Lucid Motors to launch base Air Pure sedan, starting at $89,050

Lucid Motors will launch a less-expensive version of its Air sedan, the Air Pure, at an online event Nov. 15 prior to the Los Angeles auto show. The Air Pure starts at $89,050, with shipping.

Lucid will also mark the first delivery of the higher-trim Air Touring at the company's Beverly Hills studio, Lucid said Thursday. The Air Touring starts at $109,050, including shipping.

These two new trim levels represent new price territory for Lucid's first vehicle.

The California-based EV brand launched last year with the limited-run Dream Edition, starting at $170,500 with shipping, before debuting the Grand Touring with a starting price of $155,650. Next year, Lucid will sell the Air Sapphire, with a starting price a bit more than $250,000.

These less-expensive trim levels of the Air, which have been available for pre-order since last year, will allow the sedan to better compete with the Tesla Model S that starts at $106,440 with shipping and the Mercedes-Benz EQS starting at $105,550 with shipping for the base vehicle.

"The online event will also feature exciting announcements about the Lucid business and future models, including the Project Gravity SUV that reimagines the luxury SUV with the same in-house-developed technology that underpins the groundbreaking Lucid Air," the automaker said.

Lucid offered a few details on the Pure, confirming spy shots that it will come with a metal roof rather than the panoramic glass on higher trim levels.

The Pure "is distinguished by its metal roof and Mojave PurLux interior," Lucid said. "Air Pure will initially launch with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration, with full specs including EPA-estimated range and additional details on the model to be shared on November 15."

The Touring will be offered with the glass roof, Lucid said.

"It can be optioned with the unique glass canopy — a single piece of glass that reaches from the base of the windshield to over the heads of the front passengers for an unobstructed view," the automaker said.

All five Air trim levels — Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Performance and Sapphire — will be on display next week at the Beverly Hills store, Lucid said. The viewing is open to the public.

In addition, Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson will deliver the opening keynote at the Automotive News Congress on Nov. 18, speaking on how efficiency is critical for EV development. The Air sedan has the longest range of any EV evaluated by the EPA and is the most efficient in its segment.

Lucid also said that Derek Jenkins, senior vice president of design and brand, will be featured at Car Design Forum at the Los Angeles auto show on Nov. 17.