Summary
- Luxury electric cars like the Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance are capable of beating gas-powered supercars in drag races, thanks to their high-performance electric powertrains.
- The Lucid Air and Porsche 911 Turbo S are evenly matched in quarter mile races, with the Lucid narrowly winning, but the Porsche has a surprise advantage in off-the-line acceleration.
- Despite its power and performance, the Lucid Air has limitations such as a speed limiter and a heavy weight, which affect its ability to compete with cars like the Porsche 911 Turbo S. Additionally, the Tesla Model S Plaid offers similar performance at a lower price.
Luxury electric cars are becoming more common, as automakers carve out a niche that a certain demographic are willing to pay for. Ultra-high-performance EVs like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance are not just expensive, they’re capable of beating gas-powered supercars down the drag strip and then taking a family of four and their luggage in comfort back home.
CarWow on YouTube is quickly becoming the go-to destination for drag races comparing different cars from all over the world, to see how they stack up when it comes to acceleration and braking.
In the latest installment, the Lucid Air will take on the mighty Porsche Turbo S to see if these heavy sedans can win with brute force alone.
The Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance Makes 1111 HP, But It’s Heavy
It always comes down to specs when comparing cars, and on paper these machines both appear to each have a wildcard that may pay dividends later. The Lucid Air is a Dream Edition – a limited-run version of the Air to celebrate the start of production. It comes with a 1111-hp / 1025 lb-ft, dual-motor, AWD electric powertrain that offers up to 471 miles of range. It weighs 5,200 lbs. Porsche’s 992 Turbo S comes with a twin-turbocharged, 3.7-liter flat six engine with 640 hp / 590 lb-ft, and it is also AWD.
Fortunately, the Porsche weighs in at only 3,600 lbs. So, with a 1,600-lb weight difference between the heavy Lucid and Porsche, will 471 hp extra be enough for the Lucid to walk the drag race?
Looking at the numbers, the Lucid weighs 44% more, but it also has 73% more power.
Combined with the instant power and torque inherent in all electric cars, it looks like it will walk the race.
Is The Lucid Air Better Than A Tesla Model S Plaid?
In the drag races from a dig, the cars surprise host Mat Watson and guest Yianni. Instead of the electric car shooting off first, the lightweight Porsche has a great start thanks to its launch control. It always takes the lead in the quarter mile races, until the Lucid catches up thanks to its extra power and superior top end acceleration.
The two cars are still evenly matched, and make 10.3-second quarter mile passes, with the Lucid narrowly winning. A rolling race leaves the Porsche in the dust.
Later, the Lucid’s Achilles heel becomes apparent: in a race to the mile finish line, its 168-mph limiter means the Porsche can catch up and almost beat the Lucid. A brake test similarly reveals another of the Air’s downsides: its mass.
Other drag races between a Tesla Plaid and the Porsche 911 Turbo S yielded similar results, although the comparable Tesla Model S Plaid has slightly less power than the Lucid Air: 1020 hp vs 1111 hp, but it does have 25 lb-ft more torque than the Lucid.
When it comes down to price however, the Tesla Model S Plaid beats the Lucid Air Dream Edition hands down: the Plaid costs from around $105,000 after potential savings, versus the Lucid Air Dream Edition’s $169,000 price tag.