Model S Performance

Make
Tesla
Segment
Sedan

You'd think that most would be happy with the 1,080 horsepower produced in the most powerful version of the new Lucid Air electric sedan, but earlier this year, the company made it clear that a three-motor setup with an even more ridiculous 1,800 hp has always been in the pipeline.

According to a report by Jalopnik, this three-motor Air is breathtakingly quick - CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson revealed that a prototype ran a 9.3-second quarter-mile. For some perspective, a recent version of the Tesla Model S with the 'Cheetah Stance' upgrade took 10.4 seconds to do the same. Even the new Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock can't compete with its 10.5-second effort.

That's phenomenal acceleration from a large sedan. The report actually goes on to say that the three compact electric motors - an extra one was added to the rear axle - produce a combined 1,920 hp, but due to a limitation in how much power the battery pack can deliver at one time, "only" around 1,200 horses is transferred to the ground. The quarter-mile time shaves six-tenths off the dual-motor Lucid Air's time, which was already the lone EV sedan capable of sneaking in at below the ten-second mark.

It's worth mentioning that the test mule said to have completed the 9.3-second run was fitted with a roll cage and the cabin had certain parts missing that would otherwise be included in the production version

Still, the numbers don't lie: the Lucid Air sets new standards for EV sedans, breaking some of the records that the Tesla Model S Performance has held onto for years now. There is a lot more than speed to the Air, though. It's the fastest-charging EV on the planet and its EPA-estimated range of up to 517 miles easily improves on its Tesla rival.

The most expensive version, the limited Air Dream Edition, will cost $169,000. The tri-motor model doesn't yet have a release date, but we wouldn't be surprised if it got close to the $200,000 mark when it does arrive.