American luxury EV builder Lucid Motors announced and unveiled the Lucid Gravity GT-S this weekend during Monterey Car Week in California. The new performance variant of the brand’s three-row electric SUV inherits the upgraded three-motor powertrain from the 1,070-horsepower Lucid Air Sapphire, seats up to seven and features a 3.1-second 0-60 sprint.

Lucid calls the new GT-S trim level “America’s most powerful three-row SUV,” backing up the claim with that stated 1,070 hp from the EV’s three-motor (one front, two rear) setup. That sort of oomph is enough to propel the SUV to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds — a tick behind its sibling, the lighter Air Sapphire sedan’s 1.89-second blitz, but still an impressive feat for a luxury SUV with three rows for passengers and a large cargo capacity.

Amazingly, while the Gravity GT-S may be the most powerful vehicle in its class, it’s not the quickest. Rivian’s range-topping R1S Quad-Motor keeps pace with 1,025 hp and an estimated 2.6 seconds to 60 mph, though Edmunds’ instrumented testing clocked it closer to 3 seconds flat. Tesla’s Model X Plaid packs 1,020 hp and a Tesla-claimed 2.5-second run — the Falcon-doored three-row EV was recently discontinued, but new and low-mileage examples are still relatively easy to find. Drivers with a half-second more patience can also consider the Cadillac Vistiq, which gets the job done in its 3.7-second Velocity Max mode with only 615 ponies. The level of speed on offer for luxury EV buyers these days is, frankly, absurd.

In addition to straight-line acceleration, Lucid has also boosted the GT-S handling. The spec comes standard with the automaker’s Dynamic Handling Package, which includes an adaptive air suspension that automatically lowers the SUV for efficiency at speed and hunkers down during dynamic driving. Independent rear-wheel steering is also standard, boosting low-speed agility and high-speed stability.

Lucid estimates the focus shift to performance will cost the GT-S trim a bit of efficiency. Range is projected to drop to around 373 miles, versus the 450 miles of the Gravity Grand Touring trim level, though that estimate has not yet been confirmed by the EPA.

Sapphire styling, inside and out

Along with the performance chops, the Gravity GT-S gets a Sapphire-inspired makeover inside and out. Exterior touches include blue accents and blue brake calipers, plus GT-S badging complete with a blue S that looks identical to the Sapphire’s branding.

Inside, the GT-S is upholstered in Lucid’s Mojave PurLuxe interior — a synthetic, animal-free leather alternative — finished with blue stitching and piping. Buyers who prefer real leather can opt for the Tahoe leather interior, which adds $1,300 to the bottom line. Either way, the blue theme carries through to the steering wheel and armrest stitching, plus blue seatbelts, a blue steering wheel badge, and blue embossing on the Lucid Bear headrest logos.

This level of performance and luxury doesn’t come cheap. The Lucid Gravity GT-S will be available exclusively in the US, priced starting at an eye-watering $125,900, excluding tax, options and the $1,850 destination fees.

Antuan Goodwin

Senior Writer, Electrified Cars

Antuan has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience testing hundreds of cars, including electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion vehicles.

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