Among the many stand-out vehicles at the New York International Auto Show 2012, one of our favorites was the ludicrously extravagant, MIT-engineered Terrafugia Transition, better known as “that flying car” (or "that driving plane" to the glass-half-empty types). With hourly wing-unfolding demonstrations and a sales pitch that describes how "its unique functionality addresses head-on the issues faced by today’s Private and Sport Pilots" — like "uncertain weather, rising costs, and ground transportation hassles on each end of the flight" — it's clearly not a vehicle for the average consumer.
For those of us with enough capital, though, it might be the most convenient transportation solution on the street or in the sky. The wings fold up for the road, and can be deployed at the push of a button once the lucky driver reaches his or her personal runway. Once in the air, the pilot has the option of landing and driving if weather conditions go sour, and never has to worry about the tediousness of transporting luggage from one vehicle to another.
While it's still in its concept stages, the Transition is expected to cost $279,000. For more details, and answers to questions such as "Why would I get a Transition® instead of a car and a plane?," visit the Terrafugia website.
To see it in action, watch the video below, and to see more images of the Transition click the slide show.