It may look like Batmobile – but with it a U.S. firm plans an attack on Tesla's grip on the electric car market. But it's far from clear whether it will make it to the production line.
What about one thousand horse power, from 0 to 100 in less than 3 seconds, a top speed of more than 320 km/h? Sounds like a boy's dream. The performance is to be produced by four separate engines – one for each wheel.
FFZERO1 was presented to the public at the start of this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the most important gathering of people interested in consumer technology.
Technology Fair Show
Yes, Faraday Future, the U.S. company behind the super sports car, didn't opt for your average car show – no, it chose a technology fair to showcase its first product.
FFZERO1 is not your average sports car and not your average electric car either: it is connected and learns how to drive – or at least learns to adapt to the driver
Faraday Future sees itself as a rival to Tesla Motors. Founder and CEO Elon Musk has become the icon of an industry still in its infancy. His new car company within a few years brushed aside all programs of established car manufacturers.
His Model S Tesla has become a new status symbol for people who can afford the little bit extra and previously opted for a BMW, Volvo or Jaguar.
Filling the Vacuum
Faraday Future wants to fill the vacuum behind Tesla as soon as possible. It was founded 18 months ago and is financed by Jia Yueting, a citizen of China, who made a fortune selling electronic gadgets. He put $1 billion into Faraday Future.
The company's marketing machine has done well to prepare the ground for this week's presentation. For months, videos and bits of information have been the choice of car freaks on the Internet, boosting expectations.
One Drawback Only
The drawback came with the presentation of FFZERO1: performance and looks may appeal to some, but the car will likely never make it into the showrooms of car dealers. It's a study, a concept car, which isn't intended to be driven around.
Faraday plans to sell its first cars in a couple of years. Perhaps, FFZERO1 will be a limited edition special that may be sold separately at a later date.
