Faraday Future's electric car peeks out of the shadows

Faraday Future let slip another teaser for the electric car it plans to unveil at CES 2017, offering glimpses of the styling of the Chinese-backed startup's first production model.

A pair of shadowy images highlight the front and rear ends of the vehicle. One photo posted to Twitter shows slim headlights connected by a horizontal light bar, just like on a 1980s Mercury Sable. A textured area below the headlights gives the impression of a grille, although, being electric, the car won't have one.

More: China's NextEV promises a Tesla-rivalling SUV at a "Toyota" price

A second photo, depicting the rear end, will likely drive plenty of speculation. The tiny appendage sticking out from the side of the car is too small to be a mirror, so it might be a camera that feeds a display inside the car. Several automakers, including Tesla, have tried to eliminate external mirrors because they create aerodynamic drag, but U.S. regulators have refused to allow it so far. Consequently, this may be a detail that does not make it to production.

It's also unclear what the red and silver blob in the upper-right-hand corner of the roof is. One possibility is that it's a sensor related to autonomous driving. Faraday has hinted that it wants to pursue self-driving cars, and those cars usually have some protruding bits, usually lidar units that help cars "see" the environment. This would be the most streamlined and unobtrusive lidar unit yet, though.

Faraday has revealed little else about its production car, which it plans to start building sometime around 2018. Previous teasers indicate that it will be some form of crossover, as they've shown a vehicle with a rear hatch and a tall body. The car will use lithium-ion battery cells from LG Chem, and the Variable Product Architecture (VPA) platform previewed by Faraday's FFZero1 supercar concept from CES 2016.

The company still needs a place to build this car, though. Work on its factory site in North Las Vegas, Nevada, is at a standstill as Faraday negotiates with lead contractor AECOM. The contractor previously warned Faraday that it was late on payments for an escrow account covering associated costs. So far, Faraday has relied on Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting and his LeEco tech company, but LeEco is now experiencing its own financial issues, Jia said in a letter to employees last month.

Is it a car or a greenhouse? Rinspeed's new vehicle has a steering wheel that doubles as a table and a garden for growing radishes behind the windscreen

Wacky Swiss concept vehicle is designed to merge home life with autonomous driving  

The onboard garden plot is ideal for growing herbs and Bonsai trees

The steering wheel folds into a desk when not in use and the owner has to pass an alertness test administered by the car to take over control

It will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2017 

By Rob Hull For Thisismoney.co.uk

Published: 11:34 EST, 7 December 2016 | Updated: 13:59 EST, 7 December 2016

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If your ideal car of the future is one that lets you enjoy a spot of gardening while on the move, this is a concept you'll like.

It's from the Swiss carmaker Rinspeed, which is synonymous with outrageous  designs in the automotive world.

This latest model keeps to tradition - it's fully autonomous, can rotate on the spot, has a steering wheel that flips over to become a desk and even has a garden plot that soaks up the sun behind the windscreen.

Car or greenhouse? The Rinspeed Oasis has a full autonomous mode and a garden plot behind the dashboard

Welcome to the car of the future: That's according to Rinspeed anyway. Inside, the steering wheel folds upright when the driver is no longer in control and there's a band of 5K screens

It's called the Oasis and it will be showcased for the firs t time at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas in January.

So what is it exactly? According to boss Frank M. Rinderknecht, the Oasis is 'a maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'. 

The miniature allotment sitting between the dashboard and the front screen is the standout quirky feature among 'a host of technical and visual treats inside,' Rinspeed said.

It's all part of a 'Home+Garden' to 'Car+Garden' approach by the wacky vehicle designer who said the small space is ideal for growing radishes or small Bonsai trees.

But what other strange delights are buried within?

Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht said the idea is to bring the joys of home gardening to the car

The small garden plot is ideal for radishes, Bonsai trees and herbs, according to the wacky carmaker

The car owner has to pass a test administered by the car to take control of the steering wheel. When it's not needed, the wheel folds flat and can be used as a desk

Well, there's a steering wheel that transforms into a desk space when the car isn't being driven by the owner - the wheel folds horizontal and lays flat so you can use it as table for your laptop to catch up on email. You can even make Skype video calls using a camera built into the cabin.

If you do want to get a feel for the wheel and override the autonomous functionality you can do, but first you have to pass a fitness and alertness test that's administered by the car.

Rinspeed's vision for the future is laser-beamed messages to pedestrians to warn them that the electric car is approaching

The boot cover is even a screen that displays information. The vehicle is fully autonomous, so it will even deliver pizzas on its own, according to the Swiss brand that designed it

Rinspeed reckons this is the future of urban mobil ity, describing the Oasis as a 'maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'

The rest of the interior is designed to be like a modern living room, but for two people only.

That means it has a wooden floor, swiveling armchairs that can illuminate with your name on them and even sideboards, according to the spec sheet.

And what living room would be complete without a TV? The Oasis doesn't have just one, though - there's a band of 5K screens around the top of the dashboard, hiding the in-car cabbage patch from sight. 

As well as harvesting light and heat for the shrubbery growing up front, the huge windscreen also serves as a giant display for virtual and augmented reality information.

Outside, there's a solar panel on the roof to collect energy to power this mass of electronics.

The Rinspeed will beam important messages onto the floor for you as you leave the vehicle. This one reads:'Bye bye Tristan, your train departs in 8 minutes from track 5'

The interior is supposed to replicate a living room. You can even change the words displayed on the thigh supports and headrests of the seats

The car will debut at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2017

The final piece of wizardry is the laser-projecting system that beams information from the car itself. This not only alerts pedestrians about the vehicle approaching with signs shone directly onto the road but also displays calendar entries and reminders to the driver as they leave the car. 'Pick up food for the cat' could soon be coming to a pavement near you.

In terms of performance, the one key feature highlighted by Rinspeed is the ability to turn on a sixpence.

The Oasis has a 90 degree steering angle and electric motors being built into the wheels meaning it can turn within its own radius. Rinderknecht likens it to R2D2 from Star Wars.

No further performance figures are quoted for this greenhouse car of the future, so we'll have to wait for more details when they emerge next month. 

A solar panel on the roof harvests energy to power the raft of electronics inside the vehicle

According to Rinspeed, the wheels can turn at such an angle that it can move within its own radius. The company boss likened it to R2D2 from Star Wars. The man with the violin we can't explain

Faraday Future’s latest electric car teaser gives us a hint at its design

Faraday Future let slip another teaser for the electric car it plans to unveil at CES 2017, offering glimpses of the styling of the Chinese-backed startup's first production model.

A pair of shadowy images highlight the front and rear ends of the vehicle. One photo posted to Twitter shows slim headlights connected by a horizontal light bar, just like on a 1980s Mercury Sable. A textured area below the headlights gives the impression of a grille, although, being electric, the car won't have one.

A second photo, depicting the rear end, will likely drive plenty of speculation. The tiny appendage sticking out from the side of the car is too small to be a mirror, so it might be a camera that feeds a display inside the car. Several automakers, including Tesla, have tried to eliminate external mirrors because they create aerodynamic drag, but U.S. regulators have refused to allow it so far. Consequently, this may be a detail that does not make it to production.

More: China's NextEV promises a Tesla-rivalling SUV at a "Toyota" price

It's also unclear what the red and silver blob in the upper-right-hand corner of the roof is. One possibility is that it's a sensor related to autonomous driving. Faraday has hinted that it wants to pursue self-driving cars, and those cars usually have some protruding bits, usually lidar units that help cars "see" the environment. This would be the most streamlined and unobtrusive lidar unit yet, though.

Faraday has revealed little else about its production car, which it plans to start building sometime around 2018. Previous teasers indicate that it will be some form of crossover, as they've shown a vehicle with a rear hatch and a tall body. The car will use lithium-ion battery cells from LG Chem, and the Variable Product Architecture (VPA) platform previewed by Faraday's FFZero1 supercar concept from CES 2016.

The company still needs a place to build this car, though. Work on its factory site in North Las Vegas, Nevada, is at a standstill as Faraday negotiates with lead contractor AECOM. The contractor previously warned Faraday that it was late on payments for an escrow account covering associated costs. So far, Faraday has relied on Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting and his LeEco tech company, but LeEco is now experiencing its own financial issues, Jia said in a letter to employees last month.

Rinspeed's concept car has a steering wheel desk and dashboard garden

If your ideal car of the future is one that lets you enjoy a spot of gardening while on the move, this is a concept you'll like.

It's from the Swiss carmaker Rinspeed, which is synonymous with outrageous  designs in the automotive world.

This latest model keeps to tradition - it's fully autonomous, can rotate on the spot, has a steering wheel that flips over to become a desk and even has a garden plot that soaks up the sun behind the windscreen.

Car or greenhouse? The Rinspeed Oasis has a full autonomous mode and a garden plot behind the dashboard

Welcome to the car of the future: That's according to Rinspeed anyway. Inside, the steering wheel folds upright when the driver is no longer in control and there's a band of 5K screens

It's called the Oasis and it will be showcased for the first time at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas in January.

So what is it exactly? According to boss Frank M. Rinderknecht, the Oasis is 'a maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'. 

The miniature allotment sitting between the dashboard and the front screen is the standout quirky feature among 'a host of technical and visual treats inside,' Rinspeed said.

It's all part of a 'Home+Garden' to 'Car+Garden' approach by the wacky vehicle designer who said the small space is ideal for growing radishes or small Bonsai trees.

But what other strange delights are buried within?

Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht said the idea is to bring the joys of home gardening to the car

The small garden plot is ideal for radishes, Bonsai trees and herbs, according to the wacky carmaker

The car owner has to pass a test administered by the car to take control of the steering wheel. When it's not needed, the wheel folds flat and can be used as a desk

Well, there's a steering wheel that transforms into a desk space when the car isn't being driven by the owner - the wheel folds horizontal and lays flat so you can use it as table for your laptop to catch up on email. You can even make Skype video calls using a camera built into the cabin.

If you do want to get a feel for the wheel and override the autonomous functionality you can do, but first you have to pass a fitness and alertness test that's administered by the car.

Rinspeed's vision for the future is laser-beamed messages to pedestrians to warn them that the electric car is approaching

The boot cover is even a screen that displays information. The vehicle is fully autonomous, so it will even deliver pizzas on its own, according to the Swiss brand that designed it

Rinspeed reckons this is the future of urban mobility, describing the Oasis as a 'maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'

The rest of the interior is designed to be like a modern living room, but for two people only.

That means it has a wooden floor, swiveling armchairs that can illuminate with your name on them and even sideboards, according to the spec sheet.

And what living room would be complete without a TV? The Oasis doesn't have just one, though - there's a band of 5K screens around the top of the dashboard, hiding the in-car cabbage patch from sight. 

As well as harvesting light and heat for the shrubbery growing up front, the huge windscreen also serves as a giant display for virtual and augmented reality information.

Outside, there's a solar panel on the roof to collect energy to power this mass of electronics.

The Rinspeed will beam important messages onto the floor for you as you leave the vehicle. This one reads:'Bye bye Tristan, your train departs in 8 minutes from track 5'

The interior is supposed to replicate a living room. You can even change the words displayed on the thigh supports and headrests of the seats

The car will debut at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2017

The final piece of wizardry is the laser-projecting system that beams information from the car itself. This not only alerts pedestrians about the vehicle approaching with signs shone directly onto the road but also displays calendar entries and reminders to the driver as they leave the car. 'Pick up food for the cat' could soon be coming to a pavement near you.

In terms of performance, the one key feature highlighted by Rinspeed is the ability to turn on a sixpence.

The Oasis has a 90 degree steering angle and electric motors being built into the wheels meaning it can turn within its own radius. Rinderknecht likens it to R2D2 from Star Wars.

No further performance figures are quoted for this greenhouse car of the future, so we'll have to wait for more details when they emerge next month. 

A solar panel on the roof harvests energy to power the raft of electronics inside the vehicle

According to Rinspeed, the wheels can turn at such an angle that it can move within its own radius. The company boss likened it to R2D2 from Star Wars. The man with the violin we can't explain

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Honda Teases Electrical Concept Car That Utilises An “Emotion Engine”

When it comes to next generation AI-Powered electric cars, Tesla is currently the king of the market, shortly followed by other companies such as Google. But now, a new company has entered the race. Honda shared an image to its website of  an AI-powered electric car that is also capable of "generating its own emotions".

The Japanese automaker will unveil the experimental vehicle early next year at CES in Las Vegas, where attendees will have an opportunity to get a hands-on demo with the technology. Called NeuV, the car will be automated and specifically designed for commuters.

"Honda will feature interactive and immersive experiences designed to showcase a future technology path toward a redefined mobility experience. From reducing traffic congestion to creating new modes of in-car connectivity, visitors will have an opportunity to explore and demo technologies with the potential to make people's lives better. The exhibit will include the NeuV, a concept automated EV commuter vehicle equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) called 'emotion engine' that creates new possibilities for human interaction and new value for customers."

-Honda Corporate

The emotion engine is a set of AI technologies developed by cocoro SB Corp., which enable machines to artificially generate their own emotions. What that means is still open to interpretation. Perhaps we're seeing the first generation of Westworld Hosts?

The January 5, 2017 Honda press conference at CES will feature a keynote address from Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, President & CEO of Honda R&D Co., Ltd, who will also unveil a concept motorcycle demonstrating an application of the company's robotics technology.

Source: Honda Press

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Faraday Future may have to delay its electric car launch

The last couple of months haven't been good for Faraday Future, the Chinese-backed startup that hopes to launch an electric car within two years. Work on the company's factory in North Las Vegas, Nevada, has stopped, and Faraday's Chinese patron, tech company LeEco, is running short on cash.

Faraday still plans to unveil its production car at CES 2017 in January, though, and hasn't discussed any plans to push back the start of production. At CES 2016, the company said it would start production of its electric car. But one former Faraday employee told the Financial Times (subscription required) that meeting the target launch date is "not possible."

"If CES goes badly, it's all over," the anonymous former employee said. "It will be a long time before there is a production car." Faraday's production timeline has always been fairly aggressive. The company has never built a car before, and doesn't even have a factory, so it has quite a bit of work to do. Factory construction and pre-production prep work alone could consume a lot of time, and it's unclear whether development work on the Faraday electric car has been completed.

More: Faraday Future's mysterious electric car teased

Work at the factory site is at a standstill. Earlier this month, lead contractor AECOM said that "grading and foundation prep work" had been completed, but that Faraday Future is "temporarily adjusting their construction schedule with plans to resume in early 2017." In October, AECOM sent a letter to Faraday warning that the automaker was late on a $21 million deposit for an escrow account to cover material costs and subcontractor work.

At the same time, LeEco and its billionaire founder, Jia Yueting, are experiencing financial trouble. In a recent letter to employees, Jia said LeEco has overextended itself and was running out of cash. He cited the company's automotive projects, as well as the recent effort to launch its television and smartphone lines in the U.S. In addition to Faraday Future, LeEco has a partnership with Aston Martin, and has considered building cars under its own brand name.

Faraday still plans to unveil its electric car at CES. Little is known about the car, although Faraday has said it will use the Variable Product Architecture (VPA) platform from its FFZero1 concept car, and lithium-ion battery cells from LG Chem. Teaser images indicate the car may be a crossover SUV.

The 25 coolest concept cars revealed this year so far

Automakers are pushing bold, innovative ideas forward with their latest concept cars.

Rob Ludacer

Whether it's a car with nothing inside but a sofa and TV or an electric car resembling the Batmobile, concept cars give us a glimpse of how technology will shape the future of driving.

Scroll down for our round-up of the 25 coolest concept cars released so far this year:

View As: One Page Slides

Faraday Future Insider: 'If CES Goes Badly, It's All Over'

FF's first disappointing delay, the FFZero1 concept car that debuted at this past CES. Sketch credit: FF

Faraday Future's story starts with a disappointment: FF implied it would show its first electric production car at the last CES only to rush out a nonfunctional concept that cost the company $2 million. Now they've promised a production car again, but it looks like it's in trouble too.

Faraday Future may be delaying its very first production car, as a report from The Financial Times indicates. Faraday Future promised to debut its first buyer-ready car at CES in January with production starting some time later in 2017, but an insider speaking to The Financial Times aimed to lower expectations:

After promising two years ago in interviews that its first cars would be on the road and available to buy by 2017, a target it reiterated in January, that deadline now looks unachievable, according to people close to the company, given financial difficulties at its main investor, the Chinese entertainment and technology group LeEco, and the halt to construction on its Nevada car factory.

One former Faraday employee reckoned that a 2017 delivery was "not possible", even if it does show off a working prototype at CES.

"If CES goes badly, it's all over," this person said. "It will be a long while before there is a production car."

This is a worrying statement to my ears, as we at Jalopnik got a different note from a Faraday Future insider with the worrying message, "Don't expect to see as much as you'd like at CES."

So things don't exactly look great for Faraday Future. At least one PR person at FF has told Jalopnik that the company is "full steam ahead" for CES, even at the expense of its factory that has currently stopped construction. If there's a disappointment at CES, then, or a further delay with its production car, there's really not much else to look forward to from the auto startup.

We have reached out to Faraday Future for comment, and if you have any information you would like to share, please email me at raphael at jalopnik dot com.

From 1956 concept: A future vision of driverless cars shows how far Tesla reached

A lot has been considered about the race for the self-driving car, as Tesla, Uber and other auto giants fight to be the first to perfect autonomous driving.

Ford is promising a "fully self-driving" commercial cars under five years– even beer trucks are making deliveries without a human behind the wheel, utilizing innovation not too unlike Tesla's "autopilot" function.

Yet, as far as the innovation has advanced throughout the years, the progress can begin to underwhelm the longer it drags out– at least up until you understand just how far the dream has come.

An ideal example to show back on is the enthusiastic Firebird II concept automobile, dreamed up and constructed by the futurists at General Motors in 1956.

Highlighted on the recent episode of CNBC's "Jay Leno's Garage," the gas turbine-powered vehicle was the first auto ever constructed out of titanium and used a peek into exactly what the future of driving might look like, complete with an automated driving system that was managed by contacting an electronic strip on the highway underneath the automobile.

A General Motors marketing video included at its 1956 traveling automotive Motorama display illustrated how the automobile would enable a driver to take their hands off the wheel while the Firebird II effortlessly drove itself down the highway.

"This was the start of autonomous driving," comedian and auto enthusiast Jay Leno told, including how unsustainable the concept of having the equivalent of air traffic controllers monitoring the automobile along the road was.

"I believe the vision in the past was to have these towers like every 20 miles.".

Obviously, the idea of an electronic highway and highway controllers in towers never removed, however 6 decades later on, General Motors is being proven right in forecasting a feature that has now all but become expected of upcoming models.

Handful Of GM Concepts Land On Car and Driver’s 20 Worst Concept Cars List

Concept cars are a wonderful thing. They provoke creativity and try to steer the public towards what the future may hold for a specific automotive brand. However, sometimes, they're not all that great.

Car and Driver has compiled its list of the 20 worst concept cars from the past 20 years, and General Motors was well represented here. We're sure this will be hotly debated, but here it goes.

1997 Pontiac Rageous

The excitement division was not very much exciting at the turn of the century. However, the Rageous concept turned a few heads. It pulled all the Pontiac performance design cues of the time into one Hot Wheels-looking machine. Whether it has aged well or not is in the eyes of the beholder.

1998 Buick Signia

Before crossovers were truely a thing, there was the Buick Signia concept. The tall wagon has long been criticized for its strange shape, including the bulbous rear fenders and giant grille. The Signia concept would preview the production Buick Rendevous, itself an easier-on-the-eyes Pontiac Aztek. Maybe.

1999 Buick Cielo

The Signia concept wasn't deemed quite the success many thought it would be. So, Buick decided to stick to sedans. Enter the Cielo concept. However, once again, strange body lines and a massive, drooping grille led to puzzled looks rather than an eye pleaser. The grille was supposedly supposed to reference the Buick Y-Job, the industry's first concept vehicle. However, the Y-Job certainly wore it better. Thankfully, recent Buick concepts have gotten it oh so right. We're looking at you, Avenir and Avista.

1999 Pontiac Aztek

How could this not land on the list? The Aztek is nearly a household name now, thanks to numerous pop culture references. To be fair, the concept variant looked much more handsome than what would come. Still, its awkward shape never found much love. Maybe it has a shot at being a future collectible? We've thought about it.

2002 Chevrolet Bel Air

It probably would have been best if Chevrolet left the Bel Air name to rest in peace as a cornerstone to the brand. The coveted Bel Air nameplate is synonymous with a simpler time and is about as American as apple pie. However, when the 2002 Bel Air concept debuted, it was a far cry from yesteryear. Retro was in, and the Bel Air tried to capitalize on the trend. But, the fact it was built on a Chevrolet Trailblazer chassis was no help for its awkward proportions.

— Sean Szymkowski

Sean is a lead staff writer for GM Authority. The words above are fueled by passion and large amounts of caffeine. Find him on Instagram: @helloimseann