Flying Car more economical than SUV

Just found this amusing and interesting:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/15/nextfest_wrap/

By Andrew Orlowski in San Francisco
Published Saturday 15th May 2004 03:40 GMT

NextFest Inventor Paul Moller has pulled off an astonishing achievement. He's found a parking spot in San Francisco. And we can be grateful for this, because his Flying Car is undoubtedly the draw at the technology exhibition NextFest (here until Sunday, at Fort Mason).

It's just a prototype, but judging by the queues of eager children - of all ages - that clustered around his M400 SkyCar, he has the hit of the show. Moller has spent $200 million and many years of his life on this quixotic venture. We'll share the latest specifications with you.

The M400 needs 35 clear feet to take off but thanks to its 770 hp engine can whiz to 365 mph - cruise control kicks in at 326 mph - and climb at 6,400 feet per minute. You may hear it before you see it: it emits a rather noisy 65 dba at 500 feet. Interestingly, with a fuel consumption of 20 miles to the gallon on the road, it's rather more economical than a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and looks positively eco-friendly compared to a Hummer.

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You know that idiot that cut you off on the drive home because he was on his cellphone and not paying attention? The one with the Bush/Cheney sticker and the NRA emblem? OK, picture him in a FLYING car.