Aston Martin Takes To The Skies With The Volante Vision Concept

The luxury air taxi brings Aston Martin together with Rolls-Royce aerospace.

Aston Martin is known for making some of the most splendid luxury GTs on the market. Convertibles, four-doors, the odd city car, and soon a crossover as well. And it's even dipped its toes in the water with a speedboat. But now it's taking to the air with the Volante Vision concept. Presented at the Farnborough Airshow, the Volante Vision is billed as a “luxury concept aircraft,” envisioned to be capable of taking off and landing vertically (like a helicopter or Harrier jump-jet).

The concept encompasses space for three passengers, propelled by a hybrid powertrain with autonomous capabilities for traveling between and within city centers, high above congested ground traffic. “Humans have always spent on average, one hour commuting to and from work,” notes Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. “The Volante Vision Concept will enable us to travel further with our hourly commute, meaning we are able to live further away from where we work.”

The project stems from a partnership between Aston Martin, Cranfield University, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions. Rolls-Royce is involved, too – but not the carmaker whose luxury automobiles Aston's gunning for with its Lagonda line. This project involves the jet engine manufacturer that was once the automaker's parent company.

“We are at the beginning of a new generation of urban transportation, vertical mobility is no longer a fantasy. We have a unique chance to create a luxury concept aircraft that will represent the ultimate fusion of art and technology,” said Aston's design chief Marek Reichman. “We have used forms and proportions that express the same devotion to design, engineering and beauty that shape our cars.”