Las Vegas – Electric vehicle start-up Faraday Future showed off in Las Vegas a prototype of a vehicle set for production next year as the China-backed company strives to win credibility in the crowded sector and weather its funding challenges. The “FF 91”, described by its designer Richard Kim as “weird-pretty”, is a luxury electric SUV Faraday executives say, will be the most technologically advanced on the market when it goes into production in early 2018. Advance reservations for the car – which insiders say will retail for about 180,000 dollars – are being taken for 5,000 dollars. “You’re about to witness day one of a new era of mobility,” said Nick Sampson, senior vice president of engineering and research and development. “We’re going to show the first of a new species.” But cash shortages and a recent spate of executive departures have raised questions about the company’s prospects. Faraday is funded and controlled by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting, the chief execu...