Real physical pain is never more than just a toe-curl away with the modern breed of electric super-saloons, and the 1111bhp Lucid Air Dream Edition is no exception.
With the car meting out 1025lb ft of torque from just two electric motors, your tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints don't stand much chance against the tidal wave of force that send the Air from 0-60mph in 2.4sec.
Of course, all this neck-crunching is a necessary business when you need to make an impression alongside competition such as the Bugatti-humbling Tesla Model S Plaid. And make an impact the Lucid Air does, because as well as producing comparable power to the Plaid, the newcomer can cover up to 520 miles on a single charge, which is more than 100 miles more than its rival on the same American EPA test cycle.
As for Europe, Lucid is rumoured to shortly announce right-hand-drive production, which means the Air could be available to order in the UK before the end of 2022. It won't be cheap: our range-topping Dream Edition Performance, tested in California, costs the equivalent £131,000. But for its considerable depth of engineering, surprising beauty and class-best range, those in the market for an electric Mercedes-Benz S-Class alternative might the outlay worth paying.
Pictures don't really do the Air justice, other than suggesting it's a far larger car than it actually is. Designed by the same man who penned the current Mazda MX-5, as well as the original concepts for Volkswagen's Scirocco and Microbus reboots, the low-slung proportions are dramatic and hint at a modern take on the Citroën DS. We will even forgive the two-tone paint. The important takeaway is that while the Mercedes-Benz EQS looks otherworldly, the Air looks exotic.