FF 91: Faraday Future finally reveals electric car

Chinese-backed electric car firm Faraday Future has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. But the brand has finally showed off its first car in the form of the FF 91 at CES.

The electric station wagon of sorts is packed with technology, starting with the so-called FFID profile, which saves your data to learn about you.

The non-car stuff

“Your unique FFID profile encompasses an extensive range of your drive preferences and content choices — from your seat setting to your song list,” the company wrote on its website, adding that climate control and routes are also tied to the profile system.

If it all sounds a little sci-fi, well… the firm intends to step things up even more with the FFID system.

“FF 91 can not only recognise faces, but also facial expressions and moods it uses to auto-prompt an experience to match, using music, temperature, scent, content, massage and more,” the company wrote in a press release. I’ll believe it when I see it…

These features are set to be activated by your phone but, in a feature just pleading for hackers to take advantage of your car, the vehicle will incorporate facial recognition in lieu of your handset. This facial recognition camera is situated on the pillar between the front and back seats.

The FF 91 is the first electric car (and car) from Faraday Future, but don’t expect it in 2017

Speaking of phone-related stuff, the car app will also let you activate some features, such as toggling lights, popping the boot/bonnet, disabling the alarm and getting a range estimate. But one of the more innovative uses for the app is the Driverless Valet functionality.

Activate our app and our breakthrough in autonomous technology becomes your personal valet, parking the FF 91 after you exit the vehicle. You can then summon it to pick you up wherever you’re waiting,” Faraday Future explained, adding that you can schedule the FF 91 to come at a specified time as well.

The FF 91 is expected to be a sensory powerhouse otherwise, starting with the 3D lidar technology.

“Utilising laser pulses to scan its surroundings, our lidar is the centerpiece of a sensor system teeming with over 30 cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors,” the fledgling automaker wrote.

The electric car stuff

One of the more prominent stats touted by Faraday for the FF 91 is the electric vehicle’s acceleration, with claimed figures of 0-100 km/h in 2.39 seconds.

“Peak motor power is 783 kW, equating to 1050 HP…” the company elaborated.

But who cares about speed if range is terrible? Well, the firm claims it’s got the goods here as well.

“Outfitted with a 130 kWh battery, FF 91 achieves a range of 378 miles (EPA est.) and over 700 km (NEDC est.) from the world’s highest energy density battery, engineered in partnership with LG Chem,” it wrote.

Want to get in on the action? Well, production is expected to start in 2018, but the company has already started accepting reservations, pegged at US$5000 a pop.