Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 15

ROAD READY
Revamped interior tech
Sitting behind the wheel is where drivers
will see huge differences between the Air
and Gravity. Gone is the portrait-mode
touchscreen, replaced with a single 34inch
(864-mm) OLED display that
stretches from the driver's A-pillar to the
center screen, which now has a landscape
orientation. The lower screen is still available
and Lucid has finally implemented
multi-tasking between the screens. On
the Air, even with both screens, one could
not have the navigation and media player
on the screens at the same time. That
capability is available in the Gravity
thanks in part to a new chipset that Lucid
would not comment on.
Lucid has moved the display above
the steering wheel to be higher in the
driver's sightline; the automaker wanted
to offer unobstructed views of the dash
cluster and the rest of the display. To
achieve this, the steering wheel underwent
a design change. The top and bottom
of the wheel have been squared off
in a happy medium between a traditional
steering wheel and a yoke.
Jenkins told SAE Media that engineers
went through 30 iterations of the
steering wheel before they felt they got
it right. Sitting in the driver's seat, the
steering wheel and its position felt correct
without the compromises that
come with outfitting a cabin with a
yoke. A better understanding of its use
in the real world will come when media
is first able to drive the Gravity.
On the steering wheel are two touch
controllers that have taken a cue from an
Apple TV remote. Thumb movements select
items on the infotainment screen and
adjust display elements in the dash cluster.
Lucid is also using that huge OLED
screen to offer up 'relaxation modes' for
use while sitting and waiting for a
charge. For those less about yoga and
meditation and more about singing and
games, a karaoke feature will be available.
" We're specifically looking at gaming
opportunities that are unique to this
display layout, " Jenkins said.
Bring the Family
The three-row Gravity seats seven with
a third row that will accommodate
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Lucid has updated its interior technology with a larger display and more processing power.
someone six-feet tall - but not for long
trips. The second row can slide to accommodate
larger third-row passengers,
but comfort back there is more
related to headroom. The second row is
equipped with convenience tables that
fold down from the front seats, similar
to those found on an airplane.
There is room for medium-sized suitcases
behind the third row and there's
additional storage under the removable
floor. The rear seats fold down into that
underfloor area. Folding the second row
results in a flat cargo area from the
trunk to the front seats. According to
Lucid, that expanse is 7.5 feet (2.3m)
long and offers up to 112 cu ft (3.2 cu
m) of cargo space, more than enough
for bikes, surfboards, skis and most
trips to the local lumber yard.
" It's just more usable, more utilitarian
with fewer compromises, " Eric
Bach, Lucid's senior vice president of
product and chief engineer, told SAE
Media while showing off the vehicle's
storage capabilities.
Elsewhere, the center console's sliding
storage area components replace the
behind-the-screen storage area of the
Lucid Air. Yes, it was cool, but this seems
to be used more often without the need
to have an entire screen recess into the
dash. The Gravity's oddest use of space,
though, is found up front. Lucid showed
SAE Media the SUV's large frunk with an
optional seating package. A soft seat
cover is draped over the frunk's interior
to allow for, well, if not tailgating, perhaps
frontgating? Trying the seat found
it comfortable; the raised hood is high
enough that even those more than six
feet tall don't have to concern themselves
with hitting their heads.
As for actual cargo area under the
hood of the Gravity, Lucid told SAE
Media that it's close to the 10 cu ft (0.3
cu m) of space available in the Air sedan.
An official number wasn't yet available.
All of this is in a package that seats up
to seven, has all-wheel drive and - in a
first for Lucid - can be equipped with
rear-wheel steering. Lucid didn't share the
amount of rear-wheel pivot. Like other
vehicles equipped with the feature, it
should increase the Gravity's nimbleness
in tight areas and give the impression that
the vehicle is smaller than it is.
Roberto Baldwin
February 2024 15
LUCID

Automotive Engineering - February 2024

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