It can carry 4 passengers safely, travelling at speeds up to 350 MPH. It does approximately 20 MPG, runs on automotive gasoline, and is able to carry a useful payload of 750 Lbs... Oh yes, I forgot to mention, it's bright red, has no tires, and it flies!

As an rule, the Tire industry ‘revolves' (yes the pun was intentional) around a series of peculiar mechanical and physical requirements: friction, pressure, directional velocities and other earthly considerations.

But what would happen if the need to support the vehicle on the road's surface was no longer a requirement? What would happen to the tire industry then? Gone would be the need for long lasting tires, for tires that can withstand high speeds, for tires that can run flat and for a myriad of other tire products – you simply wouldn't need them.

Fact or Fiction?

So is it fact or fiction? It's FACT.

Flying cars exist today and one in particular is called the Moller Skycar. Scheduled for FAA certification by December 31, 2006 this vehicle of the future is now a reality. It can carry 4 passengers safely (it will even hover with one failed engine, and apparently during a catastrophic power failure this vehicle will float to earth on emergency parachutes!) This Skycar can carry a payload of 750Lbs, travel at speeds of up to 350 MPH and can cruise at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

The primary power house behind this marvel is the Rotapower engine. Based on the Wankel rotary format this new engine (along with dozens of other amazing inventions including an automatic levelling and self balancing in-flight system) make this vehicle safe enough, and easy enough for the general public to fly.

Forget "The Jetsons" – Think Joe Q Public

Imagine that, Joe Q. Public able to fly one of the most advanced personal transportation vehicles in the world, and apparently with out any specialised pilot training! This was of course precisely what Dr. Paul Moller of British Columbia intended. Born and raised on a chicken ranch in south-eastern BC near a town called Trail, this budding engineer was already building things by the time he was 6.

He built his first house by the time he was 9 and his first car by 15. The flying ‘bug' bit him early in life and his illustrious career has now spanned more than 30 years. The Skycar represents his vision of a personal transportation device that would allow him to "fly like a hummingbird" and go places he had never been without any constraints.

Personal Freedom For Just...

And the price tag for this personal freedom? Well as you might imagine it's not cheap – so don't start thinking of changing careers any time soon. The first few Skycars will sell for a cool $995,000 USD. The subsequent units will sell for between $500,000 and $995,000.

Of course, the logistical issues of such a vehicle are hugely complex and as you might imagine the Moller corporation has to deal with red tape and bureaucracy like the rest of us. They are hoping to have their FAA certification by December 2006 and yes, they are already taking orders for this vehicle. If you wish to secure your own you need to put down a $100,000 deposit.

"We Wants It! We Wants My Precious!"

I don't know about you, but if I had a spare million dollars just lying around, I think I'd be one of the first in line to get one of these machines. I wonder if this type of vehicle will be available before I'm too old to drive one?

As a parting thought, consider the aftermarket potential for add-on equipment: warp drive, laser guns, plasma rays and ... oh yes, that's right – this is FACT not FICTION.

Fore more information about this amazing vehicle visit http://www.moller.com

AUTHOR BIO: James Burchill is a freelance marketing consultant and author. He's also the editor and associate publisher for two of the automotive aftermarket industry's leading print publications and he's the publisher of http://www.CorrectLink.com - a new Internet publication for the automotive aftermarket in Canada.

In between all that, James helps people 'Sell more stuff, and make more money!' and publishes a series of informational and Internet products about advertising and marketing. His main website is http://www.JamesBurchill.com