Is this really happening? Will this year be the year for flying cars to go to the sky for decades, or perhaps even a century of promises?
The fact that I just climbed from the prototype suggests that my personal aviation dream could finally come true. It’s not that I actually flew in it everywhere.
The “flying car” in question is the XPENG AEROHT X2. This is a fully autonomous two-seater electric aircraft designed for flights in low-potential cities. It’s like a mix of reduced hobby drones and the latest hypercars. Outside, the outside, exposed carbon fiber, and the bucket sheets look like a bucket sheet with a fully harness. There is a screen that plots the route and displays flight information such as air velocity and artificial horizon, but there is no yoke or joystick control. Only the arrangement attached to the roof of the touch screen and toggle switch.
Located on a static display at XPENG’s famous British launch, the main event focuses on the range of Chinese branded land EVs, but what’s far more appealing is the future of the empty company.
The X2 made its first public flight in Dubai in 2022, and at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, the company revealed its “land aircraft airline.” Rear. When you touch the button, the aircraft appears, unfolds, and is ready to fly in minutes.
Xpeng says it is building a network of “strategically developing flying camps and popular autonomous driving routes around cities with take-off and landing platforms and transparent airspace.”
These are in the company’s hometown with the process of obtaining certification already underway, and more than 3,000 customers already ordering a $275,000 flying car/MPV combo, according to Xpeng.
The pipeline includes long-range tiltrotor aircraft and sports cars that can be brought into the sky. Fantasy flight? Perhaps Xpeng has only been a decade from a startup to China’s biggest premium EV maker, and is currently exporting to 29 countries, aiming to double that number this year. With about 40% of employees working on research and development, it’s modest to say they’re serious about their aviation ambitions.
Legacy carmakers are also taking part in the air action. In Japan, SkyDrive has been flying a three-seater prototype 12 rotor since 2019, taking its first step at almost 38 feet long to accredit its certification in Japan and the US, but as a car It’s hardly explained, but it’s built in conjunction with an automaker: Suzuki.
Toyota has sunk over $1 billion on tilt rotor EVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, which promises speeds above 200 mph. The hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship has proven itself on over 500 miles of test flights in California, and is in the middle of full certification.
Honda is not intending to be ruled out, and is working on a hybrid EVTOL that uses a combination of Honda Jet and F1-derived Regen and battery technology gas turbine engines. With 10 rotors that provide propulsion, Honda aims for the 250-mile range.
Hyundai presented the idea for “Auto Meets Aero” using eight tilted rotors at the 2024 CES. The Supernal S-A2 targets short journeys of 25-40 miles, but can choke them at speeds of up to 120 mph during flight at 1500 feet. Hyundai says he will be certified for flights by 2028.
Meanwhile, BMW has added a design touch to Skai, a four-seater EVTOL that uses a hydrogen fuel cell and six electric motors. It has a 400-mile range and a maximum speed of 118 mph. Other features include a 3-level safety system that is safe. If one motor fails, the SKAI stays empty. It will land immediately if the second motor packs in, but if the failure is even more serious, it will deploy a ballistic parachute.
Porsche has previously worked with Boeing on a two-seater aircraft inspired by the Dark Knight with fans and flexible wings. It looks horribly cool, but the project has been stagnating ever since.
Stellantis is preparing to manufacture the huge 12-rotor EVTOL designed by Archer Aviation. Despite its size, the so-called midnight is said to be suitable only for maximum flight times of 100 miles. Frankly, it’s a flight bus rather than a car.
Of course, it’s just car manufacturers. Many other aviation startups around the world are committed to making us outperform our traffic and work faster, faster and more efficient than ever. Perhaps this time, the flying car is finally about to take off.
