At an overcrowded event in Vegas as part of the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, the overly teased production vehicle from EV upstart Faraday Future was officially revealed.
It’s billed as the first truly connected car, that uses an open digital ecosystem that will be compatible with any device you own. The idea is never lose your data between your devices, so you can plan something on your phone or computer, and it would transfer to the car seamlessly. It will also be able to stream your content, including full HD video on the screens in the car. The company says this is possible due to it having a number of modems in the vehicle, rather than just one. The car will also not use a key, and will allow your smartphone’s Bluetooth connectivity and an app called FF ID to unlock the car and personalize the car to each user.
The FF 91 features autonomous driving capability, that can adjust to changing driving conditions. The company says it has the most comprehensive sensor system in any car, with 10 cameras, 13 radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and one retractable LIDAR scanner, that’s found on the center of the hood. That means when it’s in autonomous mode, passengers and other motorists will be able to tell. Using this array of sensors, the company demonstrated a self parking feature, where the car can search for a parking spot and park itself, even without anyone in the car. Faraday Future promises that you’ll never have to park again.
The automaker bills this car as a “new species” with its 130 kWh battery, the largest EV battery on a production car, that leads to a range of 378 miles, another class leading number. By using multiple motors, the car makes 1,050 hp. Zero to sixty can happen in 2.39 seconds. The automaker makes sure to point out that this beats the previous benchmark of 2.6 seconds, set by the Model S P100D in Ludicrous Mode.
In terms of charging, Faraday Future promises to support any standard including and is capable of charging up to 200 kW, or 500 miles per hour.
A sweptback profile that’s best described as something between a wagon and a crossover, the car sports a unique front end with a LED lighting signature that runs the entire width of the car. Aerodynamics are a major part of this car, with it featuring a 0.25 coefficient of drag. That’s the same as a Toyota Prius. Ride height automatically adjusts for better performance and aerodynamics. Even the wheels feature shutters that help the car cut through the air better.
It shuns traditional handles and instead has capacitive touch buttons to open the doors, which are suicide doors. The interior is spacious, packing 151 cubic feet of passenger space. According to the company, the car’s long wheelbase and size allows for it to feature rear seats that can recline more than a Mercedes-Maybach.
The automaker, backed by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting, is taking reservations on its website, asking for a $5,000 refundable deposit for a car, which can be upgraded to a “FF 91 Alliance Edition” which is limited to 300 units. Otherwise, you can get a ‘standard reservation’ with no money down and non-priority spot, it’s a simple form on the automakers website. It’s expected to hit customers in 2018.