‘First true flying car’ unveiled as makers boast can drive on street then take flight – and fit in a normal parking spot

The future has finally arrived as the world’s first flying car has finally been unveiled, almost a year after the concept was announced.

Thanks to California-based Alef Aeronautics, a flying car is officially on the ground — and soon in the air.

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The technologically advanced concept car, called the Alef Model A, was unveiled at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.

It can both drive as a normal car and take off vertically, allowing it to hover and fly above traffic.

“We tried to design and build the first true flying car,” Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef Aeronautics, told the Windsor Star.

“We adopted a blueprint from science fiction. The idea was to stay true to the vision and stay true to what everyone wants.”

The Model A would be the first flying car prototype that, unlike its competitor, the Samson Sky Switchblade, would not require takeoff from an airport after receiving a special airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We are pleased to receive this certification from the FAA,” Dukhovny said after receiving the certification in June.

“It allows us to give people a greener, faster commute, saving individuals and businesses hours every week. This is one small step for airplanes, one big step for cars.”

In the air, the cabin is gimbaled so that the occupants remain upright and the rest of the body rotates 90 degrees around them.

The passenger side becomes the lower fender and the driver side becomes the upper fender.

“It is a gimbaled cab, meaning the operator inside is always parallel and never moves,” Dukhovny said.

“The car moves around the driver. That gives you more stability than you could fly in an airplane today.”

The Alef Model A is designed for use in short bursts – ideally on short commutes to help drivers avoid traffic.

Dukhovny’s special all-electric car is rumored to have a range of 200 miles and is said to have a range of 100 miles in the air.

On the road, the Alef Model A has a top speed of 25 miles per hour, but the top speed in the air has yet to be determined.

The company says the Model A will be priced at around $300,000 and that more than 400 pre-orders have already been placed for the two-passenger variant.

If everything goes according to plan, Americans will be able to start purchasing the first model year in 2025.