www.forbes.com
Bryan Nelson, 07.29.10, 06:00 AM EDT

A company called Terrafugia is expected to start selling ''The Transition'' late next year. Price: $194,000.
The Jetsons predicted that we'd have flying cars by at least 2062, and Back to the Future promised them to us by 2015. It turns out that reality may, for once, outpace fiction.

A small, privately held company called Terrafugia has recently gained FAA approval for its roadable aircraft (i.e., flying car), and new improvements to the vehicle's design bring it only about a year away from being available to customers, according to MSNBC.

Yahoo! BuzzDubbed "The Transition," Terrafugia's flying car takes the notion of driving a hybrid to a whole new level. The latest model features a more car-like look, with traditional headlights and even a license plate holder. Other new fixtures include an improved wing that folds up with a touch of a switch, like in a convertible car, rear-wheel drive with a continuously variable transmission, independent suspension and even a futuristic touch screen interface in the cockpit.

Aside from the innovative engineering specs, the Transition also performs fairly well with its fuel economy. It gets about 35 miles per gallon on the road and about 490 miles per full tank in the air.

When grounded, the vehicle folds its wings up to achieve legal street-ready dimensions. The concept is for users to be able to drive it from their own garage to a nearby airport, allowing for independent, convenient travel. At the very least, it would help drivers bypass those annoying airport wait times.

Purchasing one of the flying cars won't be cheap. The estimated price for a first-generation Transition is slated at around $194,000. Though that's out of the price range for the average consumer, it's at least an important first step toward bringing childhood fantasies of driving a flying car closer to reality.

na wao, this one will be good for our nigerian drivers that are never patient.

Nice one. No more sitting for hours in Lagos traffic and i can avoid the rubbish roads. All i need to do now is get into politics so i can afford one.

This is also good for al-queda, I guess they will be ordering hundreds of these cars.

The world isnt ready for this just yet. Too many mad ppl around to entrust such a potentially deadly weapon into the public.

Great, I can fly to the U.S!!!!

Easy way to fly to destruction and hell

hmmmm

What if u run out of fuel on air? Hope it doesn't fall on somebody.

i just think that they are so stingyyyyy. as in, STINGY but very reliable. yeah. reliable

Petty Minds, Petty people, Petty thoughts

Ignatio:

What if u run out of fuel on air? Hope it doesn't fall on somebody.

The future is here

This is a great development,i must now contest in next year's election as a governor so that i can be able2 afford 100

gbengress1:

This is a great development,i must now contest in next year's election as a governor so that i can be able2 afford 100

.

See why corruption can never be eradicated from our society?

Ignatio:

What if u run out of fuel on air? Hope it doesn't fall on somebody.

.


What if the fuel u bought is fake and the car starts jerking in the air?

trust me! Africa is where the market it. Lagos- Nigeria especially. What a shame. Whitey produce, we consume.

The birth of an idea will soon mature.I really hope it does.

welcome u to an era of air crash!!!

What If you're mid-way through the ocean and fuel finishes?
What if you need to poop and your in air?
Can it accomodate fat people like THAT NSE woman?
By the way its pretty cheap about 17 million max

in this era of terrorism and insecurity this would send shivers down peoples spine.

9ce.i'l have to sav 4 dat.@least i wuld avoid Ore bad road

tobaina:

welcome u to an era of air crash!!!

Terrorists specialty .

This means there's gonna be air patrol/police and no flying zone, lol

I already have one in my garage! The car is superb! Anyone need a ride?

Does it come with parachutes and inflatable life jackets?

Was thinking about air traffic control too! How many people have the nerves to fly a car? and many get nauseous just being driven on the third mainland bridge! lol!

Brilliant invention though! Anyone's heard about the new one that can withstand 24 hour gunfire (Made in Canada, I think. Makes the hummer look like a baby? I did think that might be a great sell too in Naija, especially for our politicians! LOL!

nellaluv:

Terrorists specialty .

This means there's gonna be air patrol/police and no flying zone, lol

air police ke? air police means air bribe

good new,

wat i want to find out about the flying car, what is te capacity and the car flight duration can it fly as far as 100km 500above sea level aswell.

This thing will be crashing on people's building,crashing and killing innocent people on d ground, Is d world really ready for dis?
terrorists will be thanking their stars cos dis is terrorism made easy.

So how do d police stop it on air to collect bribe?

Cost of Cars would reduce at least

Come on dudes,

Most of the questions here sounds like what critics were yelling at the Wright Brothers during the onset of flying machines!

The only issue i see here is proper regulatory policies, so that murderous bunch of folks won't avail themselves the opportunity of flying into the crowd at will.

oisehumen:


What if the fuel u bought is fake and the car starts jerking in the air?

You're funny.

Will there also be traffic lights in the air