[Idiot sliding 1111-hp electric sedan] [Idiot doing donuts in an 1111-hp electric sedan] When people think about what luxury really
means, they’re usually thinking too small. "I want a big back seat." "I want a car with a comfortable ride." "I want a five-seater that’ll blow the doors
off a Lamborghini." "Oh! And it has to get 3 times the MPG of a Prius." Or, to sum all of that up, “I want it all.” But these people are thinking way too small. When I rub the genie’s lamp, I'm gonna ask for an even bigger… [Gut?]
[Oh, whoops, looks like that already happened, fatso.] …concept. I want a do-over. Imagine what your life would be like if you
could go back in time and do it all over again, knowing everything you know now. THAT is the ultimate luxury: A Time Machine. And the Lucid Air is a time machine. [TSLA 2.0? The Lucid people are gonna kill
us. Keep watching, boys.] [Poof!] This is the Air. It comes from a company called Lucid. So it’s not a new car. It’s a new car from a new car company. A company that exists of experts from old companies. Like Jaguar-Land Rover. Lotus. and Formula One. Oh, and one particular car company: Tesla. Credit where it’s due, Elon Musk has changed
our world. But he has a habit of frustrating his engineers
by hiring the best in the business and then disregarding anything he deems is conventional thinking. Even when conventional is better. Peter Rawlinson was one of those frustrated
engineers, a consummate car-guy who served as the Model S’ chief engineer before leaving
Tesla and coming to Lucid. And so you might be fooled into thinking the
Air is Model S 2.0. But you’re thinking too small. Rawlinson isn’t just chief engineer of the
Air, he’s CEO and CTO of Lucid Motors. Which means: it’s not the car that’s version
2.0, it’s the whole company. In that sense, this is a do-over for the team
that created the Tesla Model S, the most significant car of the last, oh I don’t know, ten decades?
[Slight exaggeration.] The team benefitted from the knowledge gained
in creating the Model S, but also the knowledge gained in setting up Tesla as a company. And then they benefitted again from Tesla
spending the last ten years training customers to want an EV. But there’s a big difference: Lucid set
a very crystal-clear goal. Not just to make some sort of electric car. But to make the
world’s best luxury sedan. Then again, what does luxury mean? Well, first and foremost, it means an interior
full of rich materials, colors, and textures. In other words, not a Tesla. When it comes to four-wheeled luxury, there’s
already a benchmark. A three-pointed benchmark. [FTR I am NOT old enough for reading glasses! Those are for comedy. -Jason]
[Your continued denial is the funniest part of the joke, old man. -Ed.] Merriam-Webster defines luxury as “a condition
of abundance or great ease and comfort.” The automotive world’s definition of luxury
is much easier: it’s just the Mercedes S-Class. If you have to compromise on nothing, this
is your ride. This interior is outrageously opulent, a cross
between a Chinese bordello and an art-deco casino. Its back seat is enormous; padded; comfortable. Whether around town or at supercar speeds
on an Autobahn, the S-Class moves without subjecting its passengers to the indignities
of noise or vibration. It’s not a sports car, but thanks to a combination
of Swabian stubbornness and sheer engineering might, the S-Class is staggeringly capable on a twisty road. But above all, the S-Class always debuts new
technology that ultimately winds up on every car in the rental-car lot. The S-Class defines luxury because it does
more things better than any other car. And it’s been that way for decades. Until
the Tesla Model S. [Action footage that looks sped-up but isn’t
— because the Tesla Model S Plaid is so thtupit fast.] [Uncontrollable laughter.] Wait.
[For what, you to stop laughing and regain your composure?
You’re on camera get a hold of yourself. Amateur!] If you dropped an S-Class out of an airplane,
it wouldn’t accelerate towards the crust of the earth as quickly as this thing leaves
the line. #fact The fact that this uses 1/4th the energy of
the most-efficient [hybrid] Mercedes S-Class... ...but can beat a Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 car
in acceleration [to 60 mph] is the reason why electricity is the answer.
[Commence arguing in the comments about this statement.] This acceleration is completely disorienting.
It’s why everyone thinks that this thing has no brakes. Of course the brakes work. This is the first [production road] car in the history of the world that accelerates harder than it brakes. That tricks you into thinking the brakes are weak.
They’re not. ...until about the third corner when they catch
on fire... ...which makes it ironic that Tesla’s given this thing a Track Mode. And a drift mode. [This is what it looks like when Jason Cammisa
spontaneously fills his Huggies.] [And of course the idiot is still laughing.] …so that you can then crash it. Because there is no way you’re catching a skid without a whole steering wheel. [Futzing with the capacitive-touch turn-signal buttons]
I mean, not everything needs to be reinvented. I’m not going to pretend the Tesla Model S is a true competitor to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. At least not in any traditional measure, like build quality. But out of the box, the Model S was good enough. And it keeps getting better.
[Just like all those happy people on YouTube say.] And the reason why this car is so significant
to the automotive industry is that it’s an aggregate of a million little thoughtful
Silicon Valley touches that make living with a Tesla better than living with any other car. Period. Things like Autopilot. And a frunk. And a
genuinely intuitive and responsive infotainment system. One-pedal driving. And just not having to
press a start button when there’s no engine to start. To say nothing of Tesla’s supercharger network. Remember: luxury is doing more things, better. What the Air does is take all of those delightful
Silicon Valley touches and marry them to an engineering-first philosophy like you’d
see at Mercedes-Benz or Lotus. And this isn’t just a masterpiece of automotive
styling, it’s a triumph of automotive design. Because it manages to look handsome and elegant
and futuristic despite having two major things working against it. First, this big sedan has a coefficient of drag so low that it experiences ⅓ less aerodynamic drag than a Nissan Leaf. Secondly, it has a dash-to-axle so short that
it really should look like a subcompact rental car. And it doesn’t. It’s also not like Lucid sacrificed interior
space for fashion. The Air is roughly the size of a Mercedes
S-Class on the inside, but it’s the size of an E-Class on the outside. And it has three times the cargo space of either. And all of that packaging efficiency starts
with the powertrain. [Awwww shhhhiiiii — is that Alex Choi’s
1200-whp twin-turbo Lamborghini Huracán?!] I’m gonna reach out and whip it out. [Who the fu…omg the Throttle House guys
are in the back seat!] Thomas: That’s not what I expected. James: Yeah, it’s pretty small. [Are they talking about Jason’s… eww?] [Alex Choi: Umm, something’s wrong here.
Why is that Gold Thing outrunning me?] Thomas: Yeah, I’m going to have to hold
it in my hands. I have to hold it. Jason: I’d like that. [Dude, I’m reporting this whole scene to the MPAA. And HR.] [Alex Choi: Seriously, guys, my car isn’t running right. No power.] Thomas: Oh, cup it. Cup it! James: No, I’ve got the shaft. [If this thing doesn’t get an NC-17 rati… wait, that’s the Lucid’s POWERTRAIN!] Thomas: Phew, wow. [Phew indeed.Thank God, they were talking about the Lucid’s power unit, not Jason’s unit.] The air uses two of those electric motors,
each of which makes 670 hp. James: That’s almost four Miatas right there! [Alex Choi: “Yo these dirtbags unplugged
three of my spark plugs!”] And that’s not just the motor: that’s
the differential, transmission, and power control unit. Think that thing’s not going
to be the LS-swap of the future? James: You guys hear something? [Alex Choi: “Yeah, the sound of me purposefully bagging this race for the sake of your stupid comedy, even if that Lucid is fast as hell. You’re welcome.] [Thank you, Alex.] [James Engelsman]
In a world when other carmakers are talking about gaining 2% or 4% over each other, this
produces nearly three TIMES the specific power of anybody else’s power unit. Tesla, included. [Thomas Holland]
But the powertrain is only one small example of the almost Lotus-like obsession with simplicity
that permeates every part of the Air. [Jason Cammisa, interrupting]
Ugh, yeah yeah yeah, you've permeated every part of this video. I’m sorry, look — love you guys, but can I have my show back please? [Throttle House]
Yeah, yeah, sorry about that. [Jason]
Thank you. Having an electric powertrain allows for a
rethink of a vehicle’s packaging. And the Air accomplishes things that the traditional
automakers just keep insisting is flat-out not possible... ...even on their new, from-the-ground-up EVs. That’s because those are ground-up cars
from companies not capable of ground-up thinking. [Ooh, burn.] [Wait, did an entire Lucid Air motor/transmission/diff/power
inverter just fit in a carry-on suitcase?!] Take, for example, the Air’s enormous frunk. [Oh oh, call 9-1-1, the fat old guy is gonna
get stuck in the frunk of the Lucid Air.] This exists because Lucid packaged everything
around the perimeter, leaving all this space. Compare this to Mercedes’ new, from-the-ground-up
EV, the EQS, which has no frunk at all. It’s got all the same stuff, but Mercedes
just threw it in here leaving no space. And by the way, the EQS’ back seat is way
smaller than the Air’s, even though it’s a foot longer. Where did all the space go? It is, by the way, the same story over at
Porsche with the Taycan Turbo S. It has a frunk barely big enough for a toothbrush,
and then you’d have to remove a limb to get into our out of the back seat. Though it must be said, the Taycan redeems
itself where handling is concerned. Then again… [Jason performs a double Scandinavian-flick
through the chicane into a long, full-opposite-lock right-hand drift that leads into a rolling 4-wheel burnout onto the front straight. He thinks he’s pretty special.] This thing is epic! Oh my god, the grip, the power and the balance! This is not a track car — it's a 5200-lb
luxury sedan. But its [handling] and chassis benchmark was the BMW E39 M5. [FINALLY we get to hear an engine screaming,
and what a noise! #S62eargasm] And I’m here to say, they nailed that target! The Air isn’t just a luxury car. It’s
one of the most well-sorted sport sedans on the planet. A perfectly calibrated driver's car of the highest order. Its chassis balance is heroic. A whiff of understeer on the way in, some
rotation mid-corner, and then beautiful, artistic power oversteer worthy of slow-motion video. On a bumpy, twisty back road, which, let’s
be honest, is a much more appropriate test for a 5200-lb luxury car, it’s simultaneously
involving and isolating. And yet the car is still interactive and fun
to drive. The coolest thing about the way they tuned
the suspension is you never hear a clunk. You can hit anything. I’m not saying you
can't bottom the suspension out, but when you do there’s no thuds or whacks or sounds.
It’s just really good. And it’s really fast! To describe a 1111-hp car as merely “fast”
is like saying, “my Bugatti Chiron is peppy.” The Air’s ability to gain speed ranks it
among the quickest cars of all time, hypercars included. TESTED:
0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds.
¼ mile: 9.9 seconds @ 143.5 mph Throughout the vast history of the automobile,
there’s only ever been one other 4-door that could possibly give the Air… gas. Yes, the Tesla Plaid is quicker, but it has
three motors. This is only two motors, and a triple-motor Lucid is coming, so the fight
will start again. Like Tesla, this feels like the future. Unlike Tesla, which feels like the future
as defined by some kid writing a video game, this feels like the future as defined by someone
who understands the sports sedan. Hehe, aaaaand we’re sideways! Woo! So, the Lucid is a Porsche Taycan in the corners; ...a Mercedes S-Class in comfort; ...a Lotus in its efficiency; ...and a Tesla in its tech. If the measure of a luxury car is doing more things better than other cars, how could the Lucid Air not be the new benchmark of luxury? [Death to Pirelli: the Air’s right-rear tire explodes. Just in case you didn’t see it.] I guess the only real question is: can a sedan
really be the benchmark of anything these days? The market has spoken, and what the people
want is a truck or an SUV. And I hate to admit it, but there’s at least
one thing a truck can do that a sedan can’t. [Get the frunk out — he's towing a Lucid with a Rivian!?
How big is this show's budget?!] Right now, there are TWO new American automobile
manufacturers vying to be the benchmark of modern luxury. Lucid chose the handling and performance route. Rivian went the other way, building a truck
that redefines utility. Because another luxury is the ability to haul more than just ass. Rivian’s decision to make a pickup truck
is inspired, because it means the R1T will compete directly with the vehicles that Americans
buy more than any other. These two companies will converge in the same
boxing ring when their next models debut. The Rivian R1S and Lucid Gravity will meet
in the middle as SUVs. For the moment, they remain opposites on the spectrum of luxury. But make no mistake: These two companies went back in time to fight the
establishment in defining what luxury means. And guess what? They’re winning. [STANDING OVATION!] [Yes, we know you're mad we said nice things about EVs. Sorry, we won’t do it again / that’s a complete lie.] [But thank you for watching. It means the world to us.] Like and Subscribe to Hagerty's YouTube Channel And follow Jason on Instagram at @JasonCammisa for way lots more dumb car content.
Hagerty keep giving Jason all the budget! Amazing production and love the Throttle House cameo
Hey u/JasonCammisa I just want to take a moment to appreciate the amazing job you do with these reviews. You’re easily the best car reviewer out there right now and I dont think it’s even close.
Hey James, I am thinking about picking up the same year S4 as you, you still enjoying it?
Hey /u/Jamesthrottlehouse thanks for cupping my... wait, you grabbed the shaft, right? Either way, it was a pleasure having you grab my unit during that drag race. Tell the fiancée I say hi. 🤣
Jesus fucking Christ /u/JasonCammisa
The framing. The color. The lighting. The aspect ratio. The camera work. The sound. The writing. The cameos.
This video is astounding. You and Anthony should be really proud of this. I can’t believe this is for free on youtube. Honestly, is a new benchmark for quality in automotive content.
Now that I’m done blowing smoke up your ass, are there any signs of life from the traditional automakers anywhere? Is it impossible for companies that have existed for perhaps too long to compete against this when it comes to dedication to building innovative cars, and not being afraid to really swing for the fences? It’s obviously not coming from Merc, obviously not coming from VW with how much you hate the ID4.
holy shit talk about good production
Jason and the Throttle House dudes are by far the best auto talking heads out there.
Wish they had longer content. With the Grand Tour guys ramping down, I need my fix.
The "Top Gear" benchmark is dead. Old trio no longer does reviews and new TG is not the same without the trio.
The new benchmark to judge all video reviews is Jason and Revelations/Icons and the production team.
The caliber of these feels like something that should be pay per view.
Also side note. Only reviews I watch more than once due to hilarious closed captions.
Wow. Every single episode of the ICONS is a step ahead and becomes my benchmark for the best car video I've ever seen. But this isn't just one-step further, this is a walk ahead. Incredible cinematography, story telling, and content. One can only aspire to achieve a fraction of this quality in their own content. Great job!