Deliveries of the tech-laden electric vehicle have begun.
Faraday Future, the obscure brand behind the cutting-edge FF 91, has announced that deliveries of its electric vehicle have commenced. The company also shared the starting price for the first edition model; buyers will have to fork out a staggering $309,000 for the privilege.
First revealed in 2017, the FF 91 has experienced its fair share of delays and teething problems. As a luxury electric SUV, it's aimed at the upper echelons of the motoring world. Faraday compares the newcomer to the Ferrari SF90, Rolls-Royce Spectre, and the Maybach EQS 680 SUV and S680.
The company describes itself as “the disruptor of the traditional ultra-luxury car civilization epitomized by Ferrari and Maybach” but admits there is a gap between itself and the brands mentioned above regarding interior luxury.
The FF 91 has 1,050 horsepower and a mountainous 1,458 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of the tri-motor electric setup. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is dealt with in 2.27 seconds (quicker than a Ferrari SF90). Faraday has not shared any additional performance data.
Even the range is impressive. With an EPA-estimated 381 miles, it's well ahead of the competition. It even beats the Tesla Model X. But can this, along with impressively long warranties and plenty of luxury features, justify the exorbitant asking price? We're not so sure.
Only the limited edition 2.0 Futurist Alliance is priced at $309,000. A less expensive 2.0 Futurist will retail for $249,000.
Still, that's a lot of money for a relatively unknown brand. We understand that Faraday is making these vehicles in limited numbers and therefore has to price them high to make a profit, but who would be willing to fork out a quarter-million dollars on an obscure EV?
According to Electrek, company founder YT Jia said that buyers will be able to recoup 60% of the vehicle's value when they trade it in after three years. Other exciting features include the FF aiHypercar+ subscription system, which introduces various autonomous driving features.
Currently, this is made up of the usual driver assists, but Faraday says future over-the-air updates will give the FF 91 the ability to plot maps, allowing it to extricate itself from private car parks, for example. It does cost $14,900 per annum, though, which is absurd.
It will be interesting to see whether Faraday succeeds in this fiercely competitive segment. Wealthy customers know what they like; if you spend $250,000, you want something extraordinary in return. To sway Bentley and Maybach buyers is one thing, but it's a tall order with a relatively unknown brand.
The FF 91 EV production kicked off last month, although the company is focusing on the aforementioned 2.0 Futurist Alliance. Just 300 examples will be produced. We assume the company will then focus on getting the lesser 2.0 Futurist model to customers.
We can't wait to see how the FF 91 EV stacks up to the competition. Perhaps it's worth every penny and a viable rival to the established brands. Until then, we'll remain skeptical.
Keyword: Faraday Future FF 91 Costs An Eye-Watering $309,000