Latest news with #MercedesS-Class
Fox News
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Flying car with 620-mile range scheduled for upcoming launch
Have you ever wished you could skip the traffic and just fly to your destination in the same vehicle you drove to the airport? That's exactly what the Klein Vision AirCar is promising. After more than 30 years of development, this flying car is finally about to become a reality for early buyers. Let's see what sets the AirCar apart, how it actually works and what the future might hold for this ambitious project. The story of AirCar begins in Slovakia, where designer Štefan Klein and his team have been working on flying cars since the late 1980s. After years of prototypes and over 500 test flights, the AirCar is finally set for certification later this year. Customer deliveries are planned for early 2026, and the company even has plans for an amphibious version that could land on water. So, how does it work? The AirCar looks like a sleek sports coupe on the road, with four wheels and a design that would fit right in next to a luxury sedan. When you need to fly, you simply drive to a runway, press a button and watch as the wings unfold and the tail extends. The transformation takes about 80 seconds, and there's no manual tinkering required. Once the wings are locked and the tail is in place, you're ready for takeoff. The steering wheel transforms into a flight yoke, and extra pedals appear for rudder control. The controls are designed to be intuitive for pilots, so if you already have a private pilot's license, you won't need to learn anything new. Under the hood, the production AirCar will offer three engine options, all 3.2-liter V6s from South African company Adept Airmotive. The base model puts out 280 horsepower, while the top version offers 340 horsepower with twin turbos. On the road, the AirCar can reach a top speed of about 124 mph, and it handles and feels much like a sports car. In the air, it cruises at 155 mph and can travel up to 620 miles on a single tank of fuel. The cabin is not pressurized, so the recommended ceiling is 10,000 feet, but it could go higher with oxygen tanks. The AirCar runs on regular high-octane gasoline, and you can fill up at most gas stations. In terms of size, it is about as long as a Mercedes S-Class and narrow enough to fit in a standard parking spot. To operate the AirCar on the road, you will need a standard driver's license, just like any other car. If you want to take to the skies, you'll also need a private pilot's license. According to Klein Vision, the AirCar is designed so that if you already have a private pilot's license, you won't have to learn anything new to fly it. This means owners will need both driving and flying licenses, along with access to a runway, to fully experience everything the AirCar can do. The AirCar is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million, which puts it in the same category as high-end supercars and small private planes. It is geared toward mega-rich business travelers, air taxi operators and anyone who wants to skip traffic and simply fly over it instead. Unlike many flying car projects that never make it past the prototype stage, the AirCar is close to full certification and production. It is also one of the few with four wheels, making it truly road-legal in most places. While other companies have spent hundreds of millions on similar ideas, Klein Vision has achieved this on a much smaller budget. Klein Vision isn't stopping with a two-seater. The company is already working on versions with three or four seats, and there's talk of an amphibious model that could land on water. This would open up even more travel possibilities, such as island hopping or reaching remote lakes. It's wild to think that flying cars have been a daydream for so long, and now the AirCar is right on the verge of making it real. This is a vehicle you could actually see on the road and in the air pretty soon. Sure, you'll need a pilot's license and a pretty big budget, but the fact that something like this is even possible is pretty amazing. Honestly, the idea that we might spot a car rolling up to a runway and then lifting off in just a year or two is kind of crazy. Are we truly prepared to share our skies with cars as easily as we share our roads? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Popular cars including BMW, Kia and Mercedes banned from certain UK car parks
Some of the swankiest vehicles in the UK are banned from parking in some public car parks - and it's all down to an obscure rule about the length of parking spaces Motorists driving some of the most sought-after cars from giants like BMW, Kia and Mercedes have been dealt a blow as they're barred from parking in public car parks due to a little-known rule about parking space sizes. Autocar has unearthed that five local councils have put their foot down, banning any vehicle that's too big for the standard spots from using council-run car parks. If your vehicle stretches beyond five metres, you'll be out of luck finding a spot in these car parks, which cap off at just 4.8 metres. With modern motors bulking up over the years, this spells trouble for drivers with larger models, as councils are on the lookout to fine those spilling out of parking bay lines. New Forest Council has thrown a spotlight on the dilemma, stating: "The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. "However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length." The council underscored the significant uptick in car sizes over the years, reports the Daily Record. In a statement, they compared past and present car dimensions: "In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020." Among the high-end bestsellers potentially caught up in this clampdown are the opulent Mercedes S-Class, the sleek Tesla Model S, and the grand BMW 7 Series. Luxurious SUVs like Range Rovers, Audi A8, the futuristic Kia EV9, and the sumptuous Rolls Royce Cullinan could find themselves on the local council's naughty list, alongside top-tier sports cars that might be given the cold shoulder. Every council in the UK was sent an FOI request by Autocar, who were curious to know if there are any plans afoot to resize parking bays in light of the increasingly longer vehicles now gracing British tarmac, some car parks being unchanged for umpteen years. It's a tight squeeze, but so far, councils in Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk, and West Devon have effectively shown the red light to cars not fitting into their spots, as per the info fed back to Autocar. Wokingham Council has gone public with the FOI details, now posted on its website. The question put to the council was piercing: "Are cars exceeding a certain length banned from any of your car parks?" In response, the council stated: "We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. "Since June 2023 All motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access." Owners of the cars which are potentially at risk will need to keep an eye out on updates from their local council.
Daily Record
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Seven popular cars banned from parking in UK car parks due to new 'length rule'
Drivers who own high end cars including Kia, BMW, Tesla and Range Rover are now banned from parking their vehicles in UK car parks. Owners of seven popular cars from top-selling brands like BMW, Kia, and Mercedes have been hit with a startling revelation that they're now banned from parking in public car parks. This unexpected ban arises from an obscure regulation about the length of parking spaces. Autocar has confirmed with five local councils that vehicles too lengthy for their provided spots are now officially prohibited from using any council-operated car parks. Vehicles exceeding five metres in length will find no space in these car parks, where the parking bay size maxes out at just 4.8 metres. As cars have generally increased in size over time, this poses an issue as councils stand ready to penalise drivers whose vehicles overflow the boundaries of parking bays, the Express reports. New Forest Council shed light on the issue: "The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. "However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length." They pointed out the rising growth in vehicle dimensions which has drastically increased over the years. The council stated: "In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020." Some of the luxury best selling vehicles which could be affected by the ban include the Mercedes S-Class, Tesla Model S and the BMW 7 Series. Swanky SUVs such as Range Rovers, Audi A8, the Kia EV9 and the opulent Rolls Royce Cullinan are also at risk but there are others including high end sports car which would also be barred. An FOI request from Autocar was submitted to every council in the UK. They enquired whether they planned to extend parking bays to accommodate longer cars, now a common sight on British roads, as many have not been updated for decades. Five local authorities so far in Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk and West Devon, have informed Autocar that they had effectively prohibited any cars which don't fit into their spaces. Wokingham Council has now published the details of the FOI on its website. The council was asked: "Are cars exceeding a certain length banned from any of your car parks?" In response, the council stated: "We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. "Since June 2023 All motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access." Owners of the cars which are potentially at risk will need to keep an eye out on updates from their local council.
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Seven beloved motors BANNED from car parks over new ‘length rule' – check full list of models affected
SEVEN popular motors have been banned from UK car parks with drivers facing fines if they break the rules. Owners of well-known car models from top manufacturers will have their parking restricted because of a little known "length rule". Advertisement 1 Five councils have confirmed they're enforcing the rule Credit: AFP This will affect the owners of popular cars including Tesla, Kia, BMW and Mercedes. Some of the best-selling vehicles affected include a Mercedes S-Class, Tesla Model S, BMW 7 series, Range Rovers, the Audi A8 and the Kia EV9. A Rolls Royce Cullinan as well as other high end sports car would also be barred. British automotive magazine, Autocar, reported that it has received confirmation of the rule from five local councils. Advertisement Read more in Motor news Vehicles that are too long to fit into a parking space are now officially banned from parking in any of their council-run car parks. If your motor is longer than five metres, you'll be unable to use their parking bays which measure at 4.8 metres. Drivers could be hit with fines by the council if their car doesn't fit the bay. This poses a problem with cars getting bigger and larger over the years and which are now commonplace on British roads. Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive Many of the spaces in these council-run car parks haven't been updated for decades. New Forest Council explained: "The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. "However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length. "In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020." Advertisement Autocar sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to every council in the UK asking whether they planned to extend parking bays to accommodate longer cars. The five local authorities implementing the ban are Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk and West Devon. They confirmed to Autocar they had effectively banned any cars which fail to fit into their spaces. Wokingham Council addressed the FOI on its website. Advertisement When asked whether cars exceeding a certain length were banned from their car parks, they confirmed the size rule was in place. They responded: "We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. ""Since June 2023, all motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access." Between 2017 and 2024, Wokingham found 153 instances of vehicles falling foul of the "length rule". Advertisement
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Seven beloved motors BANNED from car parks over new ‘length rule' – check full list of models affected
Your car could be affected if you live in a certain area PARKING MAD Seven beloved motors BANNED from car parks over new 'length rule' – check full list of models affected SEVEN popular motors have been banned from UK car parks with drivers facing fines if they break the rules. Owners of well-known car models from top manufacturers will have their parking restricted because of a little known "length rule". 1 Five councils have confirmed they're enforcing the rule Credit: AFP This will affect the owners of popular cars including Tesla, Kia, BMW and Mercedes. Some of the best-selling vehicles affected include a Mercedes S-Class, Tesla Model S, BMW 7 series, Range Rovers, the Audi A8 and the Kia EV9. A Rolls Royce Cullinan as well as other high end sports car would also be barred. British automotive magazine, Autocar, reported that it has received confirmation of the rule from five local councils. Vehicles that are too long to fit into a parking space are now officially banned from parking in any of their council-run car parks. If your motor is longer than five metres, you'll be unable to use their parking bays which measure at 4.8 metres. Drivers could be hit with fines by the council if their car doesn't fit the bay. This poses a problem with cars getting bigger and larger over the years and which are now commonplace on British roads. Many of the spaces in these council-run car parks haven't been updated for decades. New Forest Council explained: "The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. "However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length. "In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020." Autocar sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to every council in the UK asking whether they planned to extend parking bays to accommodate longer cars. The five local authorities implementing the ban are Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk and West Devon. They confirmed to Autocar they had effectively banned any cars which fail to fit into their spaces. Wokingham Council addressed the FOI on its website. When asked whether cars exceeding a certain length were banned from their car parks, they confirmed the size rule was in place. They responded: "We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. ""Since June 2023, all motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access." Between 2017 and 2024, Wokingham found 153 instances of vehicles falling foul of the "length rule".
