Earlier this year, California-based startup Atieva made waves by showcasing a vehicle named Edna. Edna was a relatively normal-looking white cargo van, only it was packing some serious electric firepower beneath its utilitarian skin. As we showed you previously, Edna blew the doors off a Tesla Model S P90D, a Ferrari California T, a BMW i8, and a Dodge Viper in a straight drag race, using two electric motors and more than 900 horsepower to get the job done.
Dang, Edna.
Edna was primarily a powertrain test for Atieva though, and now under the name Lucid Motors, the brand is prepping to release its very first production car. Officially unnamed at this point, the vehicle is designed to compete head-to-head with the Tesla Model S, something made all the more interesting when you realize Lucid Motors’ CTO is former Model S Chief Engineer Peter Rawlinson.
How will the Model S and Lucid Motors stack up? It’s too early tell at this point, however Rawlinson has previously said the car will produce around 900 hp, be powered by an 87kWh battery pack, and feature around 300 miles of driving range. That’s smack dab in the middle of the Model S lineup, which offers batteries from 60kWh to 100kWh and ranges from 218 miles to 315 miles.
In addition to a high level of electric performance, Lucid Motors’ debut car is expected to pack a variety of semi-autonomous safety and convenience technologies.
“Our vehicles will feature automated driving systems, natural voice interactions, and intuitive user interfaces,” the company said on its website. “Whether sitting in the front or back, the onboard intelligence will deliver a uniquely personal experience unlike any other currently on the road.”
Read more: Watch Atieva’s 900-hp electric van smoke a BMW i8 and Dodge Viper
There’s not a lot go on visually, however the teaser images we’ve seen thus far point to a true luxury-grade experience. As our friends over at The Drive pointed out, though, the front end looks an awful lot like the fifth-generation Chevy Camaro.
We’ll be watching Lucid Motors closely, so when the full specs and photos are released, check back with DT Cars for the full scoop.
