Latest news with #Eurocrash
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Ultra modern FLYING race car with jet-powered engine that can tear through sky at 225mph is unveiled for £215,000
Test flights are expected to launch in just months COR FLY-ME Ultra modern FLYING race car with jet-powered engine that can tear through sky at 225mph is unveiled for £215,000 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ultra-modern flying racecar has been unvelived - put it will set back punters a staggering £215,000. The Axion is a jet-powered, single-passenger VTOL aircraft can clock blistering speeds up to 225mph. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A £215k flying racecar has been launched by FusionFlight, a Texas-based startup Credit: SWNS 3 Its flight time is 15 minutes on a full tank Credit: SWNS FusionFlight, a Texas-based startup, say the hatchback car-sized vehicle uses eight micro jet engines to power along. Its flight time is 15 minutes on a full tank, and as it is fueled by diesel or kerosene, it can be refueled in minutes, avoiding the long charging times of electric aircraft. The design allows for rapid reconfiguration, make it adaptable to serve as a flying racecar, air ambulance, or cargo drone, all from the same platform. Pilots can fly manually using joysticks or select a destination on a touchscreen for autonomous operation. FusionFlight say safety is enhanced by the paired engine layout, which if one fails, the others keep the craft airborne. The Axion is built to order, with a price tag of £215k and test flights are scheduled to begin by the end of the year. Alex Taits, CEO of FusionFlight, said: "Sale of production models is schedules for end of 2026. "However, people can order experimental models 'beta versions' on-demand starting at the end of 2025." This comes after the prototype for the AirCar was revealed, two years after an early version featured on Amazon's The Grand Tour. Watching the hi-tech motor take off and land during the Eurocrash episode, stunned host Jeremy Clarkson said: "Very rarely am I lost for words, but I'm lost for words." Iconic British car brand to begin 'new era' with 'urban SUV' to be launched next year Now AirCar has revealed what the production vehicle will look likely after debuting a more road-ready prototype. "The AirCar fulfils a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people," said AirCar boss Stefan Klein, of KleinVision. "With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves. "Merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility." Test versions of the flying car have already clocked up more than 170 flight hours. They've been spread across an impressive 500 take-offs and landings. AirCar boasts that its flying vehicle can turn from a car to an aircraft "in less than two minutes". During the Grand Tour episode, Clarkson noted that the car was capable of 120mph flight at an altitude of 8,000 feet. And AirCar now says that its motor has been upgraded with a new 280-horsepower engine. "We're not just witnessing the future of transportation — we're engineering it," said AirCar co-founder Anton Zajac.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Flying car that becomes a PLANE in 120 seconds gets prototype after wowed Jeremy Clarkson admits ‘I'm lost for words'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FLYING car that transforms into an airplane in minutes is nearly ready – and will soar above traffic at 120mph. The production prototype for the AirCar has finally been revealed, two years after an early version featured on Amazon's The Grand Tour. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 The production prototype for the upcoming AirCar has finally been revealed Credit: SWNS 11 Grand tour hosts Clarkson, Hammond and May were left stunned after watching an early AirCar prototype take to the skies in 2023 11 The AirCar has now completed more than 500 test flights, its creators say Credit: KleinVision Watching the hi-tech motor take off and land during the Eurocrash episode, stunned host Jeremy Clarkson said: "Very rarely am I lost for words, but I'm lost for words." Now AirCar has revealed what the production vehicle will look likely after debuting a more road-ready prototype. "The AirCar fulfils a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people," said AirCar boss Stefan Klein, of KleinVision. "With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves. "Merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility." Test versions of the flying car have already clocked up more than 170 flight hours. They've been spread across an impressive 500 take-offs and landings. AirCar boasts that its flying vehicle can turn from a car to an aircraft "in less than two minutes". During the Grand Tour episode, Clarkson noted that the car was capable of 120mph flight at an altitude of 8,000 feet. And AirCar now says that its motor has been upgraded with a new 280-horsepower engine. Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode "We're not just witnessing the future of transportation — we're engineering it," said AirCar co-founder Anton Zajac. Klein first began working on flying car concepts in the 1980s, but his AirCar prototype didn't take flight until October 2020. Since then, the AirCar has reportedly made hundreds of flights – including between different airports. The Slovakian-made craft is said to have a range of 620 miles, and can reach heights of up to 15,000 feet. 11 The AirCar is designed to look like a regular sports car on the ground – if you ignore the giant propellor, that is Credit: SWNS 11 The interior of the car looks a lot like a regular motor – but with far more controls Credit: SWNS 11 Wings fold out from the car to allow for flight Credit: It takes about two minutes to fully transform from a road car to a flying vehicle. And it needs a run up of about 980 feet to take off, according to AirCar – that's bad news if you've got a short driveway. The AirCar received certification as an aircraft in Slovakia in early 2022. But it would need to pass local checks to be considered both road- and air-legal before drivers can actually use it properly. 11 The car could cost as much as £750,000 for its would-be pilots Credit: SWNS AIRCAR BY THE NUMBERS Here are the key stats... Speed: 120mph Weight: 1,100 kilos / 2,400 lbs Length: 5.2 metres / 17 feet 1 inch Transformation time: Two minutes Cruising altitude: 8,000 feet Max altitude: 15,000 feet Flight hours: 170+ Take-offs and landings: 500+ Runway needed: 980 feet Range: 620 miles Price tag: ~£375,000 to £750,000 ($500,000 to $1 million) Picture Credit: KleinVision 11 KleinVision hopes that its AirCar will allow drivers to made journeys in record time – by flying straight over traffic Credit: PA AirCar has previously said that the car would cost somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million – that's about £375,000 to £750,000. "AirCar is composed of several functional units," KleinVision explained. "Its aerodynamic fuselage provides enough space for the passengers and, at the same time, contributes to better lift characteristics during the flight. "Among advanced technologies are the retractable wings, folding tail surfaces, parachute deployment system, etc." 11 The AirCar has successfully taken off and landed at different destinations Credit: Klein Vision 11 KleinVision says that AirCar prototypes have clocked up over 100 hours of flight time Credit: SWNS 11 Flying cars could be a common sight on roads (and in skies) in the not-too-distant future Credit: SWNS The current version of the vehicle can only take two passengers – and looks like a sports car. Sadly it's unclear exactly when the high-flying motor will go on sale.
