Cosmos? Earth? Lunar? EV tech titan Lucid’s far-out names for its radical new mainstream models

Saudi-backed US EV maker Lucid Motors has revealed its plan for growth from a luxury maker to a mass-market producer of more affordable electric vehicles.

The first of its mid-size SUVs will be called the Lucid Cosmos when it launches later this year priced from under $US50,000 ($71,000).

Confirming its all-new Tesla Model Y rival will be based on a new, less expensive mid-size architecture, the new Lucid Cosmos will slot into the line-up beneath the larger Gravity SUV and Air limousine.

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Keeping costs down, the new SUV has been designed to share as much as 95 per cent of its components with two other siblings, which has also slashed the Cosmos’ development costs and enabled Lucid to bring it to market more quickly.

Set to be rolled out in Q3 (July–September) of 2026, the five-seat Cosmos will look more like a coupe-SUV that will slash its drag coefficient to just 0.22, even on large 22-inch alloy wheels, in a bid to maximise its range.

While Lucid has not revealed the Cosmos’ styling, we know it will feature a thin light bar up front that aligns it with the Gravity.

Inside, there will be a large 36-inch-wide display positioned just below the expansive windscreen. The same display is used in both right- and left-hand-drive vehicles to reduce costs. There is no central touchscreen.

Reducing driver distraction, physical controls will remain for the sound system volume, tuning and climate control, among other functions.

Manual door handles will also be retained, addressing recent safety concerns about electric button door releases in the event of a crash or electrical failure.

Lucid says it will build the new Cosmos at its all-new factory in Saudi Arabia before the end of this year, with a second production line to follow at the car-maker’s current Casa Grande plant in Arizona around six to 12 months later.

In late 2027 the Cosmos will be followed by a second mid-size SUV that will be named the Earth.

Promised to have far bolder styling, the Lucid Earth is said to have been built for “trendsetting achievers” and is expected to feature high levels of technology for a punchier price.

A third, boxier and higher-riding mid-size SUV will then follow that has yet to be named.

This mystery Lucid has been developed for buyers who need genuine off-road capability and will be built to rival the recently launched Rivian R2 as well as the planned electric Land Rover Defender Sport and Mercedes-Benz baby G-Class.

All three mid-size Lucid will come with a cell to pack construction that mounts the batteries directly to the vehicle’s underbody,

Said to shun cost-saving gigacastings, Lucid said its cars will blend aluminium extrusions, aluminium castings and a stamped steel body structure that will make it easier and cheaper to repair for lower insurance costs, with buyers set to save US$1000 (A$1450) per year on insurance costs, compared to a Tesla Model Y.

Saving cost and complexity, the Lucid will have 60 per cent less wiring compared to the Gravity and just three electronic control units, compared to the 12 ECUs its bigger SUV sibling boasts.

All three SUVs will come with the brand’s next-gen Atlas powertrain that is compact, lightweight and power dense.

Compared to the Gravity and Air’s Zeus powertrain, the new Atlas is 23 per cent lighter, with 30 per cent fewer parts and comes with a class-best power-to-weight ratio that will see the Cosmos launch from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.5 seconds.

The new Cosmos will also be 10 per cent more efficient than its closest unnamed competitor today, which will allow the brand to use a smaller battery, bringing lower costs compared to its rivals.

The battery will work with high-voltage electrics and has been designed to feature 80 per cent fewer parts, with the cost of the non-cell elements of its power pack slashed by half.

The Atlas motors, meanwhile, will be identical whether employed on the front or rear axle.

Finally, Lucid said its new platform will be used to underpin a new two-seat Lunar robotaxi that could be branded an Uber as part of a wide-reaching alliance with the world’s largest ride-share provider.

Currently the two work together, with Uber already committed to buying 20,000 Gravity robotaxis fitted with sensors and software developed by Nuro.

The Lunar has been developed on a shortened version of the platform and will be smaller and lower than a Cosmos and come without any steering wheel, helping it maximise interior space.

Not yet approved for production, the Lunar has been developed to offer lots of luggage space while being energy efficient and low-cost as possible.

The reason for only two seats is 90 per cent of all Uber’s current rides only carry one or two passengers and by creating a smaller, lighter EV, Lucid can downsize the battery for cost savings.

Each reduction of 1kWh in battery size is claimed to save a robotaxi operator as much as US$1000 (A$1450) a year over 160,000km.

Helping save money the robotaxi can use a simpler suspension set-up that doesn’t need to maximise grip or driver involvement. 

While confirming the new Lucid Cosmos will be available in right-hand drive, the US car-maker has yet to confirm its plans to expand into markets like Australia but Lucid has expressed its desire to roll out the Gravity SUV in the UK market late this year.