VW's 'Hover Car' Concept in China Is Fake, But Still Cool
Is Luke Skywalker's Land Speeder from Star Wars finally a reality? No, but if that idea ever came to pass, this is sort of how it would look.
The video above shows a VW flying two-seater zipping through Beijing. The car, powered by minerals underground, was the brainchild of a girl in China who responded to the carmaker's call for car innovation concepts. The idea is that thrusters on the back of the car would propel it forward.
Getting the "car" to work for real would require electromagnetic strips embedded into the roads below it, creating the hovering effect via electromagnetic suspension. As a prize, the girl's parents got to "test drive" the car in a simulated video. According to Creativity Online, VW received 119,000 ideas and got 33 million hits on its website.
Other concepts that made the finals and the Beijing Motor Show included a "Music Car" that changes colors based on the driver's musical preferences and a "Smart Key" — a phone that can also start the car.
Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:45 am
