Gallery: Air cars get ready for takeoff

By Andy Smith March 4, 2009, 12:28 AM PST

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Soon you could be riding on air, compressed air that is, according to MDI which showed off its upcoming AirPod at the Geneva auto show in Switzerland. The AirPod is expected to have a range of 112 miles for its 46 gallon tank of compressed air which takes two minutes to fill up. MDI claims it can hit 45 mph – but it only produces 8 horsepower so it might take a while to get to that speed.nn

CNET’s Wayne Cunningham says the AirPod driver will use a joystick to control the 465-pound vehicle. The three-wheeler is expected to hit production this spring.nn

Credit: CNET

Here’s the driver’s seat in the AirPod.nnnn

Credit: CNET

People sit back to back in the AirPod to save space.nn

Credit: MDI

MDI has a more ambitious compressed air vehicle in the planning stages called the OneFlowAir. It is geared toward overpopulated and polluted cities. nn

The OneFlowAir is projected to have a driving range of about 550 miles and is projected to reach a maximum speed of 60 mph. The price range is expected to be from about $4,400 for the Basic to $6,700 for the standard model.nn

Credit: MDI

The OneAirFlow.nn

Credit: MDI

A sportier OneAirFlow.nn

Credit: MDI

The CityFlowAIR is projected to be both a utility and a fun car with 3-6 seats depending on the model. It is expected to go into production one year after the OneFlow Air. nn

Credit: MDI

The CityFlowAirnn

Credit: MDI

The MiniAirFlow is expected to reach the market a year after the CityFlowAir. nn

Credit: MDI

Another CityFlowAir.nn

Credit: MDI

The MiniFlowAir is a three-seater.nn

Credit: MDI

The steering wheel of the MiniFlowAir.nn

Credit: MDI

A pilot-lot of 11 CityCATs 1 was manufactured for tests and development purposes and will be replaced by the CityFlowAIR 2.nn

Credit: MDI

Eventually MDI wants to build a fleet of buses for public transportation. Each wheel will be equipped with its own engine.nn

Credit: MDI

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