Skip to main content

Faraday Future’s first production vehicle will bow at CES 2017

When Faraday Future took the wraps off the FFZero1 Concept at CES last year, our jaws collectively dropped. It was just a concept, sure, but it was everything we loved about concept cars. It was bold, incredibly futuristic, and almost surreal in its configuration, with a distinct “UFO” side line protruding like a flying saucer and more carbon fiber than you could shake a stick at. One year later at CES 2017, the brand will officially debut its first production car.

“This first product will be a premium electric vehicle that combines extreme technology, industry leading range, and holistic design,” Faraday said in a statement. Indeed, the world of EVs is getting more crowded each day.

Your first question is probably something along the lines of, “Will the production car look anything like the FFZero1?” and the official answer is, “We have no idea!” But given the car’s radical designs, seeing anything close to the FFZero1 on the road is about as likely as any of us being able to afford it.

Read more: Faraday Future’s FFZero1 isn’t a car, it’s a template for the future of transport

First off, the concept car looks like a Le Mans prototype designed by Batman, and thus, the EV only seats one. Inside, the driver tilts back at a 45-degree angle and wears a helmet that gathers biometric data and delivers oxygen and water to the occupant. The vehicle is also completely autonomous, produces 1,000 hypothetical horsepower, and to make sure it stays connected to the cloud, Faraday made sure each car came with a full tank of internet.

With that in mind, we can probably all agree that the FFZero1 isn’t coming to a town near you anytime soon. Faraday Future has an impressive list of collaborators though, including infotainment gurus LeEco and British automaker Aston Martin, so in terms of the vehicle’s design, the possibilities are endless. Imagine the possibility of an electric Faraday Future supercar stuffed with next-gen tech from LeEco, all wrapped up classic Aston Martin styling. If that doesn’t excite you, you might want to check your pulse.

The good news is we don’t have long to wait, because the CES 2017 press days kick off on January 3, 2017.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Ariel E-Nomad Concept could create a new segment in the EV space
2024 ariel e nomad concept pictures specs

Ariel, a small British company known for developing segment-bending sports cars, has unveiled an electric version of its Nomad 2 off-roader. While still at the concept stage, the E-Nomad will create a new niche in the EV space if it receives the proverbial green light for production.

Going electric wasn't an excuse to tone down the styling, and the E-Nomad looks just as wild as the Nomad 2 it's based on. Sitting high off the ground, it's characterized by two pairs of three headlights that give it a bug eye look, wheels that stick out from the body, and a highly functional interior. There's nothing else quite like it on the road; it's pegged at the intersection of sports cars, SUVs, and dune buggies.

Read more
Does single-pedal driving actually extend EV range? It’s complicated
Rivian R1S Gen 2.

With the rise of electric vehicles, regenerative braking has become a whole lot more common, and many drivers of EVs assume that using maximum regenerative braking settings means they're getting a better range. Part of this has to do with how EV manufacturers present regenerative braking -- as a way to recapture energy that would otherwise be lost.

But when you really think about it, using single-pedal driving may not necessarily be that much more efficient. What's the best way to get maximum efficiency from your electric car? Turns out, it's complicated.
What is regenerative braking?
In an EV, regenerative braking essentially recaptures the kinetic energy produced by a car when it slows down, which is then converted into energy and stored in the battery to be used later on. It’s a way to ensure that your vehicle is capturing as much energy as possible, which could theoretically maximize range in a world of range anxiety.

Read more
Volvo’s EX90 was meant to be a tech buffet, but ends up a satisfying snack
2025 Volvo EX90 front quarter view.

EVs and tech have become intertwined. That's great for the people who want cars to act like four-wheeled smartphones, which seem to be the focus of many auto-industry product planning decisions, but not for those who want transportation. That’s abundantly clear from the development saga of the 2025 Volvo EX90.

Volvo has developed an appealing and distinctive aesthetic in recent years, one that carries forward to this three-row electric SUV that's positioned to compete against the cluster of luxury EVs hovering in the high-five-figure price range. But instead of concentrating on that strength, Volvo crammed in many software-based features that have proven difficult to implement.

Read more