Well it’s nice to see more and more automobile manufacturers jump in, at least with some concepts. And it’s really not hard to imagine that in 50 years, those companies will have to have actual flying cars to compete with the rest, so better to be started earlier than later and not better late than never.
Subaru really stunned them at the Japan Mobility Show. Not only showing a really cool new regular car concept - but a flying car concept as well. Dubbed the Air Mobility Concept, this marks the first venture into the flying car space for the Japanese auto maker - well, air as in pie in the sky, at least.
It doesn’t look bad, but it doesn’t look great either. I don’t see benjamins flying out of pockets for this one. Now if it actually flies well, is safe, and has good range - then it could be a winner.
My guess is that they wanted something quick to present for the show, so they had some engineers slap together a quick concept to get investors salivating. Unfortunately it wasn’t that tasty, as depicted above. They should have let that bun sit in the oven for a little longer before showing it to the world.
So what is the concept all about? The vehicle boasts unique headlights and taillights with a prominent brand emblem at its center. Even the interior of the cabin exhibits a striking resemblance to that of a traditional car (at least that’s what they are saying). However, what sets it apart are the propellers that fill the flattened outer edges.
Subaru has been somewhat tight-lipped about specific details, but they have emphasized the involvement of both aerospace and automotive engineers in its development. Interestingly, Subaru is no stranger to the aerospace industry; the company is known for manufacturing helicopters under contract for Bell. Given this unique blend of expertise, Subaru could very well find itself in a prime position to venture into the realm of personal aircraft.
While the Air Mobility Concept isn’t slated for production anytime soon, at least it’s a start. We are watching you, Subaru.