Mainstream flying cars may not be too far off into the future, as Volkswagen’s People’s Choice Project suggests. More than 119,000 vehicle and technological ideas were submitted as part of the Chinese project, and while only three were turned into concepts, the craziest one is shown in the video below.
The Volkswagen Hover Car is a pod-like zero-emissions vehicle that uses electromagnetic road networks to float above the road. The small VW has two seats and a joystick and, to demonstrate how the car would work, a Chinese couple appears to put the flying car to the test around the bustling streets of Chengdu. The two seem reluctant to climb aboard at first, but once they lift-off, they seem to enjoy all the attention the pod car gets.
The two other concepts on display include a Music Car, and a Smart Key which focuses more on the integration of online technologies in car. The Music Car wears LED lights that change color based on the chosen music genre. The Smart Key measures only 0.35 inches and uses a high-resolution touch screen to display vehicle information such as fuel status, climate conditions, and car security via a 3G network.
The People’s Car project allowed Internet users in China to post ideas about cars of the future. Since the response was much greater than Volkswagen anticipated, the project has been extended to include a new phase allowing users to submit more environmentally friendly ideas.
