Holy automotive revolution, Batman! The future of transportation is no longer just driving on roads – it’s soaring through the skies in all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles that are like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Leading the charge for this new frontier of “flying muscle cars” is a wildly innovative company from Perth, Australia called Ace VTOL and their flagship model, the limited edition GT Slipstream.
So let’s take a look at this mind-blowing fusion of automotive power and aeronautic ingenuity that is threatening to make your standard muscle car seem as outdated as a horse and buggy. Strap in, charge up those batteries, and get ready for takeoff!
What Exactly Is the GT Slipstream?
Imagine the aggressive, low-slung style and raw power of a traditional muscle car…but with the ability to take off vertically and fly efficiently for hundreds of miles. That’s the “delightfully insane” vision that Ace VTOL CEO Brett Northey had when dreaming up the GT Slipstream.
This two-seater eVTOL forgoes fussy wings or a protruding tail in favor of a streamlined, sports car-inspired design. But lurking under that slick bodywork is some truly far-out propulsion technology:
- 4 Arc Reaction Engines (ARE) are strategically positioned to enable vertical lift, forward/backward flight, turning, and hovering.
- No physical pilot – The GT Slipstream is controlled remotely via satellite using virtual reality by an AI “pilot.”
- 8-second recharging batteries with “atmospheric ion in-flight recharging” for extended range.
The specs are just as supercar-worthy as the looks, with Ace VTOL claiming the GT Slipstream can hit 270 mph and fly for 300 miles on a single charge. And unlike loud combustion engines, Slipstream’s electric AREs promise a smooth, near-silent flight experience.
Electrifying New Tech Under the “Hood”
The key breakthrough that makes the GT Slipstream possible is Ace VTOL’s proprietary Arc Reaction Engines. Similar in concept to ionic thrusters used on some spacecraft, these engines:
- Create trust by electrically accelerating ionized air particles
- Require no moving parts, increasing reliability
- Produce negligible heat or emissions
Combine that with ultra-high discharge lithium-air batteries that can quickly recharge, and you’ve got the foundation for a whole new way to power personal transportation. While the tech may sound exotic, Ace VTOL claims its ARE system is highly scalable for mass manufacturing.
But the real mind-bender is how the GT Slipstream does away with a human pilot altogether. The primary “pilot” is actually an advanced AI system that can remotely operate the vehicle’s flight controls from anywhere on Earth via satellite with extreme precision.
A human “co-pilot” sitting in the Slipstream interacts with the AI using an augmented reality (AR) display and input controls. Think of it as a full-immersion video game experience, but one where you’re actually flying through real airspace in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle!
For an extra Star Wars touch, the Slipstream also utilizes ultra-lightweight shape memory alloy for its retractable landing gear assembly, which folds up into a tiny compartment during flight.
Coming Soon to American Airspace
While it sounds like pure science fiction, Ace VTOL is dead serious about making the GT Slipstream a reality. They’ve already started taking $25,000 refundable deposits for their planned limited production run of just 100 examples.
And they’re not the only ones betting big on eVTOL air taxis and flying cars. Major companies like Boeing, Porsche, Hyundai, and Joby Aviation are all working on their own eVTOL prototypes to bring airborne ridesharing to the masses.
In fact, Ace VTOL has already partnered with U.S.-based Aeroauto to be their North American distributor and service center for the GT Slipstream. Aeroauto CEO Sean Borman is aiming to have the first road and air-legal examples on sale in America as early as 2027 if they can win approval from the FAA.
And that seems increasingly likely, as the FAA has already started issuing the first airworthiness certificates for some eVTOL designs in preparation for this new era of cleaner, greener, and awesomely futuristic air transportation!
The Sky Is No Longer the Limit
While flying cars have been the stuff of sci-fi for decades, startups like Ace VTOL are finally bringing that dream to life thanks to cutting-edge electric propulsion systems and autonomous flight controls.
The GT Slipstream is truly unlike anything we’ve seen before, seamlessly blending the thrill of high-performance sports cars with the ability to vertically lift off and soar across cities and wilderness with zero emissions and barely a sound. If you can afford the undoubtedly lofty price tag, this could be the ultimate “get anywhere” toy for the super-wealthy in just a few years.
So start scanning the skies over Metropolis, because the era of flying muscle cars and personal eVTOLs is finally at our doorstep. What a time to be alive!
What do you think about the idea of flying electric cars in the near future? Would you feel safe being piloted by an AI system? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!