Toyota is building a flying car with the hope of using it to light the Olympic torch in 2020. Here's a closer look at the automaker's new project.
Toyota plans to debut its futuristic flying car in its home city in 2020.
The Japanese automaker is making a flying car with the ultimate goal of using it to light the torch at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.
Toyota unveiled a working prototype of its flying car to journalists on Monday. Scroll down for a closer look:
Toyota's flying car is still very much a working prototype. During a demo with journalists, the aircraft could only fly to eye level before falling to the ground. Toyota attached basketballs to the bottom to provide cushioning for when it crashed.
But Toyota has lofty plans for the vehicle that's being modeled after the one in "Back to the Future," which can drive and fly.
Most companies pursuing personal transport systems are developing electric aircrafts that can take off vertically (or VTOLs) rather than true flying cars. But Toyota wants its vehicle to seamlessly transition from the ground to the skies.
The flying car, dubbed Sky Drive, is being developed by Cartivator Resource Management. Toyota invested 42.5 million yen ($386,000) in the startup to make the project a reality.
The Sky Drive will undergo its first manned flight in 2019.
The ultimate goal is to develop it into a tiny car that take-off vertically to light the Olympic torch in 2020.
Toyota isn't the first to explore a flying car. Terrafugia, a startup born out of MIT, currently sells a flying car called the Transition. The car, however, needs a runway to take-off. Drivers must have a Sports Pilot License to operate the vehicle.
Slovakian firm Aeromobil is accepting pre-orders for its $1 million flying car. It also needs a runway to fly and will be delivered to customers in 2020.
Toyota is building a flying car with the hope of using it to light the Olympic torch in 2020. Here's a closer look at the automaker's new project. Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS