--- title: "This Futuristic Audi Concept Transforms Itself Into a Flying Taxi" description: "Audi's futuristic \"Pop.Up Next\" concept is truly a modular flying taxi transport solution of the future. But will it actually work?" date: "2018-11-27" modified: "2018-11-27" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/futuristic-audi-concept-transform-flying-taxi" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "audi" - "autonomous car" - "flying taxi" - "the digest" --- # This Futuristic Audi Concept Transforms Itself Into a Flying Taxi ![]() *\Image: Audi\* ## Flying Taxis The idea of [flying taxis]() has been floating around for a while. But solving the so-called "last-mile" problem is difficult — finding suitable spots to land, and connecting them to other modes of transport, will require careful planning. Now Audi, Airbus and design company Italdesign have partnered up to devise a prototype that could ease that transition. Their brand new concept called "Pop.Up Next" is a futuristic cross between an autonomous car and a flying taxi. ## Drone Week The companies' team showed off an 1:4 scale model at the Amsterdam Drone Week convention, but the idea has been around since [at least March](). On the ground, the Pop.Up Next looks kind of like an ultra-modern sedan with sporty lines — kind of like a fully-electric and autonomous Audi, aesthetically. ## A Flying Claw Crane But it's the detachable passenger cabin that really sets it apart. The cabin can essentially be picked up by a drone module that can park its two legs on either side of the vehicle, and passenger pod. It then can pick up just the passenger pod, and leave the car — or sled?— behind. Think of it as a bird that swoops down to grab its prey. https://youtu.be/2LggHhR2kFk ## Taking Off Of course, the transition from a quarter-scale model to full-scale is anything but simple — not to mention the complete lack of infrastructure that could support flying taxis in a city. But Audi is hoping to [conduct test operations]() for a flying taxi at Audi's headquarters in Germany. Futurism has reached out to Audi for a more detailed timeline. With the likes of [Uber]() and Dutch flying car maker [PAL-V]() making some serious strides in realizing flying car transportation, though, Audi has its work cut out for it. ![]() **READ MORE:** [Hailing the future taxi: Drone-car mashup model takes flight]() \[Phys.org\] More on flying taxis: [Uber Plans To Launch Flying Taxis With Technology That Doesn’t Exist]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()