Flying Car Update 2026: Are We Any Closer and Do They Look Like Cars Yet?

LEO Coupe Flying Car. Fully electric jet lift system.
Image: LeoFlight website.

Of the things we were promised for the future by movies, the dream of real flying cars, is right up there for me with autonomous humanoid robots. 

I've actually written several articles about the development of flying cars concluding, most notably, that most working prototypes, and proof of concept flying cars, are really just compact aeroplanes or oversized drones. They don't look anything like actual cars.

 Which is understandable given that, so far, no one has developed any kind of anti-gravity engine capable of  lifting the weight of your average family car with the family, probably a couple of dogs, and a picnic lunch all on board. 

Are We Any Closer to Flying Cars?

While I haven't done a deep dive researching the full state of play, I did fall down the rabbit hole enough to see some promising projects, including one that may just be the front runner to a mass produced flying car that does actually look like a car.

Here's what I came across. Note that I'm not going into all the detail of how each one works. If any of these look interesting to you, follow the various links to the project team websites for more information.

Artist's impression of Real Pod Racer Prototypes
in a race. Image: Real Pod Racer Website.

The Real Pod Racer

 This flying car project is clearly taking its cues from Star Wars, The Phantom Menace film, specifically the entire Pod Race sequence. 

The intention is to not only design a high performance flying car but to also create a whole motorsport around it - just like the movie.

It seems like I discovered the Real Pod Racer project just a little too late as all the videos following the development of their prototype on YouTube have recently been removed to protect their technology. 

No doubt because the project recently brought on some new investors. Previously this was a real 'this company started out in my garage' type of project, as shown in the recent video below that shows the first lift off of their one third scale prototype - which will eventually become a manned racer.

RealPodRacer Prototype FIRST LIFTOFF #evtol #flyingcar #aerospaceengineering #3dprinting

From what I can tell the Real Pod Racer is intended to be a ground level flying car that can hover maybe ten to twelve feet off the ground at most.  Generally at cruising speed, I imagine, you would likely only hover between three to five feet most of the time.

Artist's impression of CycloTech's full size flying car,
the CruiseUp Air Car. Image: CycloTech Website.

The Black Bird 

This is not the first time I've featured CycloTech's flying car concept with it's unique CycloRotor technology. Back when I featured them in my post, Have You Got Your Flying Car Yet? Personal Flying Automobiles in 2021, they were showcasing a proof of concept for their 'wheel-like' propeller system. 

Back then I suggested their propellers could maybe double as wheels to make a true flying car that can also drive like a regular car on the ground. However they haven't gone in that direction, preferring to keep their rotors well above the ground. Consequently their one third Black Bird prototype is looking more like an aircraft than a car. Particularly because it still supports landing skids similar to smaller helicopters.

The Flying Car That Defies Physics: CycloTech’s BlackBird

Even though it's a very stable craft that will fit in a fairly large garage, I can't see anyone flying it to the shops anytime soon.  While those CycloRotors look safer than standard quad drone style blades, I still think there's a real risk of blending pedestrians as you come into land.

The XERALL ATD is actually a prototype for this
flying car, the BECCARII. Image: BECCARII website.

The XERALL ATD

This one is a bit of an honorable mention since it's not really a flying car project and more of a novelty drone. Xerall's ATD is essentially a drone with tank wheels attached.

It's part a fun recreational RC vehicle, and part - could be useful for emergency teams in search and rescue situations maybe?

That aside, for whatever reason it was giving me 'Spinner' vibes (the flying cars seen in the 1982 movie Blade Runner) even though it looks nothing like a Spinner.

Poland Made the World’s First Drone That Flies, Drives, AND Swims!

Turns out sales of XERALL'S ATD drones is helping to fund a real flying car project based on the drone's propeller and wheel track configuration. More info at the Beccarii website. Not a car you'll see buzzing through the central business district anytime soon with those side blender blades.

Concept Animation still of the LEO Coupe Flying Car.
Image: LeoFlight website.

LEO Coupe Flying Car

A project that began in the inventor's backyard during COVID is looking very much like it could be the very first real flying car, that actually looks and hovers like a movie car, and doesn't have any giant people blending propellers.

 The LEO Coupe Flying Car uses 100 electrically powered lift jets to get off the ground, looks like a very futuristic flying car, with two seats, and storage room. It basically gives off 'super car' vibes more than it does 'aircraft' vibes.

The car is set to be available for at least pre-order by 2027 with a base price tag of USD$459,900.00. Given the company already has their jet bike built on the same technology available for pre-order now, there is a very good chance they may be first to market with a real flying car that's just like the films.

LEO Coupe Flying Car won NASA HeroX award and DARPA contract