AeroMobil has presented its latest flying car at the
Frankfurt Motor Show. Billed as a high-tech luxury vehicle, the model has been
designed to incorporate the "best of automotive and aerospace
innovation." As a result, it features a carbon composite exterior which
draws inspiration from modern sports cars and high-performance aircraft.
On the ground, the model is powered by an electric
front wheel drive system which gives it a range of approximately 700 km and a top speed of 160 km/h.
After a three minute conversion, the AeroMobil is
ready for flight where it will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter
four-cylinder boxer engine that develops 300 hp. It powers a direct
drive variable pitch propeller and gives the model a maximum range of around
750 km.
On the safety front, the AeroMobil comes equipped
with dual-stage airbags and a parachute which can be developed in the event of
an emergency.
According to AeroMobil chief technology officer
Douglas MacAndrew, “Integrating flight and car travel is not simple, but having
condensed approximately 60 man-years of research and development into three the
AeroMobil flying car is designed to meet the current legislative requirements.
At IAA we will be able to show how to bring a flying car to market in the very
near future working within today’s regulatory and transport infrastructure.”
The company is already accepting pre-orders and
production is slated to begin in 2018. There's no word on pricing but the first
deliveries are expected to occur by 2020.
