an Electrifying Sedan

As befitting a sedan that can outsprint supercars at a fraction of the price, the Sapphire also receives brakes upgraded to carbon-ceramics, as well as revised suspension and steering settings. And this four-door truly handles like a dream when not sliding around sideways, too. I’d never have guessed that this Air tips the scales at 5,336 pounds, anyhow—though I will admit to never approaching anywhere near the 205-mile-per-hour top speed, which is once again limited by tires more than the car’s innate physical capabilities.

Best of all, though, I found that the Sapphire requires no sacrifices during daily life. The electric range still beats just about every other EV on the market, and the slightly firmer ride quality still absorbs rougher roads with aplomb even in its most aggressive modes. Meanwhile, one of the best interior designs ever only seems more premium given the Alcantara—which is not my favorite material, though I can acknowledge the appeal—and I definitely prefer the Sapphire’s more heavily bolstered seats at 6-foot-1 with long limbs and a compact torso.

The Ultimate Statement of EV Capability

The back seats still offer plenty of head and legroom, while the front and rear cargo trunks are still absolutely enormous. And despite my repeated hard launches and canyon carving, I never ate up nearly enough range to need to charge over the long weekend. So far, in my personal experience with every other Air in the lineup, the range estimates have performed quite well and I see no reason to doubt why the Sapphire would perform any worse.

My main gripe, besides Alcantara texture on the steering wheel? Mostly that Apple CarPlay shows up in a rectangular box within a curved and angled screen, which can make some fonts read quite small even for my 20/15 eyesight. But otherwise, the 2024 Air Sapphire undoubtedly withstands high-performance and daily driving with ease, proving yet again that the upstart Lucid without a doubt built the ultimate sedan for the EV era thus far.