GRAVITY By LUCID Debuts At LA Auto Show Press Day

GRAVITY rear panel roofing branding element. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

GRAVITY By LUCID Debuts At LA Auto Show Press Day

What could possibly capture the old feeling, of the class in an automobile season opening reveal, of a new manufacturer's model, at the LA Auto Show Press Day 2023? 

Why of course, the first presentation of the day scheduled at the LUCID Motors booth - 9:00am, during AutoMobility LA in the West Exhibit Hall just to the right of the glass entry way doors.

LUCID pulled out all of the stops with a fist class presentation pavilion filled with great introduction music during the countdown leading into an impressive script and slideshow to introduce LUCID's answer to America's obsession with the modern day station wagon turned luxury assault vehicle ... the SUV.

Welcome to the 7 passenger, 3.6 miles per kWh, tow 6000 pounds, haul 1500 pounds, over 440 miles on a single charge - with a smaller battery footprint, coefficient of drag of less than 0.24, an aerodynamic profile unsurpassed by any other three-row SUV, all-new platform that shares its powertrain with the Air sedan, under $80,000 GRAVITY EV SUV.

Introducing the Lucid Gravity: Redefining the Electric SUV

** The new Lucid Gravity heralds the dawn of a new era for electric Sport Utility Vehicles: an unprecedented combination of attributes previously unseen in a single vehicle and a projected range in excess of 440 miles.

** Lucid innovations in EV technology and packaging deliver an expansive, luxurious interior for up to seven adults and their belongings, without the huge exterior and poor maneuverability often associated with traditional full-size, three-row SUVs.

** Featuring a brand-new SUV platform and next generation of Lucid’s award-winning, proprietary electric powertrain, Gravity will deliver an exhilarating driving experience.

** Lucid proved its capability in producing an extraordinary, acclaimed luxury EV sedan; now Gravity opens Lucid to the far larger SUV market.

** Lucid Gravity lands in late 2024. As with Lucid Air, pricing for Gravity will start under $80,000.

Technology breakout of a LUCID powertrain engine. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Gravity Design: A Balance of Form and Function

“At Lucid, we believe in pushing the boundaries of design. We have leaned into this belief to maximize spaciousness, aerodynamic efficiency, and utility, resulting in an electric SUV with a previously unseen blend of attributes,” said Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Design and Brand at Lucid. “Whether it’s a cargo-swallowing SUV for family camping trips or a long-range grand tourer covering hundreds of miles between stops, Gravity is designed to be versatile.  Our team’s dedication to creating an SUV that seamlessly fuses form and function has resulted in a vehicle that’s visually striking, incredibly versatile, and provides an elevated luxury driving experience.”

Lucid’s commitment to design excellence, spacious interiors, and versatility further sets Gravity apart from the competition. The exterior design choices are a testament to Gravity’s fusion of aesthetics and utility. A focus on efficiency has led to a target coefficient of drag of less than 0.24,³ an aerodynamic profile unsurpassed by other three-row SUVs. With a commanding presence supported by a substantial frunk, sleek profile, elongated cabin, pronounced shoulders, and sporty tail spoiler, Gravity showcases its ability to meet the diverse needs of the daily driver.

Always attempt to design for desire is a LUCID trait. Mid-Mod meets Aero-Sculpted. Image Credit: LUCID Motors (2023)

Inside, Gravity impresses with ample and flexible cargo areas. The cabin offers spacious seating, with the added convenience of second and third-row seats that fold flat to reveal more than 112 cubic feet of total usable cargo space for an effortless combination of comfort and cargo capacity. The sliding second row seats combine with integrated convenience tables for an elevated back-seat experience. Remarkable legroom is carried through to the third row, enabling a comfortable seven-passenger configuration, making it the ideal vehicle for every adventure.

Gravity represents a definitive evolution of Lucid’s user interface, called Clearview Cockpit, featuring an intuitive 34-inch curved and uninterrupted OLED display that floats above Gravity’s innovative new steering wheel, closely matched with the driver’s line of sight. Lucid’s Pilot Panel returns in Gravity with a quick access touch bar and sitting alongside a new glass center console that elegantly slides open for additional storage. This SUV also introduces Lucid’s next-generation software with over-the-air updates, ensuring continued vehicle improvement.

[REFERENCE HERE]

The most classy reveal held during the Automobility LA Press Day for the LA Auto Show and this one was held as the first automaker presentation of the day. 

This reveal performance was missed by many attendees who showed up late or were only interested in the art cars and Hollywood Auto Collections that filled halls that were formally owned by marques like Porsche ... that just celebrated their 75th year in business through the Rennsport Reunion 7 held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, for example.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #LAAUTOSHOW, #2023, #LUCID, #GRAVITY, #Reveal, #Frunking, #$80K, #EVHNews, #EVVTOL, #AUTOMOBILITYLA, The EDJE

LA Auto Show 2020 Porsche Taycan EV Reveal At AutoMobility LA Press Day

Pre-Reveal of the Porsche Taycan 4S at the Petree Hall stand of the LA Auto Show. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

LA Auto Show 2020 Porsche Taycan EV Reveal At AutoMobility LA Press Day

Press Conference - Wednesday November 20, 2019: Porsche
10:50 AM – 11:15 AM (Petree Hall)

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday, the company debuted a third variant, the "entry level" Taycan 4S, scheduled for release in 2020.

INTRODUCTION

Porsche announced the Taycan as its first all-electric vehicle in September, but since that time, the German automaker has already unveiled two variations on its four-door sports sedan.

REVEAL

The Taycan 4S has a shorter range than the Taycan Turbo, with an estimated 253 miles per charge compared to up to 280 miles. (Although the 4S can get even more mileage with an extended battery pack, but that comes at an additional cost.) It also has a relatively cheaper starting price: $103,800. For comparison, the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S start at $150,000 and $185,000, respectively.
[ht: mashable]

TURNTABLE

The Porsche Taycan 4S as introduced here on the AutoMobility LA 2019 Press Day Petree Hall floor wore a stunning Frozen Blue Metallic Paint job (an $800 option) and featured 21-inch Taycan Exclusive Design Wheels with Carbon Fiber Aeroblades (an $8,770 option).
[ht: motor1]

At a time when EV leader TESLA is working to reduce the market price of its offerings, Porsche, with power and extended battery packs, is upping the pricing game ... but this is an EV from a true established manufacturer. It's only a matter of time that this model may become a Rennsport gathering fave!

... notes from the EDJE




TAGS: #PorscheTaycan, #SoulElectrified, AutoMobilityLA, #AutoMobilityLA, #LAAutoShow2019, #LAAutoShow, #Porsche, #Introduction, #Reveal, #Turntable, The EDJE

CONNECTED – THE KEY WORD FOR THE 2014 LA AUTO SHOW

2015 Audi  TTS with Mark Dahncke on right in background as seen on the opening day of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

CONNECTED – THE KEY WORD FOR THE 2014 LA AUTO SHOW

Are you “connected”?  Or should I say is your car “connected”?  This is a key topic at the Los Angeles Auto Show which opened to the media on November 18th.

There were a number of programs dealing with the future of the “Connected Car”.  This is not the future in, ten years, but next year.  One speaker likened this to the “period of the muscle cars”. He stated that if you missed that era you will not want to miss this one.  Miss it?  I do not think any car owner will be able to miss it. 

So what does “Connected Car” technology entail?  Smartphone integration, voice activated systems, your car receiving software updates from the manufacturer (Tesla), automotive apps, and autonomous drive to name a few.  Only time will tell if all of these will last the test of time or prove their safety. Two of the manufacturers that presented their products were Audi and Volvo.

Audi has taken the centrally mounted CRT and moved it into the instrument cluster.  In collaboration with nVidia they have developed what Audi calls “the virtual cockpit”. A concept very similar to the “glass cockpits” found in all modern airliners and many newer private aircraft.  According to Mark Dahncke of Audi this will only be available as a standard feature on the 2015 Audi TT models. At this time, it is unlikely that it will be an option on other models.

Audi / nVidia Virtual Cockpit components. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

The feeling is that since this is driver oriented it may not be appropriate in a larger sedan where the passengers may want to have control over systems. In the virtual cockpit the driver will have control over all common functions via the centrally mounted MMI controller with displays being easily viewed within the instrument cluster.  Future models may incorporate both the virtual cockpit as well as a centrally mounted CRT to allow for passenger interaction.

Instrument cluster set to Sport Mode. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

What this author found interesting was the Google Maps mode which places a graphic map within the cluster showing current location and route.  Turning the MMI knob zoomed the picture in or out with instantaneous resolution correction.  The system will also show active traffic alerts and is voice programmable.

Instrument cluster set to Google Maps. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

Close-up of the Google map viewed from the driving position. Note the presence of the tachometer and speedometer. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

 On the other end of the spectrum Volvo, for a number of years,  has been working on the autonomous self driving car.  Eric Coelingh was kind enough to speak with me about the benefits of this type of vehicle. These cars a conventional in all aspects, i.e. they have brake and accelerator pedals and a steering wheel.  Like “cruise control” there is a button on the steering wheel that activates the self driving mode. If you are on a road and you want to drive, go ahead. But when the traffic is a mess, push the button and sit back.

the 2017 Volvo V60 Drive Me/Self-Drive. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

The idea is that in this day of technology where more individuals are involved in accidents due to inattention (cell phones, messaging, eating) that a self driving automobile may be the answer to these safety concerns.  Also, traffic has become an increasing issue all over the world. More cars generally necessitate larger highways.  With our current fixed lane size, the only way to increase road size is to physically expand it. One concept that Volvo has is that with a self driving car lane size can actually be decreased possibly allowing for an additional lane without expanding the highway.

Eric Coelingh and the Self Driving Volvo V60. Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images

In Sweden and in this country there are a limited number of partially autonomous cars being tested by Volvo. In 2017 Volvo will lease 100 fully autonomous cars to lessees in Sweden for a 1-year trial. This trial will be designed to see how the general public adapts to this new concept in driving.  If the test phase is successful we may see more self driving cars entering California.  

How nice would it be to be stuck in traffic on the 101 through LA and all you had to do was to sit back, answer your emails, or read your kindle?  The technology is here today and we are getting connected.

[Words and photographs by Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images]

... notes from The EDJE