Lucid Sapphire Edges Porsche Taycan to Become Quickest Car Ever Tested By MotorTrend

The Lucid Air Sapphire has stormed to the top of MotorTrend’s all-time performance charts, setting a new benchmark for production vehicles. Equipped with Lucid’s optional Track Tire package, the tri-motor, 1,234-hp luxury EV rocketed from 0–60 mph in just 1.881 seconds.

That run not only broke Lucid’s own record but also edged out Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT Weissach, making the Sapphire the quickest car MotorTrend has ever tested.

Track tires unlock new levels of acceleration

The Track Tire package, priced at $8,250 plus installation, swaps in Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS Elect rubber on forged wheels. Compared to the Sapphire’s previous best of 2.2 seconds on factory Michelin tires, the grippier Pirellis enabled significantly sharper launches.

The improvement also carried through the quarter-mile, where the Sapphire cut its time from 9.21 seconds to 9.03 seconds as per MotorTrend’s tests. Remarkably, these times were recorded on standard surfaces, not prepped drag strips, underscoring the tires’ impact on real-world conditions. Braking saw similar gains, with stopping distance shortened to 93 feet, matching the Taycan’s best figure.

Rivalry with Porsche intensifies at the top end

Lucid’s record-setting run now places it 0.006 seconds ahead of the Taycan Turbo GT Weissach, fueling one of the EV industry’s fiercest rivalries. While the Porsche retains a slight edge in cornering thanks to lighter weight, the Sapphire’s balanced chassis and stability systems kept it close in handling tests.

MotorTrend noted that despite the sheer performance, the four-door sedan remains a comfortable and refined luxury car, able to deliver Mercedes-level ride quality when driven off the track. This dual capability further distinguishes the Sapphire from its rivals, offering owners both practicality and supercar-level speed in one package.

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