In many ways I feel sorry for FF. After all, they are on our side promoting EVs.
However, I don't subscribe to the notion that Tesla's highest performing production car has to be challenged with an unproven pre-production design to get noticed. Competition is tough but IMO there is enough room in the EV marketplace for many players, all that is required is well thought of, appealing products that people actually will yearn to buy. The whole Tesla-style on stage reveals are also unnecessary, I'm surprised that none of the top officials at FF saw this as a substandard attempt at copying EM & Tesla.
There have been quite a few who have protested Tesla's methods over the years. One of the things they continue to say is that they just want a
'good, long range, electric car'. Essentially, that if they could get the fully electric equivalent of a Camry or Accord, they'd be fine. They swear to have no need for
'high performance' at all. They have no interest in drag racing or
'luxury'.
To them, I say, fine. Let Toyota or Honda build that car for you. They have the manufacturing capacity and the deep pockets to manage the feat.
Tesla though is on a mission. And that mission cannot be achieved with a
'me too' mobile. For over two decades, and well after the Excel was dead and gone, Hyundai had a hard time selling the American public on the Sonata. It has only been in the last few years that it has been able to reach the top ten in sales of passenger cars consistently within the U.S. Even though the Sonata has been at least as good as Camry and Accord for a long time. Tesla does not have the time, nor the deep pockets of backers like Hyundai Heavy Equipment or the Korean government to support it through such a long introduction. And if the Model ☰ had come out and was just like everything else, people would have just got a Camry instead.
So, I understand Faraway Future's position... That they feel it is necessary to go after the
'Tesla Killer' mantle, even though I think that ill advised. But though I understand, I agree with you, the target should be ICE vehicles in the price range they want to occupy. Show your prototype taking on a Panamera Turbo S, an Alpina B7, or an AMG S63 and blowing their doors entirely off while coddling its passengers in style. Issue a challenge, but through the gauntlet at the feet of those you can beat best at their own game. And do so on your own terms, not by copying someone else along the way.
[ NOTE: Criminy. I think I did it again... I keep forgetting the difference between FF and LUCiD cars... I apologize if this post makes no sense. Ugh. ]
