WATCH: Faraday Future bag Pikes Peak record

Faraday Future is claiming a new Pikes Peak hill climb production electric car record for its FF91 five-door hatchback.

Clearly the time of 11:25.082 undercuts, by no less than 23 seconds, the previous record which was set last year by a modified Tesla Model S P90D .

Unfortunately for Faraday Future, fans of the famed hill climb event in Colorado, U.S.A. (and Tesla) have been quick to point out the FF91 isn't actually in production as yet and the car taken to Pikes Peak was a pre-production vehicle.

However it was thought to be running the production car's standard pure-electric powertrain which generates a mighty 783kW.

Logic suggests the Pikes Peak FF91, with a stripped-out interior and competition roll-cage, would comfortably replicate the road car's 2.39 second 0-97km/h time.

The hill climb record could still be validated once the FF91 enters production in 2018 - but that will only happen if Faraday Future's struggling parent group LeEco doesn't goes bust first.

But however you dissect it, the FF91's Pikes Peak record is no mean feat.

The 20km track includes 156-corners as it climbs 1440m up a Colorado mountain. Beginning at 2862m above sea level, the thin air is a tough challenge for both electric cars and those consuming petrol or diesel.

Reduced oxygen content of the air at those altitudes saps performance from vehicles with internal combustion engines and causes serious cooling problems for overheating batteries in electric cars.

And the thin air also reduces the effects of aerodynamics; Concerning because the consequences of an an 'off' at any of the 156 corners mandates optimized downforce and tyre grip at all times.

This year, the fastest time of 9:05.672 was set by racer Romain Dumas driving a Norma MXX RD Limited race car, despite the vehicle attacking the climb with one broken spark plug.

Watch the video to see the FF91 on its "record climb".