There’s something new from Faraday Future, and we had the chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at CES 2025 in Las Vegas recently. This isn’t just a new vehicle, but a whole new brand. Where Faraday Future builds high-end electric vehicles, the new Faraday X sub-brand will build EVs for the rest of us.
That’s a big change, considering that the Faraday Future FF 91, which made its debut at CES 2017, goes for over $300,000. Its high price explains in part why only 16 units have been sold and why creating a sub-brand with a target price of $20K to $50K might make sense.
What Is Faraday X?
Faraday X aims to bring Faraday Future technology – from AI to autonomous driving – to a more mainstream audience while still delivering a premium experience. The initial product lineup is set to include three vehicles, with the first of these available by the end of this year. It’s an ambitious goal, considering that Faraday Future struggled just getting the FF 91 out the door. There’s more than a little doubt over whether the company will survive at all, much less be able to launch a sub-brand.
Despite the doubters, Faraday X is moving forward and showcased a prototype mule at a special event during CES 2025. They even let us climb inside for a ride, but under very limited and controlled circumstances. It’s not really enough time for comprehensive reviews, but we can tell you a little about our first impressions from what we could glean from our time with Faraday X leadership and our spin in the Super One prototype.
The Goal Of The Super One
The upcoming Super One looks like a minivan, but the Faraday X folks are quick to point out that it’s far more than the standard family hauler. That’s the turf of the Toyota Sienna or Kia Carnival where the new Super One will deliver a more premium experience. It’s a segment we don’t really have in the US, but in Asia it’s hugely popular. There, premium minivans are often piloted by a chauffeur while passengers simply lounge in the back.
On the outside, you’d swear it’s a standard minivan, so the distinction is really all about what’s inside. Even covered in camouflage to hide the exact details, there’s the telltale sliding door and familiar shape. No matter what they call it, you’re going to think it’s a minivan when you see one. There may be some echoes of the FF 91 seen below, but that’s in the details we haven’t yet been made privy to.
Premium Interior For You, Not Your Kids
Much of what makes a premium vehicle premium is the interior, and Faraday X gave us ample opportunity to relax in the second-row captain’s chairs. Calling them captain’s chairs feels a bit off though, as these look like lounge chairs right out of your living room. They’re oversized and very comfortable with heating and massage functionality, and the ability to recline to the point that you can easily take a nap.
The seats were draped in black cloth. Whether to hide them or protect them we couldn’t tell, but what we could see of the surfaces looked good. It had the feel of a premium vehicle with plenty of room for even the tallest adults. I question how well kids will do back there, but that’s not really their target market: This is a minivan for grown-ups. Whether that means lounging in the back or enjoying time behind the wheel is up to you.
The Parking Lot Tour
After a briefing and time with the Super One mule in a studio, they led us to the parking lot for a quick spin – around the parking lot. There was no street drive, and we were only allowed to ride as passengers. No one was allowed behind the wheel.
It was also a little strange as we were restricted to speeds of 5 mph at the request of the owners of the event space. A decent section of the lot was fenced off for the experience where the driver took us on leisurely laps back and forth, a few tight turns to show off the turning radius, and one brief burst of speed at the end.
The Super One prototype rides smoothly enough, but it was, as we said, a very limited experience. The dashboard was also draped in black cloth, so it was impossible to see those surfaces or discern just what kind of tech it might include. Our front passenger, another journalist, said it felt huge up there thanks to a very long windshield, and we all wondered about the impossibility of cleaning it unless you had very long arms.
A Chance For Success
Faraday X sees itself as bringing a new kind of high-tech EV experience to customers, but is this the one people want? This isn’t a segment that exists here yet, so it’s hard to say if very many people will buy into the idea. The automaker also didn’t reveal the price of the Super One. While they said they’re targeting somewhere in the $20K to $50K for the start of the vehicle range, they also said pricing could reach up toward $80K depending on the model. That’s firmly in luxury car territory and based on what we heard and saw about the Super One, we’d guess that’s where this will land. That’s not exactly a more affordable, mainstream model, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see exactly what Faraday X delivers.