What a way to beat the traffic! Flying car developer says he's $80 million closer to making sci-fi dream a reality

• Moller International joins with outside firm to move production to China
• Founder expects a working prototype by the end of 2013
  

By JOSHUA GARDNER

PUBLISHED: 19:14 GMT, 25 January 2013 | UPDATED: 03:01 GMT, 26 January 2013

Developers of a flying car say they're about $80 million closer to giving your morning commute a real lift.

For years, Moller International has been working on a way to make the old science fiction dream of turning tires into turboprops a reality.

Their SkyCar, designed for speeds of over 300 MPH at altitudes as high as 36,000 feet would seat four people and isn't trying to replace commercial air travel.

Nor do they want their vehicle to cater to only the elite hobbyist. As of today, very few people have had the rare pleasure of riding in any iteration of the SkyCar.

Instead, the company intends to bring their 'vertical take off & landing (VTOL) fast, low-cost personal recreational or utility vehicle' to the masses.

Basically, an eye-catching alternative to the earthbound sports car.

Now, according to a Jan. 24 company statement, founder Dr. Paul Moller has persuaded a Southern California firm to offer up the hefty sum to speed his vehicles' path to the marketplace.

The joint venture with Athena Technologies, Inc. of Harbor City California, is intended to pair the 30 years of technological experience backing Moller with Athena's affordable manufacturing capabilities overseas in Chinese facilities.

And the $80 million is just the tip of the iceberg.

FULL STORY & VIDEO: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268402/Flying-car-develope...