Air Apparent

THE NEW LUCID AIR SAPPHIRE STEALS THE TITLE OF MOST POWERFUL FROM ITS SIBLING.

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Lucid hasn't nailed down exact numbers, but even so, the Air Sapphire, the new performance version of the Air, will be the most powerful sedan in the world when it arrives next year. Even without a final horsepower number to tout, the company is confident of the claim because Lucid knocked its own car off the pedestal.

With more than 1200 horsepower, the Air Sapphire pulls ahead of the 1111-hp Air Dream Edition Performance. The powertrain difference is the Sapphire's new third motor. Lucid doubled up on its own compact motor, and now a two-motor setup bolts up into the existing rear subframe without modification to the car. Having two motors driving the rear wheels allows for torque vectoring, which Lucid claims helps aid responsiveness. Up front, the Performance's 670-hp motor adds to the acceleration, about which Lucid is making some shocking claims.

According to the company, the Sapphire vanquishes 60 mph in less than two seconds, 100 mph falls before the stopwatch hits four seconds, and the quarter-mile flashes by in less than nine seconds. Keep on it and the Sapphire will reach a top speed of more than 200 mph. The quickest Tesla Model S Plaid we've tested hit 60 mph in 2.1. seconds, 100 mph in 4.3, and the quarter-mile in 9.4. Lucid claims repeated acceleration runs won't require extensive cooling, with an acceleration mode conditioning the battery pack for straight-line speed. If the Sapphire is as quick as the company says, it'll out-accelerate a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.

To keep the speed and power in check, the suspension has revised springs, anti-roll bars, and damper tuning. New suspension knuckles increase the front track width by 0.5 inch, and the rear track adds 0.9 inch. Track increases enough to require small fender flares.