Terrafugia's new VTOL concept transfers detachable passenger pods between ground and sky

From Terrafugia's web: http://www.terrafugia-tf2.com/

With the recent acquisition of Terrafugia by the parent company of Volvo and Lotus, a world class team of engineers, and the creation of our new R&D facility just outside San Francisco, Terrafugia is positioning itself to be a major player in the world of automated VTOL vehicles.

Our next generation concept (TF-2) is a three-part integrated transportation system for Part 135 short haul operators who want to achieve a new level of convenience, comfort, and efficiency. With a detachable pod configuration your passengers or cargo will be able to travel seamlessly from point A to point B.

TF-2 is currently in the conceptual design stage and we are interested in collecting feedback from potential customers.

There are two concepts under consideration: a tilt-rotor (TR) and a lift-plus-push (LPP) configuration. The TR has performance advantages and the LPP has the advantage of mechanical simplicity.

 Detachable pods

• Pod locks securely into either the flight vehicle (FV) or ground vehicle (GV).
• Pod can carry people or cargo
• Flight vehicle has one pilot plus autonomous flight capabilities
• Ground vehicle has one driver plus autonomous docking capabilities​​

Features

• Detachable pod moves passengers and cargo seamlessly from point A to point B
• Passengers load and unload only once
• ​Ride height adjustable suspension enables smooth pod loading and handicap accessibility
• Panoramic view from large side and forward windows
• Large luggage compartment for standard airline luggage (50lb/piece)
• Capacity for 4 passengers and luggage
• Cargo capacity up to 1400 lb (assuming 60 NM trip)

Projected performance

Configuration	Lift + Push	Tiltrotor
Passengers	4	4
MTOW	8500-9000 lb 3860-4080 kg	​7500-8000 lb ​3400-3630 kg
Payload with 30 min fuel res	900-1100 lb ​410-500 kg	900-1100 lb ​410-500 kg
Max cruise speed	120-130 kts ​222-240 km/h	170-180 kts ​315-333 km/h
Range at max payload	170-215 nm ​315-400 km	240-300 nm ​445-555 km
Cost per flight hour	$370-$410	$380-$420 ​