This 12 months in some way marks my 23^rd 12 months attending Arizona public sale week, and through the years I’ve pushed a couple of leases vehicles and fairly a couple of press vehicles. These have included every little thing from a Nissan Versa SV (the automotive least deserving of SV in its title) all the way in which to unique vehicles such because the Aston Martin DB11. This 12 months is a bit completely different in that I’m driving a automotive for the week in Arizona that’s nothing like another automotive I’ve had: the 2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring version.

You probably have not but heard of the Lucid Air, it’s an all-electric luxurious sedan. The automotive’s design is not like another fashionable automotive I’ve seen, and it’s really a breakthrough design each in its exterior and inside. It’s much less of a direct competitor with the Tesla S, which fairly truthfully the Air betters in each method, however extra of a competitor of the Mercedes EQS.

I had initially deliberate to lease a automotive for the week however final week obtained a name from my buddy Dave Buchko, Product PR Supervisor at Lucid, asking if I’d be involved in driving an Air for the week. I, in fact, agreed, as up till now I had solely ridden in a prototype Air awhile again after which final 12 months on monitor with Ben Collins, also called The Stig.

I met my Air on the offsite parking and was instantly struck with how good the automotive seemed. I used to be a bit unsure if I’d be capable of work out tips on how to use the automotive, however discovered myself instantly at house with the automotive and was rapidly in a position to type out the management location, pair my telephone, and set the navigation to go over the Barrett-Jackson to choose up my first set of credentials for the week.

On the street, even in its lowest efficiency setting, I used to be simply in a position to really feel the really superb acceleration and efficiency obtainable below my proper foot. I did get that at a better degree throughout The Stig ride-along however being in command of the automotive myself was utterly completely different.  I additionally rapidly realized that the Air may very well be pushed by utilizing solely the accelerator, one thing that jogged my memory or my time driving NASCAR inventory vehicles on ovals.

I arrived at Barrett-Jackson round 30 min later, rapidly realizing that I had traveled there a lot quicker than I ought to have, and that I wanted to rigorously watch how briskly I used to be going because the automotive could be very simple to drive over the pace restrict.

I pulled into the valet car parking zone and after explaining how the automotive labored, I bought my credentials and went into the principle public sale tent.

I met Dave on the Lucid sales space and instructed him how a lot I favored the automotive. I added that it was in a position to match all my suitcases, briefcase, and digicam gear within the rear trunk. If you recognize me nicely you recognize that I result in two weeks of garments for a one-week journey, so this was a very exceptional feat.

I spent the remainder of the day at Barrett-Jackson planning out my public sale tour and selecting the vehicles I’d focus on.

I left the public sale and met Dave for dinner on the Tommy Bahama café to debate and ask questions concerning the automotive. I had many questions and after dinner Dave confirmed me among the hidden options of the automotive together with Launch mode to attain most acceleration runs. I’ve not examined that out but however may discover a method to take action throughout the week, so keep tuned.

After dinner I drove to my resort, checked in and went to mattress.

Whole miles for day one: 72