China-Backed #LucidMotors Unveils 2018 Air Luxury Sedan [Auto Styling News]

Chinese-backed American car brand Lucid Motors has unveiled a car that will sell for over $100,000 and will put Tesla on notice by offering better range and a more powerful battery than Elon Musk's vehicle line-up. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company is headed by Chief Technology Officer Peter Rawlinson, who is the former Tesla Model S chief engineer.

The Lucid Air, scheduled to go into production in 2017 and hit showrooms in late 2018, will put out 1,000 horsepower and have a range of 400 miles, claims the company. It will come out of a new Casa Grande Arizona assembly plant with about a 100 kWh battery, but an optional battery back of 130 kWh will give it that 400+ mile range. The company has a deal with Samsung SDI to supply its batteries.

That range, along with the stunning shape and gorgeous interior of the teaser/concept model unveiled on Dec 14, will make it not only a competitor with Tesla, but also the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class line of cars.

From the side, the large wheelbase tends to set it apart from other luxury cars, though the shape can be compared somewhat to the Porsche Panamera in the rear, and the side's radical indention at the lower doors is similar to the Jaguar F-Pace.

But it's perhaps being too critical to see hints of other designs here, especially since, unlike many early models from Korean or Japanese auto companies, there's nothing that's obviously derivative in the Air. It does quite different in almost every way from all other cars on the road. It's lower, for starters (which is likely necessary to achieve amazing drag coefficients) and it's wheels are huge (seemingly 20" rims.) The roof is a solid pane of glass, which, again, is standard on luxury vehicles and sport- and mini-Utes alike these days, but this is rather elegant here nonetheless.

The headlamps are thin LEDs and are extremely attractive. The rear is quite handsome, with a solid bar across the entire back end, with "LUCID" clearly delineated in the center. That name placement is important for name recognition, and it's telling that they didn't make the mistake (IMO) that Jaguar made when they failed to place their name on the earlier versions of their most recent line-up, which barely looked like Jags.

The joy of a new car company is that there's no "heritage" to look up to, or to deter it from going in radical new directions, but also there's nothing on which to build. Lucid is going to have to start from scratch - not only in design, but also by building a new assembly plant and hiring and training new employees. It's a huge commitment, and we'll see if they're up to the task. Other electric car start-ups like Fisker Automotive have found 

Interestingly, the Chinese company backing Lucid, LeEco, is also behind two other electric car ventures: its own LeSee, which we've profiled here, and the Faraday Future.

Photos: Lucid Motors.

#Jaguar I-PACE Concept Set For Production In 2018 [Auto Styling News]

Jaguar has been known for over 80 years as a maker of sports cars, but they're hoping that with the introduction of the 2018 I-PACE, they will be taking a big, bold step into the future as an electric vehicle manufacturer.

The I-PACE Concept is a technologically advanced, five-seater sports car. And it's actually slated for production for the 2018 model year. It’s as daringly designed and innovative as the cars that put Jaguar on the map, with technology that enhances our customers’ lives. It sets a template for others to follow, just as we have always done.

Transportation will change more in the next decade than it has in the past 50 years, and the I-PACE proves that they're ready.

Based on the same architecture as the new F-Pace premium SUV, incorporates new technology to create an electric performance package that, according to Jaguar, accelerates to 60 mph in just 4 seconds with the power of a 90-kWh battery that has an estimated range of 220 miles (EPAe) before recharging, which can be done at public charging stations in less than two hours, claims the company.

Yes, it's a performance car, a family car and an all-wheel-drive SUV all in one. Its "groundbreaking design, true Jaguar performance and competitive range and charging times will make it the first real electric alternative to a traditional premium SUV," crows Jag.

The design of the sheet metal is just as stunning as the design of the electric motors. The vehicle occupies less road space than conventional mid-size SUVs yet offers more room for passengers and luggage than models in the segment above. And optimized aerodynamics deliver a low drag coefficient of just 0.29 and inspired new design features that embody the vehicle’s power and performance.

The exterior in some ways is similar to other SUVs, but in others, a radical departure. Like the "hard edge" direction of Cadillac and of recent Lexus models, there are a lot of angles to take in at first glance.

But the effect isn't jarring, but is rather stirring. The large front fender haunches, the flat rear and he lower door creases all have a unifying effect, despite their novelty. The large intake chutes and cats-eye headlamps could be from any luxury car, but the now-familiar Jaguar corporate grille assures us that this is, indeed, a Jag. The shortened hood itself is stunning, as well, and that, along with the stubby rear-end, give it a smart and aggressive look.

More branding occurs in the rear, with a leaping Jaguar and Jag-style lamps that assure us what brand this really is. But some may see the rear as too generic, resembling a Japanese car if one squints.

That said, it's hard to view this car from almost any angle and not see that it will be a success, even apart from the revolutionary tech that runs it, which will also give the Tesla cars runs for their money. And if this thing is even close to being reasonably priced, it could be a smash hit.

[Photos: Jaguar.com]