The Chinese division of Volkswagen AG has unveiled a prototype vehicle called the V.Mo, or Flying Tiger if you aren’t into memorizing vague abbreviations. It is an electric VTOL aircraft designed for four passengers that should enter testing phase later this year.
The octocopter sports an unusual design with a cabin suspended on two U-shaped pylons. It is 11.2 x 10.6 meters large (36.75 x 34.78 feet) and has eight load-bearing rotors along with two propulsion rotors.
According to calculations, the final production version of the VTOL will be able to cover up to 200 km (124 miles) before needing a recharge. The remaining parameters stay secret for now, but the manufacturer says proven mass-market solutions are used in its power management and autopilot departments.
The vehicle will undergo a series of rigorous tests later this year, after which a new prototype will be created based on the data collected. Production and launch estimates aren’t here yet, but the company is convinced that such transports has a big future – especially in the overcrowded metropolises of China where roads aren’t your best bet for fast transportation.