On Wednesday, the Hyundai Motor Group revealed the prototype of its new air taxi model at the CES 2024, in Las Vegas. In the global technology show, the giant automobile maker’s US-based air taxi unit of Hyundai, Supernal introduced the final product concept of its Electrical Vertical Takeoff or eVTOL, dubbed the S-A2.
The S-A2 is a V-tail all-electric aircraft, accommodating the pilot and four passengers, designed to facilitate safe, efficient and affordable daily air transportation. Built on the visionary of S-A1 from CES 2020, the new product concept of the Supernal flying taxi, is expected to sail at speeds of 120 mph at 1500 ft, over distances of 25 to 40 miles at once. The vertical flight is facilitated by eight tilting rotors enabling vertical lift and horizontal cruise phases. As reported by WIRED, the aircraft on takeoff has its front four rotors point skyward and the ones at the back face downward. For a “normal flight,” the rotors pivot horizontally.
The aircraft will be functioning as quietly as a dishwasher at 65 dB during vertical takeoff and landing phases and 45dB when flying horizontally. Luc Donckerwolke, the president, chief creative officer and chief design officer of Hyundai Motor Group, revealed to the WIRED in a tour that the window placement and design for the S-A2 was inspired by the “heads of bees.” He said, “When you fly in a helicopter or VTOL, you look down to see where you are landing – the passengers as well as the pilot… Biomimicry was important here.”
The engineering team of Supernal collaborated with Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive designers to lend the S-A2 its unique functionality and generative design to make use of less metal. The S-A2 has eight, separated safety-ensuring battery units and might need high voltage, fast charging system. Donckerwolke is aiming to work on the light signature of the aircraft so that it meets the expectations of what he says, “auto meets aero.’
