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On Monday, Aston Martin unveiled images of its Volante Vision Concept, a proposed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, highlighting the company’s ambition to enter the luxury aerospace sector.
The British car manufacturer announced that the Volante Vision Concept would be developed in collaboration with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, and the engineering group Rolls-Royce—not to be confused with the BMW-owned automaker. Aston Martin presents the Volante Vision Concept as a sophisticated option for urban and intercity travel, featuring hybrid-electric propulsion and autonomous controls. However, challenges remain, as the field of electric aviation is still emerging, and fully autonomous travel, particularly in three dimensions, is yet to be realized.
“With increasing urban populations, congestion in cities is likely to worsen,” said Aston Martin CEO and President Andy Palmer in the press release. “We must explore alternative solutions to alleviate congestion, reduce pollution, and enhance mobility. Air travel will play a vital role in the future of transportation, and the Volante Vision Concept represents the pinnacle of luxury mobility.”
Rob Watson, Rolls-Royce’s Electrical Director, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “We are thrilled to be part of the Volante Vision Concept, which represents the finest in British design and engineering. Rolls-Royce has successfully provided hybrid-electric systems for various applications, including ships and trains, and we’re eager to explore the possibilities of this technology in aerospace.”
Despite the positive outlook from leadership, the technologies required to fulfill the promises made for the Volante Vision Concept are currently unavailable. Uber, which significantly outpaces both Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce in this area, plans to advance its urban air travel program to testing by the end of next year and aims to launch commercial services in 2023.
As previously noted by Eric Adams of The Drive, urban air travel—whether electric or not—presents numerous practical challenges and remains largely theoretical. Perhaps Aston Martin would be better off focusing on developing submersibles for the time being; after all, utilizing life jackets is less complex than relying on parachutes..
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