Technology

Posted on January 4, 2017 by staff

CES 2017: Faraday Future show high-speed car to rival Tesla

Technology

Faraday Future has used the run-up to Las Vegas’ CES conference to unveil a self-driving electric car it says accelerates faster than any other in production.

According to the start-up, the FF91 can go from zero to 60mph in 2.39 seconds – quicker than Tesla’s Model S, which manages 2.5 seconds.

During a live demo, the vehicle negotiated its own way around a car park and backed into an empty space.

The audience was also shown pre-recorded footage of the car’s acceleration capabilities.

Faraday Future’s saloon is scheduled for release in 2018, and anyone wishing to pre-order will need to put down a deposit of at least £4,000.

Jia Yueting, a Chinese billionaire and rumoured backer, and the firm’s senior vice president Nick Sampson said the FF91 has the ability to learn and adapt to its driver.

Prior to CES (Consumer and Electronics Show), which begins on Thursday, it was claimed the four-door car also features a “driverless valet” system – where the driver can leave and order it to park itself.

Two “aerodynamic antennas” enable the car to act as a wireless router, and it will unlock itself by recognising the driver’s face.

There have been some doubts as to whether the car will ever go into mass production, but Sampson said: “Despite all the naysayers and the sceptics we will persist”.

But Yeuting faced an awkward moment as he tried to demonstrate the self-parking function, and the vehicle did not move. Although it eventually came to life at the second attempt.

The FF91 would have a range of 482 miles when driven at 55mph.

The first 300 orders will have the option to upgrade their reservation in March 2017 to join an exclusive launch series, the Alliance Edition.