Back to the Future predicted flying cars 2015 – and we missed that deadline.
Flying cars might have been a big part of science fiction, but as we head into 2024 that looks set to become science fact.
We break down five flying cars coming to, or nearing, the market this year.
Samson Sky Switchblade
Labelled ‘the world’s first flying sports car’ by its creators Samson Sky – the Switchblade recently completed its maiden flight.
The ‘flying car’ flew at an altitude of 500 feet (152 meters) and remained airborne for nearly six minutes.
The Switchblade, made of strong lightweight carbon fiber construction, was designed as a high-performance vehicle in both driving and flying modes.
Power comes from a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.0-liter engine producing 190 horsepower that runs on 91 octane unleaded auto gas rather than aviation fuel.
The Switchblade has a maximum driving speed of 201 km/h (125 mph), and an estimated maximum flight speed of 305 km/h (190 mph).
Parked safely in their home garage, owners will be able to drive their street-legal Switchblade to a nearby airport.
Once there, they transform the vehicle to flying mode in under three minutes and fly their registered aircraft to their destination up to 804 kilometers (500 miles) before refueling, cruising at 257 km/h (160 mph).
Subaru Air Mobility
Subaru revealed an air mobility concept vehicle at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
Its electrification and automated driving technologies have been extending to aircraft
It’s a battery electric vehicle (BEV) Sports Mobility concept that places the driving at the centre of the car for increased visibility.
Subaru has earned its reputation for reliability so unveiling a flying car concept has taken the world by surprise.
Aesthetically it looks like a giant drone with other-worldly, flat, C-shaped flying car boasts Subaru-branded head- and taillights.
Six propellers sit inside circular, silver body panels with a driver cabin fixed in the centre, covered in black glass.
Subaru believes that this model, which is under development by automotive and aerospace engineers, will take mobility to new heights.
XPeng Aeroht
The XPeng Aeroht is a flying car ‘for the real world’, but it looks totally normal in ‘car’ mode.
It was unveiled at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, and there are a couple of reasons why this is more than just vaporware.
According to XPeng co-founder and chief designer Wang Tan, the Aeroht is designed to solve a very specific problem.
The goal is to cater to people who want an eVTOL flying supercar for soaring over traffic at short distances and low altitude.
In other words, people that want to go from A to B and beat the traffic – an issue that several companies are trying to address.
In land mode, every appendage of the Chinese car are designed to fly folds and the car looks totally normal.
In flight mode, it opens its arms and becomes an eVTOL, a vehicle capable of taking off and landing on the spot.
There’s no need for a runway.
XPeng X2
The Xpeng X2 is the world’s first flying car that can fly for 35 minutes on a single charge.
In future, this concept will also be able to drive the roads.
The Chinese company’s prototype X2 can fly for around 35 minutes off a three-hour charge.
And – if things keep going the way they are – we’ll definitely see improvements to that in the near future.
It looks like it’s come straight from the set of a sci-fi movie.
It boasts four helicopter-style propellers on the side that get it off the floor.
The idea is that future concepts will drive on the road as well.
Doroni H1
The Doroni H1 is a new electric ‘flying car’ that can be piloted with a driver’s license and is essentially a drone.
The eVTOL is designed to replace the family car – in fact, it can actually fit in a regular-sized garage.
The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, doesn’t require a runway and is semi-autonomous.
“We’re building the go-to family vehicle of the future that’s capable of changing the way we commute and live,” Doroni says.
All you’ll need to operate it is a regular driver’s license plus completion of a 20-hour training course.
Self-stabilizing technology keeps the 23-feet-long car fly smoothly and the journey is controlled by a joystick.
It has two seats and two sets of wings with large ducted fans and lands on wheels so it can be driven into your garage and charged overnight.
Its charging capabilities are impressive, reaching 80% in just 20 minutes.
The range of the Doroni H1 is 60 miles with a top speed of 140mph and a cruising speed of 100mph.
With 36 aircraft available to pre-order and 15 claimed, first deliveries will be made in the fourth quarter of 2024.
