At CES 2021, General Motors (GM) gave those excited for a time when they can fly, not just drive, an exciting glimpse of what could be on the horizon. It may take a little longer than 1985's Back to the Future predicted decades ago, but there may yet be a future in which flying cars exist. That said, all current signs point to that potential future being somewhat distant.
GM is one of the United States' oldest car manufacturers, dating back to 1908. In the century-plus since then, GM has established itself as one of the leading vehicle makers in the industry. Like its competitors, some of what GM produces are concept cars that aren't meant for production, but rather to provide a tangible look at the wildest possibilities thought of by engineers. Most of these concepts never become a reality. But some, like the GM-owned Chevy Volt concept in 2007 that translated to the 2011 Chevy Volt, showcase technology that could be available in future iterations of vehicles.
There's no real way to tell which category it will fall in, but GM offered attendees of its Exhibit Zero virtual showroom at CES 2021 a look at the Cadillac Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone. The company says VTOL travel "is key to GM's vision for a multi-modal future, delivering a pivotal connection point between the first and last mile of EV travel with no congestion." The Cadillac VTOL is a single-seat, fully autonomous, all-electric aircraft that is powered by a coaxial octorotor propulsion system. GM envisions it providing "convenient and luxurious" rooftop-to-rooftop commuter travel at speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour, cutting down on travel time and contributing what GM claims will be "zero congestion to the world around you." That's presumably unless VTOL vehicles become a roaring success and clog up city skies. GM even included a neat feature in its showroom that gave users the opportunity to virtually view the futuristic vehicle in their own driveway.
Cadillac VTOL: GM's Most Exciting But Least Realistic Concept
The fact of the matter, though, is that commercialized personal air travel is still a long way off. Jet packs haven't even become a realistic means of travel, except for random sightings of mysterious solo flyers in LA. As intriguing as the concepts by GM and other manufacturers (as reported by CNET) truly are, there's no reason to start saving towards their very own flying car. From the looks of it, these vehicles won't be available to pilot home anytime soon.
GM did show other concept vehicles that do seem within reach. The Cadillac Personal Autonomous Vehicle, for instance, looks like a plausible escalation since there are already vehicles on the road today — most notably Teslas — that are capable of driving themselves. GM says its Cadillac electric self-driving concept features a mobile living room for added comfort and the ability to use voice or gesture control to change things like the lights, scents, and air humidity within the cabin. It's certainly not quite as exciting as being able to fly from rooftop to rooftop as a means of travel, but the ability to fully take one's hands off the wheel and relax during a road trip or commute seems like a future worth striving towards.
Source: General Motors