Filed under: Etc., New York Auto Show, Lightweight
The Terrafugia Transition stands out from all the other vehicles on display at the New York Auto Show, not because it's the prettiest, or even the fastest. It is neither. It is, however, the only piece of road-going machinery in the Jacob Javits Center sporting a propeller and a pair of wings. And that's because it flies.
Yes, it looks like the dream of the practical flying car is finally coming true. Ok, maybe it's more of a plane you can drive home from the airfield, but still. If you can pony up $279,000 and don't mind waiting a year while the company fulfills its 100-strong order book obligations, you, too, can commute George Jetson style.
Of course, the horizontally opposed 100-horsepower Rotax 912S engine that spins both the push propeller and the rear wheels won't sound like his cartoon bubble car, but it's tried, tested and true. It also uses the fuel of today - premium unleaded, please - and returns an impressive 35 miles per gallon on the highway, 20 mpg (5 gallons per hour at cruising speed) in the flyway.
The Transition returns those kind of numbers, in part, because of its light weight. Empty, the aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber construction weigh in at a svelte 970 lbs. Its road-going mileage is further enhanced because it's limited to a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Still, it gets bonus points for being the only vehicle we know that lists both airbags and a parachute as standard safety equipment.
Hit the jump for a full video inspection from our buds over at Engadget, along with Terrafugia footage of the production prototype in both driving and flying action, accompanied by the official press release from that event.
Continue reading Terrafugia Transition gets 35 mpg highway, 20 mpg flyway [w/video]
Terrafugia Transition gets 35 mpg highway, 20 mpg flyway [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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