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November 3, 2008 5:20 PM PST

Turning a Ferrari into a flying car

by Matt Hickey
Ferrari logo with wings (Credit: Matt Hickey )

The calendar rolled over to 2000 eight years ago, though it doesn't seem like it's been that long. We had many jokes then about moving into the future, the most tapped being those of flying cars and jet packs.

Personal transportation in the air hasn't taken off yet (if you'll forgive the pun), but it's about to, at least if Moller International has anything to say about it.

According to the Telegraph, the "air car" company known for the Moller Air Car has taken a Ferrari 599 GTB and made it airworthy, giving it Back To The Future-like hovering abilities for vertical take-off and landings, as well as wings and stabilizers for forward flight.

Not only that, the machine runs green with a hybrid engine that can propel the vehicle forward at an expected 150 mph.

While Moller predicts it could have production vehicles ready within two years at about $800,000, we're still skeptical. Having seen how most people drive on the ground, is it smart to let them go into the air?

With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends. Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and most recently, Gizmodo. E-mail Matt.
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by Rotaryfan November 3, 2008 6:10 PM PST
HOW would you land?
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by ultimatebuster November 4, 2008 3:26 PM PST
you land on public street!
by Alan6738 November 8, 2008 4:15 PM PST
"hovering abilities for vertical take-off and landings"

So basically, the car slows down to a hover, then the vertical propulsion would gently be eased down for a controlled vertical descent.
by cnet123abc November 4, 2008 11:48 PM PST
Matt Hickey,
You missed a few very important points. First, Moller has promised flying cars since before I was born. Second, you misrepresented the contents of the article you linked to. Contrary to what you stated, Moller has not yet built the flying Ferrari. Third, a vehicle can't be called "green" just because it uses electricity. Moller is throwing around pseudo-eco-friendly terms like "hybrid" just to drum up more investment dollars.

If this is the first you've heard of Moller, you aren't a very pop-tech-oriented person. If this isn't the first you've heard of Moller, shame on you for promoting a known scammer.
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by BSinton January 17, 2009 5:06 PM PST
I think this flying car idea was written about in Popular Mechanics , over 50 years ago.

I also recall just after the end of WW2, that the mass media ,confidently predicted that we would all be flying to work in helicopters.

I will give up believing in the experts of the mass media.
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by plastorgas March 26, 2009 3:15 PM PDT
A flying ferrari!

Ferraris already fly!

;)

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