Tag Archives: tesla

Earlier this month, we were somehow entrusted with media credentials for Electrify Expo at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, just East of New York City (not too far from where we hold NYCars & Coffee each week). This little EV-focused festival was less New York International Auto Show and more CES, minus all the boring stuff from CES that doesn’t sit on four wheels. Unlike a traditional media expo full of idle concept cars designed to drum up headlines, Electrify Expo gave us the chance to drive cars that are already out, but without the anxiety-inducing pressures that come with test-driving at a dealer.

Although we didn’t have time to take every car on display out for a spin, we at least had the opportunity to get up close and personal with a few notable models from top carmakers like Lexus, Ford, Volvo, and Tesla. Without getting too in the weeds, I do have Some Opinions on the cars we saw. No, that doesn’t include the Ford Lightning. I did drive it, but I’ll save those thoughts for another day. Maybe when I’ve moved on mentally from the Fisker Alaska.

1. Mustang Mach-E GT

I unabashedly love the GT version of the Mach-E. The base Mach-E is whatever, but Electrify Expo flawlessly demonstrated why the Mach-E GT deserves a second look. For one, they hired a professional drifter to burn those tires bald, and that was a feat to behold. My car can do 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds, but 3.8 hits different when you’ve got instant torque. That it can handle like this while looking like that is a testament to the potential for fun driving in EVs and crossover SUVs alike when a carmaker cares about delivering an engaging experience for the driver rather than another cookie-cutter commuter car.

Whenever Ford is inevitably forced to turn off the lights on the Dark Horse, the Mach-E GT has established a solid enough baseline for what we can expect from the next generation of Mustang sports coupes.

Mustang Mach-E GT: see local prices near you

2. Lexus RZ

The Lexus RZ has stirred up controversy recently, not only for its steer-by-wire system but Toyota’s also taken a page out of Tesla’s book and decided normal people need F1-style steering yokes. While I sadly didn’t get the chance to drive the yoke-equipped model, I did drive an RZ with a regular steering wheel and it was just as unremarkable as I anticipated given its shared DNA with the underwhelming Toyota bZ4X. Just get a Prius, and if that’s not lavish enough, meet the Toyota Crown.

Lexus RZ: see local prices near you

3. BMW i5

I said it in the newsletter, and it’s even truer now that I’ve seen it showcased next to the repulsive BMW iX: the new 5 Series looks fire, and the BMW i5 M60 is the best of the bunch. I’ve gone on record saying the BMW i4 M50 is the best EV I’ve driven, and that still holds true today.

At least as far as design goes, the electric 5 Series M takes all the positive qualities of the i4 M50 – 500+ horsepower with a sub-4 second 0-60 speed on a rear-biased AWD platform – and pairs them with a front end I hate a little less. It also helps that on its other side was the BMW i7, which I lamented as my worst driving experience in recent memory.

BMW i5: see local prices near you

4. Volvo EX30

Mark my words: No matter how this little crossover SUV turns out, the Volvo EX30 will print money. I came this close (imagine my thumb and pointer finger very close together) to reserving one before my wife told me not to because she wanted the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

She made the right call, however, since 1) We needed a car and the EX30 doesn’t come out until next summer and 2) I don’t fully trust Geely with a Chinese-made Volvo. Not necessarily because it’s made in China – hell, the MacBook Pro I’m typing on was, too – but because most other Volvo models are still manufactured in Sweden. This was clearly a move to cut costs. Whether that means cutting corners remains to be seen.

Volvo EX30: see our full preview

5. Ford Eluminator concept truck

Did you know you can buy a Mach-E motor from Ford’s website and swap it into any vehicle it fits? I didn’t either until I saw the Ford Eluminator concept truck, which is less of a truck and more of an overarching concept. For a little over four grand, Ford is saying you can put an electric motor with 480-horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque in a 1978 F-Series pickup, sure. But you can also do your best RDJ impression and get a little more creative. For instance, if you’re mad about the Mach-E because it’s an SUV and not a proper Mustang, why not build your own electric muscle car? Show Ford how it’s done.

Browse local new and used inventory at CarGurus

Honorable mention: Tesla Model X

“It’s not a recession,” they say. Stop blowing your paychecks on avocado toast and someday you, too, can afford to live in a Tesla Model X.

Tesla Model X: see local inventory near you

Tesla released the Model 3 several years ago as an affordable option in its existing line of vehicles. While it started with a reasonable price tag, the Model 3 hasn’t reached the “cheap EV” status Tesla initially touted. Many believe the company is working on a smaller, more affordable model to fulfill this promise, and it’s expected to be released in 2024. Though we don’t know the name yet, Model 2 seems a likely fit for the upcoming EV. The automaker may also offer a performance variant and a long-range model, but there’s plenty of time before its release for specifics to materialize.

Tesla Model 2 price and specs

🚦Get ready, set, full disclosure! Some of the links powering our posts contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase, even if it’s not from the page we linked. Affiliate links are not always an endorsement of the product. To really help us keep our headlights shining to make more content like this, subscribe to the Acceleramota newsletter.

Tesla hasn’t detailed pricing for the new car yet, but we can take clues from its other models. All specs and pricing are estimates and may change drastically before the car’s release date.

2025 Tesla Model 2 Base

• Price: $25,000 (approximate, expected)
• Range: 250 miles (approximate, expected)
• Performance: Up to 300 hp

2025 Model 2 Long Range

• Price: $35,000
• Range: 320 miles
• Performance: Up to 350 hp

2025 Model 2 Performance

• Price: $40,000
• Range: 300 miles
• Performance: Up to 400 hp

Tesla doesn’t typically offer many options for its vehicles and equips most features as standard. That includes safety equipment, interior and tech upgrades, and more. However, most color options do cost extra. Buyers can easily spend thousands more than the base price on the automaker’s advanced cruise control features. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving tech alone can add as much as $15,000 to the car’s base price.

Because it manufactures vehicles in the United States, most Tesla models are eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. That could be a significant benefit to the Model 2, as it would make the final price much lower after the credits are claimed. Of course, this all depends on Tesla’s ability to reach the low price point to begin with.

Depending on how it’s positioned at launch, the Model 2 could compete with a range of EVs, from the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. If the car ends up being a small hatchback as expected, it will be one of the only compact, affordable EVs on sale. Most automakers in the space focused on higher-end profit-driving vehicles before moving to the cheaper end of the spectrum.

Tesla EVs: Model 2 vs Model 3

Tesla Model 3: check local availability at CarGurus

The Model 2 will be smaller and less powerful than the Model 3, but it likely won’t be slow. Electric vehicles produce massive torque off the line, which gives them an advantage over internal combustion engines. Because of that, even “slow” EVs feel quick, so the Model 2 won’t be a slouch. Expect a lower range estimate and smaller battery packs than the Model 3. 

Both vehicles benefit from access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. The automaker’s chargers offer seamless charging and access through its app. Though some chargers are opening to outside EV brands, the almost-exclusive Supercharger network is more robust and complete than other charging networks. However, electric vehicles still take time to charge, which can create long wait times at Superchargers in EV-heavy areas like California.

Like all electric vehicles, Teslas tend to require less maintenance for normal operations. Regenerative braking helps prevent brake wear, as the electric motors help slow the vehicle. There are also no moving parts under the hood, removing the need for engine oil, transmission fluid, or air filters. That said, EVs tend to chew through tires much faster than gas vehicles. This is because they are much heavier and their instant torque leads to lead-footed driving, which causes faster tire wear. 

Tesla in the news

After years of price increases, Tesla began cutting prices earlier in 2023, leading some to wonder if demand had waned. Even so, the company is expanding its operations with a new facility in Mexico and has leased significant warehouse space to continue its growth. The company is preparing to release its advanced driving tech in Europe, which could happen as early as 2024.

Though we’re talking about a potential new vehicle from Tesla, it’s important to note that it has not yet released the long-awaited Cybertruck or the Roadster, both of which were announced years ago. Additionally, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Autopilot tech have caused plenty of concern after several high-profile crashes have highlighted the company’s relaxed attitude toward driver monitoring when using the tech. Though it charges $15,000 for FSD, Tesla still considers the tech a beta, despite the fact that real drivers are currently testing it in the real world. 

Sign up for our free newsletter

Regardless of its financial outlook as a company, Lucid is one of the more remarkable names in the Californian new guard of automotive technology. Considering the star power it wields, the high-caliber design and performance of its first electric car should come as no surprise. The Lucid Air is the product of a collaboration between former Tesla Model S chief engineer Peter Rawlinson and the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 (aka the ND Miata) designer Derek Jenkins. Now, with the upcoming Lucid Gravity, the iconic duo is tapping into the SUV market.

Whereas the Lucid Air was a beefy sedan with a curb weight exceeding five tons, the Lucid Gravity will adopt many of the same design cues for what will presumably be an even heftier machine. Anticipated to arrive sometime in 2024 with similar performance, range, and pricing to the Air, the Lucid Gravity is little more than a concept ripped straight from a gallery at this stage, but if their shared otherworldly style is any indication, the EVs will have more than a few things in common.

2024 Lucid Gravity price and specs

Although Lucid has yet to confirm any details on Gravity’s price tag and specs, Car and Driver estimates a $120K starting price for the base trim while the top-end Sapphire model starts at $250K. Yikes! Then again, like its sedan equivalent, the Lucid Air Sapphire, the Gravity Sapphire is expected to push 1,200 horsepower while maintaining at least 400 miles of range on a single charge. So it makes sense it would cost as much as a house in the burbs.

Save your money! Find a used Lucid Air at CarGurus

2024 Lucid Gravity Touring

• $120,000+
• 400+ miles of range
• 620 Horsepower

2024 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring

• $150,000+
• 500+ miles of range
• 1,050 Horsepower

2024 Lucid Gravity Sapphire

• $250,000+
• 400+ miles of range
• 1,200+ horsepower

Unlike the Lucid Air, which came in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, the Gravity SUV may come standard with the latter. Even as RWD remains the drivetrain of choice for sports car enthusiasts, modern luxury SUVs like the Alfa Romeo Tonale tend to forego the option altogether.

Even as an SUV, however, the Gravity will have the advantage of instant torque and mind-bending acceleration over its gas-powered rivals. Expect zero to 60 times under three seconds and range estimates somewhere in the ballpark of 400 miles.

The Gravity will feature the same fast charging setup as the Air, meaning it should squeeze out 200 miles of range in just over 10 minutes. Lucid has said bi-directional charging is coming to its vehicles soon, so the Gravity may be able to provide power for a campsite or a home during a power outage and could potentially charge other EVs.

Lucid equips its vehicles with a load of impressive interior tech, including a massive 34-inch display. Unlike Tesla, it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and buyers can upgrade with a premium audio system. Lucid includes physical steering wheel controls and a few elsewhere, but many of its vehicle functions and settings are housed in the touchscreen. 

Lucid EVs: 2024 Lucid Gravity vs Lucid Air

The Lucid Gravity shares much of its underlying engineering and structure with the Lucid Air sedan, so there will be many similarities in how they drive and perform in everyday situations. The Lucid Air is a striking performer that offers sub-two-second 0-60 mph times in its quickest configurations, and the Gravity will likely offer comparable performance. Despite carrying the extra weight of an SUV, the low battery position will ensure smooth handling and stability.

The differences between the Lucid Gravity vs Lucid Air will become more apparent when you take them off-road. Early concept images from Lucid showcase what appears to be a posh luxury SUV like you’d find at your local Whole Foods, if it’s anything like the Air, the Lucid Gravity’s looks may be deceiving. The exceptionally capable electric powertrain and increased ride height could allow for an adjustable suspension and other trail-friendly features.

Pre-production renderings and photos we’ve seen so far of the Lucid SUV reveal third-row seating with a spacious rear cabin akin to the Air. We don’t have interior details yet, but the vehicle’s greenhouse is almost completely made of glass for a bright, open-cabin feel. We know the Gravity will come standard as a five-seater, but buyers can upgrade to a three-row, seven-seat configuration. Lucid offers a range of leather options, including Nappa full-grain and synthetic. 

To live up to its price tag and stand out from the Air, the 2024 Lucid Gravity will have to offer ultra-high-end luxury finishes and even more advanced technology. Also, with so many competitive options available for a fraction of the price, the Gravity will need to be a transcendent option, in terms of range and performance, to get traction. The Air has done this with its performance and design, and Lucid could take a similar approach with the 2024 Gravity.

Lucid Motors company news: volatile stock prices, job cuts – a reason for concern?

Lucid recently announced it’s cutting 18 percent of its workforce due to underwhelming demand for its vehicles. The company’s position in the market is precarious, as its vehicles are priced above and beyond most of its rivals, including the already-spendy Tesla Model S Plaid. Lucid’s pricing and positioning in the market also make its vehicles ineligible for federal tax incentives. Recent production forecasts show Lucid falling well short of expectations, and the company is only expected to build half of the 27,000 units analysts projected.

None of that is to say that Lucid is going out of business, but 2023 will be the company’s best shot at righting the ship. Company CFO Sherry House said Lucid had enough cash on hand to last through the first quarter of 2024, but lower demand and production volume won’t help extend that date. Additionally, Lucid stock has fallen in recent weeks as the company announced layoffs and insufficient sales.

Save your money! Find a used Lucid Air at CarGurus