Behind the Scenes : 4 High-Tech Cars from Pop Culture
WORDS BY ANTONINA JOSON
Art imitates life , especially when it comes to future tech . There are several sci-fi future cars that pop culture has conjured throughout the decades , but what were their inspirations ? Let ’ s look at 4 iconic futuristic cars and the methods behind their madness .
# 1 The Jetsons ( 1962-1963 ) – Flying Cars
As the oldest show on this list , the Jetson ’ s family car is a fictional staple . The Smithsonian Magazine even credited the show as the earliest inspiration for fictional flying cars .
THE QUINTESSENTIAL FLYING CAR
In the spirit of futuristic whimsy , George , the patriarch of the Jetson family , drove a green ( sometimes red ), saucer-like “ aerocar .”
Notable features include :
Flying saucer shape – The Jetson family car was more UFO than SUV .
Anti-gravity – Probably its most notable feature , the car could fly around Orbit City ’ s road-less urban landscape .
Joystick controls – The car did not have a conventional steering wheel , but a joystick and a few buttons on its console .
Fusion-powered engine – George that it runs on “ high-octane pellets and radium .” John Pearley Huffman of the Car and Driver theorised that the car ’ s anti-gravity feature required more than one engine powered by nuclear fusion to keep it afloat .
Briefcase – Instead of parking , the car would fold itself into a briefcase for George ’ s convenience .
FORD SEES THE FUTURE
Hanna-Barbera ’ s car inspiration was the 1954 Ford FX-Atmos . The FX-Atmos had a round transparent window as its top , and the rest of its exterior resembled an elongated rocket ship . Only the lower halves of its white wheels are visible , lending to its floating illusion .
Ford ’ s futuristic vision for this car goes beyond the frame . It was to be controlled by a joystick and buttons , instead of the conventional steering wheel , much like the Jetsons ’ car . Supposedly , the FX-Atmos ’ power source was not gas but “ the atom .” How this works was not specified , but the car was envisioned to be completely nuclear fusion-powered , no gas or fuel needed .
Sadly , the FX-Atmos cannot be folded into a suitcase .
# 2 Back to the Future ( 1985 ) – DeLorean Time Machine
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