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To Protect And Recharge: CHP Tests Lucid Air Police Car

  • The California Highway Patrol recently tested a modified version of the Lucid Air, known as the Lucid Pursuit.
  • It featured an assortment of police-spec upgrades including emergency lights, a push bumper, and steel wheels.
  • Pricing for the civilian version of the Air starts at $70K for the 430 hp base model and soars to $249K for the 1,234 hp Sapphire.

The California Highway Patrol’s motto is “Safety, Service, and Security,” but you might need to throw recharging into the mix as the law enforcement agency recently tested a modified version of the Lucid Air. It’s dubbed the Lucid Pursuit and it makes for one stylish police cruiser.

While the automaker didn’t have much to say, they released pictures of an Air equipped with emergency lights and push bumpers. They’re joined by steel wheels and a classic two-tone paint job. We can also see a badge-like graphic with a bear representing California as well as lightning bolts indicating the model is electric.

More: The World’s Fastest Armored Vehicle Is A $475,000 Lucid Air

Lucid was coy on specifics, but suggested the Air’s “unmatched combination” of range, performance, and room would make it ideal for law enforcement duty. You’ll notice pricing wasn’t mentioned and there’s a good reason for that as the Air Pure begins at $69,900. And that’s before taking into account all the inevitable and costly modifications needed to outfit a civilian-spec model for police work.

Even so, that’s far more than the old Dodge Charger Pursuit, but Lucid’s EV has 430 hp (321 kW / 436 PS) and an estimated range of 420 miles (676 km). The $78,900 Air Touring ups the ante with 620 hp (462 kW / 629 PS), which allows for a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 3.4 seconds. Despite the jump in performance, the range only falls 14 miles (23 km).

For departments with bigger budgets and/or a complete disregard of taxpayer dollars, there’s the Air Grand Touring and Sapphire. The former starts at $110,900 and has 819 hp (611 kW / 830 PS) as well as a range of 512 miles (824 km). The Sapphire, on the other hand, is a $249,000 hypercar that sports 1,234 hp (920 kW / 1,251 PS) and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 1.89 seconds.

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Tesla Model S Plaid Is The Ultimate Pursuit Vehicle (Until It Runs Out Of Juice)

  • Unplugged Performance debuted its modified Model S Plaid police vehicle at SEMA.
  • The 1,020-horsepower pursuit car is equipped with red and blue emergency lights throughout.
  • While the powertrain remains stock, Unplugged has upgraded the brakes for high-speed pursuits.

Imagine you’re a criminal who’s running from the police. After perhaps playing a little too much Grand Theft Auto, you get into a police chase, but rather than pulling over, you floor it, trying to outrun the authorities. But you’re not being chased by any old patrol car; instead, a Tesla Model S Plaid is pursuing you. Yes, a Plaid. The EV equivalent of a ballistic missile on wheels, armed with 1,020 horsepower and a 0–60 time that’s under two seconds. Still feeling lucky?

While this scenario is unlikely to unfold (right,guys?), given how pricey the Model S Plaid is, that hasn’t stopped Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division from using the flagship EV as the base for its latest pursuit vehicle, unveiled at SEMA. It’s worth pointing out that this is a vehicle designed to showcase the brand’s police-focused upgrades, but Unplugged is accepting orders for its Model S Plaid, should any authorities in the US be interested in getting the ultimate pursuit vehicle.

Read: Unplugged Performance Brings An Army Of Cybertrucks To Take Over SEMA

The modifications are a little more extensive than slapping on some flashing lights and calling it a day. To maximize the EV’s aerodynamics, UP.FIT has decided against using bulky lights on the roof and instead, incorporated these lights behind the windshield and the rear window.

The Model S Plaid’s front end has also been altered with a black push bar incorporating small red and blue lights. UP.FIT has then added high- and low-frequency emergency sirens and installed police lights to the skirts, the tailgate, and the rear diffuser. A black and white livery for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department completes the look.

 Tesla Model S Plaid Is The Ultimate Pursuit Vehicle (Until It Runs Out Of Juice)

As standard, the flagship Model S leaves the factory with 1,020 hp and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 1.99 seconds. That’s more than quick enough to chase down any suspect, so UP.FIT hasn’t messed with the car’s two electric motors. However, it has upgraded the brakes and fitted new forged lightweight wheels.

Now, whether any law enforcement agency can actually justify splurging on a Model S Plaid is another question. But considering the increasingly exotic fleet of police cars out there—some departments already have Cybertrucks, after all—it’s not entirely out of the question.

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