The world’s first commercial flying car is coming sooner than you think.
A Dutch company called PAL-V is accepting pre-orders for a flying car it first successfully demoed five years ago. The “Liberty Pioneer” and “Sport” look like cars, but have a propeller on top, which folds out when they prepare for takeoff. That entire process takes about 10 minutes, but you’ll probably make up the time flying at its max speed of 112 mph.
The two new models both have a distinct Italian flare about them, and could pass as a hybrid road car if you take off the giant propeller and pop on another wheel. According to PAL-V, the Liberty vehicles can drive 817 miles on the road and fly between 220 and 250 miles in the air (you’ll want to watch out for this) on a single tank of gasoline.
The PAL-V Liberty seats two, and comes equipped with airplane-certified dual engines that pump out 200 horsepower. You won’t be shocked to hear there are some additional safety precautions that need to be taken. For example, the Liberty needs to be going at least 31 mph on a strip of runaway at least 540 feet long before it can take off.
“We are very pleased with the response so far. Now that the new design is public I expect to see an even greater interest stemming from North America, which has a propensity for early adoption in innovative products,” Mark Jennings-Bates, vice president of sales in North America, said in a release.
The PAL-V Sport will cost an eye-watering $400,000, while the Pioneer will make you want to cry at $600,000. That extra 200 grand will give you at-home training, power heating, and an electronic flight instrument display, along with a few other extras.
The Amsterdam-based company has been testing its concepts for years, and recently opened a flying car school in Roosevelt, Utah. It will start manufacturing the Pioneer for “early clients” in late 2017. The company claims no rules or regulations need to be changed in the majority of countries for the vehicles to be allowed on roads and in the air, but we suspect governments will take a more hands-on approach if these flying pods ever start shipping.
To reserve a Liberty, you will need to find $10,000, $25,000, and courage, to put down a non-refundable deposit for the Sport and Pioneer, respectively.
H/T Digital Trends