Lucid is preparing to challenge Tesla’s dominance in the long-range electric vehicle market, with its upcoming Cosmos midsize SUV potentially offering more than 400 miles of range on a single charge.

Lucid CEO Silvio Napoli revealed the preliminary range figure during an appearance on CNN’s Quest Means Business, saying the company expects the Cosmos to deliver “400 miles plus” on a charge.

If achieved, the figure would put the Cosmos significantly ahead of key rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Rivian R2.

The Tesla Model Y Premium rear-wheel-drive version currently offers up to 357 miles of EPA-rated range, while the Rivian R2 Performance is rated at 330 miles.

However, Lucid has stressed that the Cosmos is still under development and that the range figures remain preliminary.

“Official WLTP and EPA range estimates will be announced closer to the vehicle launch,” a Lucid spokesperson said.

The Cosmos is expected to arrive in the United States next year with a starting price of about $50,000. A range of more than 400 miles would be consistent with Lucid’s broader focus on efficiency and long-distance driving.

Lucid’s existing Air sedan offers more than 400 miles of EPA-rated range in several configurations, while the Air Grand Touring currently holds the company’s longest-range position with up to 512 miles.

The Gravity Grand Touring SUV can deliver up to 450 miles of EPA-rated range.

The Cosmos, however, is being developed as a more affordable midsize model, making a 400-plus-mile range particularly significant.

Engineers previously indicated that the Cosmos platform could deliver more than 300 miles of range with a battery pack of only 69 kilowatt-hours.

For comparison, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 uses an 84kWh battery to achieve up to 318 miles of EPA-rated range.

Lucid is targeting an efficiency figure of around 4.5 miles per kilowatt-hour for the Cosmos.

That suggests a 400-plus-mile version could potentially require a battery pack in the region of 90kWh, although the final capacity will depend on several factors, including the EPA testing cycle, usable battery capacity, software buffers and wheel and tyre configurations.

Aerodynamics will also play an important role. The Cosmos is expected to have a coefficient of drag of just 0.22, helping it cut through the air more efficiently and reduce energy consumption at higher speeds.

Lucid is also introducing its next-generation Atlas drive unit for the vehicle.

According to the company, the Atlas unit will have 30% fewer parts and be 23% lighter than the Zeus motors used in the Gravity.

Lucid also claims the Atlas will deliver 40% more power density and be 10% more efficient than the drive units used in the Tesla Model Y.

Despite the ambitious range target, the Cosmos will not arrive as quickly as originally expected.

Its launch has been delayed until early 2027 as Lucid works through a broader turnaround plan following more than $1 billion in cash burn during the second quarter.

Napoli said the company would not rush the vehicle to market and would launch it only after meeting its process and quality targets.

If Lucid succeeds in delivering more than 400 miles of EPA-rated range at a starting price around $50,000, the Cosmos could emerge as one of the most compelling long-range electric SUVs in its class and put significant pressure on Tesla and other established EV makers.