updated 7/27/2010 6:42:42 PM ET
Terrafugia(美国特拉福嘉汽车公司) has released new artists' renderings(示意图) and updated specs(细则) for its Transition vehicle(变形车) — the world's first flying car — at a press conference(新闻发布会) at the AirVenture aviation(航空) event in Oshkosh, Wis.
The Transition is technically known as a roadable(适于路面行驶的) aircraft(飞行器), or a plane that can fold up its wings to achieve street-safe (and legal) dimensions(规模).
The vehicle has been given a mild design makeover(装饰), and is now imbued with(充满) a more car-like front courtesy(前脸) of traditional headlights(前灯) and a license plate(牌照) holder.
Terrafugia envisions(设想) the eventual production version as having covered front wheels set off from the body of the car by tubes(管子), which is more in line with the light sport aircraft that the airplane-half of the Transition represents.
On the engineering side of things, the next generation of the vehicle has an improved wing that folds up smoothly per(依据) a command from the cockpit(驾驶室), rather like a convertible(敞篷车).
Other newly updated features to the car-plane hybrid(杂交品) include rear-wheel drive(后轮驱动) with a continuously variable transmission(变速传动), an independent suspension(悬架) and a touch screen interface(触屏界面) in the cockpit, or driver's seat, depending on one's location in the air or on the ground.
The prototype(雏形) Transition flew its maiden voyage(处女航) in March 2009 and passed with flying colors(出色地). Terrafugia's flying car cleared a key regulatory(规章的) hurdle(障碍) last month when the Federal Aviation Administration(联邦航空管理局) granted a 110 pound-weight exception(例外) for the aircraft's class.