Faraday FF91: Company reveals the most futuristic electric car ever made

Some have raised doubts that the car will ever make it into production, and the futuristic vehicle had trouble even making its way to the reveal

The most futuristic car ever made has just been revealed – an electric vehicle with the acceleration of a Formula 1 car and the ability to learn about its driver.

But some have already voiced fears that the car might not ever actually be made. And it appeared to run into problem during its first outing, unable to complete a demonstration that served as the centrepiece of the big reveal.

The Faraday FF91 was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. As a highly-designed, self-driving and fast electric vehicle it looks to take on Tesla – but is likely to cost significantly more than any of that company's cars.

The company says that the FF91 will go into production in 2018. It has 1,050 horsepower and can go from 0-60 in 2.39 seconds – putting it among the fastest cars ever seen and beating the speediest Tesla's 2.5 seconds.

Aside from the car's speed, it will also have a "driverless valet" system. That will let it recognise people as they approach the car and have it unlock for them, and will allow it to adjust to the preferences of whoever is driving it. When the journey is over, the car will be able to park itself up.

But the huge amount of technology, engineering and industry required to make such a car has led some people to doubt that it will ever actually be built. The company unveiled one of its cars at CES last year – but was quickly criticised for being vague about its plans and not giving much detail on what it was actually developing for the future.

The company in charge of building Faraday's $1 billion car factory stopped work in November last year. And it lost three of its top executives including its global CEO last month, according to reports at the time.

The car was supposed to park itself on stage at CES but wouldn't move when the company's Chinese investor told it to do so. "As a new baby, she's very very timid," Nick Sampson, Faraday's vice president of engineering, explained – but the car has already been written off by some people.

Mr Sampson has said that the problem was caused by the car being indoors and that the company will "persist" despite the "naysayers and the skeptics".

Faraday said only 300 models would be made available initially to those who pay a £4,000 deposit, with the first expected to be delivered in 2018.