Day one of CES 2017 provided a load of new tech innovations and products, but Faraday Future’s latest unveiling might be the most exciting yet.
The startup debuted a new self-driving electric car that it claims can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 2.39 seconds, which is quicker than the Tesla Model S’s 2.5 seconds.
Faraday introduced the FF91 in a live demo, which saw the car drive itself around a car park and park in an empty space, though the on-stage self-parking demo didn’t go quite as smoothly.
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Jia Yueting, executive of Chinese smartphone-maker LeEco, which has invested in Faraday, tried to demonstrate the self-parking technology for attendees at the conference but the vehicle failed to move. It later complied during a second attempt.
Owners will, according to Faraday, be able to connect to the FF91 via a virtual “FFID” account, which will apparently
allow them to send data, such as route plans, from personal devices directly to the car.
Faraday executive Peter Savagian revealed on-stage that the car will be chargeable from a variety of electrical standards and, when driven at 55mph, its 130 kWh battery will provide a range of around 482 miles (775km).
In a release, the company explained the car as “a bold new breed of electric mobility that combines supercar performance, precise handling, the comfort of an ultra-luxury passenger vehicle, and a unique collection of intelligent internet features.”
The FF 91 is also said to have the fastest charge speed currently available, at more than 500mph, with the ability to reach 50% to full charge in under 4.5 hours at 240V.
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Other features include facial recognition technology and “NASA-inspired zero gravity seats” which apparently offer “industry leading rear seat reclining position”.
At last year’s CES event, Faraday Future showed off a futuristic-looking concept car, which caused quite a stir but was criticised for not representing the company’s actual consumer product ambitions.
Since then, the Gardena, California-based firm has experienced significant financial troubles, halting work on a large factory in Las Vegas in November.
The factory was intended to build a car for investor LeEco but Mr Jia reportedly wrote to LeEco’s employees to explain his company’s financial problems.
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Let us know what you make of Faraday’s electric car in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
