2024 Lucid Air Sapphire Review: Prepare to Swear

The verdict: The absolute apex predator of performance cars, the Sapphire version of the Lucid Air is unbelievably quick, incredibly smooth and undeniably impressive.

Versus the competition: A Tesla Model S Plaid might — might — be able to catch one on a track, but it can’t hold a candle to the Lucid’s sophisticated chassis tuning, luxurious interior and knockout styling.

Behold one of the quickest passenger vehicles ever made. I don’t mean it’s the quickest electric vehicle or the quickest four-door sedan, I mean it’s one of the quickest cars ever to have four wheels and carry humans. This is the 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire, and after driving it for a week on the streets of southeast Michigan, I’m surprised about a few things.

Related: 2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring Gets Efficiency Tweaks, Range Remains 516 Miles

First, I’m surprised I’m not in jail and still have a driver’s license. I’m surprised my eyeballs haven’t gone out of round because of the car’s ferocious acceleration. I’m surprised I actually got paid to drive this electric stealth fighter. But what I’m most surprised about is that I finally have a definitive answer to a question I get a lot: What’s the best thing you’ve driven this year? Folks, it’s this. This is the best thing I’ve driven in 2024. Allow me to tell you why.

What’s a Sapphire?

You should know by now that Lucid is an upstart luxury American automaker that’s been building cars for a few years. This is my third stint behind the wheel of the company’s Air sedan. The first time was a brief drive through Los Angeles; the second was a longer test in Michigan, when I was absolutely blown away by how incredibly good the dual-motor Dream Edition was. But this third time was a new animal: It might not look much different from a standard single- or dual-motor Air, but this is the range-topping tri-motor Sapphire.

The Sapphire’s two rear motors and single front motor are good for a mind-melting 1,234 horsepower. It puts that power down through electronically controlled all-wheel drive. There’s no mechanical limited-slip differential here; it uses software to balance the incredible 1,430 pounds-feet of torque that goes to the wheels. Lucid developed the traction control, torque vectoring and stability control software itself. The Sapphire rides on 20-inch wheels up front and 21-inchers in the rear, sporting Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires that extend the Sapphire’s track width. They also feature a custom rubber compound that optimizes both straight-line stability and efficiency with seemingly endless cornering grip. Its 118-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery is big but not super-huge, and the Sapphire has an EPA-estimated driving range of 427 miles on a charge. The brake discs are carbon ceramic, with a unique long-chain carbon compound that Lucid says is good for heat dissipation. They’re squeezed by 10-piston front calipers and four-pot rears.  

What does all of this incredible power and technology get you? A four-door, five-seat sedan that can go from 0-60 mph in 1.89 seconds, according to Lucid, and that tops out at 205 mph. I can’t even convey to you how unbelievably, blisteringly quick that is. It takes longer to say “1.89 seconds” than it does to go from 0-60 mph in a Lucid Air Sapphire. To call this thing bonkers just doesn’t cut it. 

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As crazy as it is, though, it’s not easy to differentiate a Sapphire from a more mundane version of the Air — and that’s just how Lucid likes it. This isn’t an in-your-face, brightly hued, everybody-look-at-me Lamborghini; this sucker is meant to fly completely under the radar, not be noticed by your local constabulary. It’s essentially meant to be a visual black hole in the universe, letting it go insanely fast and get away with it. Visually, it sits a little bit lower than a standard Lucid Air, and it has some additional aerodynamic aids in the form of a new splitter up front, a carbon-fiber spoiler out back and some underbody bits you can’t see. It all adds up to an additional 400 pounds of downforce at top speed. 

There’s also some very subtle Sapphire badging on the front splitter, rear trunk lid and rear roof pillars, and its Sapphire Blue Metallic color is exclusive to the trim. The overall aesthetic, though, is barely different from the standard Air; it’s only noticeably changed when viewed side by side.

Same Story Inside

It’s much the same story on the inside. The lovely signature Sapphire color is in there, along with some beautiful trim and the innate packaging efficiency that Lucid is known for. I’ve said it before, but the fact that this is the first vehicle from a brand-new startup company is astonishing: The layout, usability and ease of operation of the touch-sensitive controls absolutely shames established luxury automakers. It’s roughly the same size on the outside as a mid-size Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, but it’s as big as a full-size S-Class sedan on the inside. Five full-size passengers can sit in it comfortably, with plenty of headroom and legroom. The roof is a little low, making ingress and egress a bit challenging, but once you’re inside, it’s just glorious. Everything feels luxurious and well put together, and the controls are nicely thought out and expensive-feeling. The materials quality positively shames any Tesla. It’s not as outrageous or space-shippy as the new Mercedes-EQ models, and it doesn’t require a Ph.D. in computer science to operate any of its touchscreen controls.

There are a couple of changes inside from lesser trims, like the Sapphire’s more heavily bolstered front sport seats. It isn’t meant to be a pure track monster, though, so the seats also have heating, cooling and massage functions. The head restraints can be positioned to accommodate a helmet for track driving, and the Sapphire has a kickin’ audio system — including something no factory Tesla has: Apple CarPlay. And I don’t know how many Alcantaras had to die to trim the headliner, steering wheel and seats, but the sacrifice was not in vain. It’s a beautiful interior, though all Lucid Airs have beautiful interiors. Not all Lucid Airs can do what this one can when you put your foot down.

Get In, Hold On

It’s nigh impossible to convey with words just how terrifyingly fast this car is. When I pushed the go pedal, everyone I put in the passenger seat yelled words that would get this review heavily censored. Everyone swears in this car — everyone. And it’s completely justified. 

The Sapphire has a few different drive modes. There’s Smooth, which is for your normal, everyday operation. Swift turns things up a bit but still doesn’t let you use the car’s full power; both Smooth and Swift limit output to 767 horses. Then there’s Sapphire mode, which unleashes a lot of the car’s abilities, dialing output up to 1,121 hp. This is the most extreme street mode you’d want to use; to unleash all of this car’s potential, you really need a track. Above Sapphire mode is Track mode, which has three submodes — and only in one of those do you get all of this car’s power. Dragstrip Track mode brings all 1,234 hp, and it’s meant to get you the best 0-60 and quarter-mile times this car can manage. Hot Lap Track mode engages a special cooling system that chills the powertrain for consistent lap times; it gives you 1,003 hp to play with. Endurance Track mode is for more relaxed track-lapping, helping you get consistent times but not depleting the battery so quickly in the process. It allows “just” 767 hp, but it engages the powertrain cooling system, as well.

When you pop this car into Sapphire mode, which is the most you’ll really want to do out on the street, and floor it, well — 

Acceleration. 

Is. 

Insane. 

It’s incredibly powerful, taking off in a way that’s instantaneous and mind-bending. It screws with your equilibrium, and you’ll find your arms aching as you force them to hold on to the steering wheel in the face of all those G-forces. One passenger told me he felt his vision blur and the blood flow from his legs. Everyone, everyone, says a dirty word when you floor it. 

You do, then, have to be very, very careful where and how you exercise that power. (Yes, with great power does come great responsibility.) You can find yourself running out of braking distance very quickly, but the big carbon-ceramic brakes do great work hauling you back from the brink of disaster. One thing you’ll notice as the speed climbs and acceleration builds, though, is that it’s just so incredibly stable. There’s zero jankiness in the operation of the Sapphire — no squirrelly moments under hard acceleration, no scariness or flightiness — but also no throaty engine roar or drama other than the scenery instantly blurring outside the windows.

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It also corners amazingly well. Flat, stable and drama-free, it tracks where you point it, with a nimble chassis and incredible ride quality. That’s what really sticks out when you toss this thing around potholed, broken pavement: ride quality is stunning. Even in its sportier modes, the Sapphire is never harsh or unpleasant. The sophistication with which the Air Sapphire goes about its business is unparalleled. I wasn’t joking when I said this is the best thing I’ve driven this year; it’s damn near perfect in everything from its feel and feedback to its speed and silence. It’s a luxurious, easy-to-drive, electric stealth fighter. And I love everything about it … with two very specific exceptions.

Two Things That Upset Me

First is the cost. It’s roughly $250,000, which is more than three times the price of a base, single-motor Lucid Air Pure and more than twice the price of a dual-motor Lucid Air Grand Touring, both of which are also extremely nice luxury vehicles. But for what this car can do, $250,000 is pretty much spot on when you consider its performance spanks just about every exotic car ever made. 

The second thing I don’t like about the Lucid Air Sapphire is that everybody, everybody, is in your way when you drive it. You are the apex predator in this thing, and every other car out there is slower than you. It’s frustrating as hell and one of the reasons I should never be allowed to own a Lucid Air Sapphire: I am not a patient person and would end up in jail with a suspended license in short order. It’s just that much fun, that capable and that fast, folks. It’s the best thing I’ve driven all year, and the competition isn’t even close. 

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