An Israeli/American startup NFT has announced it is now taking pre-orders for the ASKA, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that offers the freedom to choose to travel on the road or in the air.
Designed for customers, ASKA drives on the road like a car, capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), as well as short takeoff and landing (STOL), and flies like an aircraft. The teardrop cabin of the new vehicle will be able to take up to four people, V-type six-cylinder tail and electric lifting system allows the car to vertically take off and land as well.
Moreover, four pure vertical lift props are installed on long arms that swing back out of the way when the car travels on the ground. The other two are mounted on a set of wings that automagically fold themselves in half to keep the car narrow enough to drive and park.
When in flight mode, ASKA is capable of reaching speeds up to 150 mph (241 km/h) and has a range of 250 miles (approx. 402 km). It is powered by electric motors and is equipped with a range extender as a redundant safety system. The fully electric system architecture of ASKA enables future models to convert range extenders to any other energy source such as hydrogen. An unspecified fossil fuel motor can charge up the battery during flight. On the road, its humble in-wheel electric hub motors allow it a top speed of around 70 mph (112 km/h).
ASKA has a dual-type of power supply source to ensure optimal safety; each rotor has an independent battery power source plus a range extender power to ensure continued flight and a safe landing in the event of an emergency. It is semi-autonomous and will require a licensed pilot to drive it, although NFT has announced plans to include pilot training for early customers.
“We have focused significantly on ASKA’s safety elements, which include dual energy sources, large wings, large propellers, six-packs of batteries to ensure ASKA is as safe in the air as it is on the ground. We anticipate that flying cars that are accessible to the general public will be as instrumental in redefining how and where we live, as the original automobile was to the foundation of our country’s highway and road systems,” said Guy Kaplinsky, Co-founder & CEO, NFT, Inc.
Full-scale demonstration flights will likely take place next year, where NFT hopes to fly the ASKA as part of NASA‘s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign, along with Boeing, Bell, and others. The next three years will be spent on certification and the start of mass production. Flying cars are expected to be sold in 2026.
A special limited edition of ASKA is now available for pre-order and priced at $789,000. The price includes getting you a pilot’s license, a fully custom interior, and a personalized license plate.
