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| CES 2017: Faraday Future unveils super fast electric car | CES 2017: Faraday Future unveils super fast electric car |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Start-up Faraday Future has unveiled a self-driving electric car that it says can accelerate from zero to 60mph (97km/h) in 2.39 seconds. | Start-up Faraday Future has unveiled a self-driving electric car that it says can accelerate from zero to 60mph (97km/h) in 2.39 seconds. |
| Faraday says the FF91 accelerates faster than Tesla's Model S or any other electric car in production. | Faraday says the FF91 accelerates faster than Tesla's Model S or any other electric car in production. |
| It was shown off at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. | It was shown off at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. |
| But Faraday Future has faced financial difficulties and one analyst said it had to challenge "scepticism" following last year's CES presentation. | But Faraday Future has faced financial difficulties and one analyst said it had to challenge "scepticism" following last year's CES presentation. |
| The FF91 was introduced via a live demo, in which it drove itself around a car park and backed into an empty space. | The FF91 was introduced via a live demo, in which it drove itself around a car park and backed into an empty space. |
| Pre-recorded footage also showed the car accelerating from standstill to 60mph in 2.39 seconds. | Pre-recorded footage also showed the car accelerating from standstill to 60mph in 2.39 seconds. |
| Tesla's fastest model did it in 2.5 seconds on the same track. | Tesla's fastest model did it in 2.5 seconds on the same track. |
| Late in the presentation, however, there was an awkward moment when Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting tried to demonstrate the car's self-parking function on stage in front of the audience. | Late in the presentation, however, there was an awkward moment when Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting tried to demonstrate the car's self-parking function on stage in front of the audience. |
| This time, the vehicle remained stationary. | This time, the vehicle remained stationary. |
| Mr Jia is chief executive of LeEco - a Chinese video-on-demand and smartphone-maker - which has invested in Faraday. | |
| "OK, it seems like it's a little bit lazy tonight," said Faraday senior vice president Nick Sampson, as the car refused to respond. It eventually complied later when they made a second attempt. | "OK, it seems like it's a little bit lazy tonight," said Faraday senior vice president Nick Sampson, as the car refused to respond. It eventually complied later when they made a second attempt. |
| Faraday plans to release the FF91 in 2018. To pre-order, hopefuls will need to provide a refundable $5,000 (£4,080) deposit. | Faraday plans to release the FF91 in 2018. To pre-order, hopefuls will need to provide a refundable $5,000 (£4,080) deposit. |
| The event came a year after the firm's first press conference, where it showed off a futuristic-looking concept vehicle. Several commentators criticised it at the time for failing to give more detail about what it was actually working on. | The event came a year after the firm's first press conference, where it showed off a futuristic-looking concept vehicle. Several commentators criticised it at the time for failing to give more detail about what it was actually working on. |
| Car ID | Car ID |
| Prospective buyers were told they would be able to connect to the forthcoming car via a virtual "FFID" account. | Prospective buyers were told they would be able to connect to the forthcoming car via a virtual "FFID" account. |
| With this, Mr Sampson explained, it would be possible to share data - such as movies or route plans - to the car from personal computers, for example. | With this, Mr Sampson explained, it would be possible to share data - such as movies or route plans - to the car from personal computers, for example. |
| Analysis: Dave Lee, BBC North America technology reporter, at CES in Las Vegas | |
| Tech launches are famed for their awkward exchanges on stage, but the dynamic between Faraday Future's Nick Sampson and LeEco boss Jia Yueting was on another level. | |
| Sampson is the company's figurehead on events like this, glitzy launches where big promises are made. Mr Jia holds the financial keys to keep the Faraday Future project going - the money from his China-based firm is bankrolling the efforts here (at least, we think it is - neither firm will discuss the nature of the deal). | |
| So when the newly-launched car failed to drive itself a few feet in front of the audience, Sampson was almost apologetic to Mr Jia. For the audience, it suddenly felt like we'd stumbled into a product pitch meeting and were watching Sampson pick up the pieces. | |
| In the unscientific poll I conducted shortly after the presentation, all felt the design of the FF91 fell short of Tesla's vehicles in the style-stakes. As I type this, Elon Musk is yet to offer any reaction to his newest competitor. I don't think he'll be losing any sleep. Experience has shown him that making the car is the easy bit - producing it on en masse is far more difficult. | |
| Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC | |
| Faraday Future has lately been in the news for less celebratory reasons - its troubled finances. | Faraday Future has lately been in the news for less celebratory reasons - its troubled finances. |
| In November, it confirmed that work had stopped on a huge factory in Las Vegas intended to manufacture a car backed by investment from LeEco. | In November, it confirmed that work had stopped on a huge factory in Las Vegas intended to manufacture a car backed by investment from LeEco. |
| A week earlier, the Bloomberg news agency had revealed that Mr Jia had written to LeEco's employees to say his firm's finances were under pressure. | |
| Ever since it unveiled a futuristic concept car at last year's CES, Faraday Future has been met with much scepticism, said Gartner automotive analyst Mike Ramsay. | Ever since it unveiled a futuristic concept car at last year's CES, Faraday Future has been met with much scepticism, said Gartner automotive analyst Mike Ramsay. |
| "This is a must impress situation," he added. | "This is a must impress situation," he added. |
| "Even if everything had been going perfectly, it is very difficult to be a start-up carmaker, particularly when you are coming from a tech background." | "Even if everything had been going perfectly, it is very difficult to be a start-up carmaker, particularly when you are coming from a tech background." |
| Having seen the presentation, Mr Ramsay commented that he was "not convinced" that the firm was yet a clear contender. | Having seen the presentation, Mr Ramsay commented that he was "not convinced" that the firm was yet a clear contender. |
| "It still seems like it's more in the realm of fantasy than reality," he added. | "It still seems like it's more in the realm of fantasy than reality," he added. |
| "For the car to have a 130 kWh battery pack, it would be very heavy, and very expensive - extremely expensive to have a battery that size." | "For the car to have a 130 kWh battery pack, it would be very heavy, and very expensive - extremely expensive to have a battery that size." |
| On stage, Faraday executive Peter Savagian explained that the FF19 would be chargeable from various electrical standards. | On stage, Faraday executive Peter Savagian explained that the FF19 would be chargeable from various electrical standards. |
| He added its range would extend to 482 miles (775km) when driven at 55mph. | He added its range would extend to 482 miles (775km) when driven at 55mph. |
| Many analysts expect interest in electric vehicles to continue to rise in coming years. | Many analysts expect interest in electric vehicles to continue to rise in coming years. |
| "We estimate around one in 10 vehicles will be electric or hybrid by 2020, at around 8 million vehicles," said Simon Bryant at analysts Futuresource. | "We estimate around one in 10 vehicles will be electric or hybrid by 2020, at around 8 million vehicles," said Simon Bryant at analysts Futuresource. |
| More from CES 2017: | More from CES 2017: |
| Follow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017 | Follow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017 |
| But companies like Faraday Future face competition from more established rivals - such as Tesla. | But companies like Faraday Future face competition from more established rivals - such as Tesla. |
| "Tesla is one of those brands - it has become synonymous with attractive electric vehicles, and the brand keeps innovating," Mr Bryant told the BBC. | "Tesla is one of those brands - it has become synonymous with attractive electric vehicles, and the brand keeps innovating," Mr Bryant told the BBC. |
| "Competing with this will be difficult but the wider electric vehicle industry will benefit from more companies competing in this space." | "Competing with this will be difficult but the wider electric vehicle industry will benefit from more companies competing in this space." |