Aston Martin’s flying car could be James Bond’s latest commute
For your eyes only: Aston Martin unveils flying car concept – and hints that we might see James Bond flying one soon
Aston Martin is entering the race to the skies. The British luxury car manufacturer unveiled an autonomous, hybrid-electric, personal aircraft concept at the 2018 Farnborough Air Show – and now hints that the flying car might soon be the vehicle of choice for James Bond.
The Volante Vision Concept (VVC) is capable of vertical take-off and landing and features plenty of high-spec details that the Aston Martin brand is famous for.
The Volante, which is named after the Italian word for “flying”, was produced in partnership with Cranfield University and is powered by Rolls-Royce with the aim of bringing “luxury personal transportation to the sky”.
Aston Martin says it has yet to price the vehicle, but the figure is expected to be about £7 million (US$9.2 million).
Buyers will have some time to wait, though. The marque says it is currently conducting customer research and analysing feedback – and adds: “Should it go into production, it will be around the mid-2020s.”
Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer says growing urbanisation and overpopulation is at the heart of the concept’s design.
“We need to look at alternative solutions to reduce congestion, cut pollution and improve mobility,” he says. “Humans have always spent on average, one hour commuting to and from work. The distance we live from our workplace has been determined by the methods of transportation available.”
The VVC would enable people to travel further for their hourly commute, and enable them to live further away from their work, Palmer says.