AN up-and-coming car brand is ready to take on Tesla by building an affordable and efficient EV that will rival the Model Y.
Ready for launch in two years time, the SUV will have an earmarked price of £38,000.
American brand Lucid are lining up an EV using their next-gen ‘Atlas’ platform – which champions energy efficiency.
In fact, they claim it will allow them to offer a much higher EV range with smaller battery tech compared to other makers of electric cars.
By miniaturising the drive unit, Lucid believe they’ll be able to offer its drivers more interior room as well as greater efficiency, which in turn allows for a longer range.
Lucid chief Peter Rawlinson said: “Our vehicles go farther with less, unlocking significant cost and mass savings as we scale.”
The mystery motor’s mid-level size means it’ll likely be up against the ludicrously successful Model Y – the bestselling car in the world.
Lucid, founded in 2007, currently only have one EV on the market today – the Air – launched in 2021 to compete with the Tesla Model S in the luxury EV market.
Disappointingly, the high-class set of wheels, which Autoexpress boldly declared to be “the best EV in the world”, is unavailable in the UK, although it’s only a matter of time before the US brand sells its cars over here.
Despite the Air’s eye-popping price tag, which is the equivalent of £60,000 for the most basic model, Lucid have been struggling financially in recent times as it tries to grow its lineup.
However, with help from Saudi investors – who own a majority share in Lucid – the company has managed to stay afloat, and Lucid claim they’ve delivered more vehicles to customers in 2024 so far than in all of 2023.
Elsewhere, pictures of Tesla’s “facelifted” new EV have been leaked online months ahead of its release.
The project, codenamed “Juniper”, has been kept firmly under wraps as the firm looks to revive one of its most popular models.
The refreshed £44,000 EV was expected to be revealed at some point next year.
This comes as an iconic maker of sports car has unveiled a teaser image of their upcoming model – which will have a curious nameplate.
And an electronics giant has revealed a futuristic-styled campervan likened to a ‘lounge on wheels’ with a huge built-in television set.
