Lucid will introduce a production model of the Air electric sedan in April.
It was back in 2016 when EV startup Lucid Motors first showed up and revealed an early version of its 1,000-horsepower Air luxury sedan.
Lucid is now ready to show us the production version, and the company confirmed Monday that it will take the covers off at an event in New York this April. The unveiling could take place at the New York International Auto Show, which starts on April 8.
Concurrent with the unveiling, Lucid will also confirm final production specifications, available configurations, and pricing. Lucid announced in 2017 that it would sell an entry-level Air with 400 hp starting at just $60,000. The company's plans may have changed since then.
Production of the Air is scheduled to begin in late 2020 at a plant under construction in Casa Grande, Arizona, and Lucid is currently accepting reservations for an early production slot of $1,000.
The Air is similar in size to the BMW 5 Series, but thanks to clever packaging should have interior space similar to the 7 Series. The obvious rivals are the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taikan, but several established automakers are also expected to introduce alternatives in the next 12 to 24 months. These include the redesigned Jaguar XJ, the new Mercedes-Benz EQS, and the Audi E-Tron GT. The latter is a relative of the Taikan.
Air was originally scheduled for 2018, but the project was delayed due to lack of funding. Lucid was finally thrown a lifeline in 2019 when the Saudi government decided to purchase $1 billion in equity. Other major investors include Beijing Auto and Tsing Capital.
