From reimagining the past with retro cars like the Mini and Fiat 500, and helping mould the look of contemporary supercars at Ferrari and McLaren, Frank Stephenson is now giving us a glimpse onto the future of transport.
AutoFlight’s Prosperity I eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) machine has been officially unveiled at the Paris Air Show sporting bodywork created by Frank Stephenson Design, and it’s every bit as striking as the cars he created at Maranello.
The look of the multi-rotor craft isn’t a complete surprise because we already saw the machine in action earlier this year when it set a world record for the longest flight by an eVOTL on a single charge, travelling for 250 km (155 miles) at an average altitude of 170 meters (558 ft).
We were also treated to a look inside Prosperity I last week when pictures were released showing an almost Tesla-like white leather interior complete with subtle ambient lighting. Stephenson’s design outfit handled both the interior and exterior design work, which the great man says is meant to evoke a sense of safety, comfort and innovation. And it sounds like his experience creating slippery, lightweight cars came in handy.
Related: Frank Stephenson Is Designing An Electric Flying Vehicle
“During the AutoFlight project, weight and safety were our utmost priorities; these dictate all of the work we do in this industry and weight must be kept to a minimum to maximise efficiency,” Stephenson said.
“When it comes to the capsule’s aesthetics, the wings and propeller layout dictate the overall appearance of the aircraft and the interior concept is extremely unique – it’s a new type of space, and a very interesting package to execute,” he explained. “Cross-sectional areas should be minimised to reduce drag (the force that resists the movement of an aircraft through the air) and at the same time, the cabin must be comfortable and spacious enough for the passengers.”
Stephenson might be known for his car designs, but that could be about to change. In addition to helping shape Prosperity I, FSD was recently appointed leader of design for HALO’s space tourism capsule, and has also created designs for watches, cargo e-bikes and even child car seats.
AutoFlight is based in Germany and predicts that the eVTOL will be ready for commercial flights in 2026. You can check out its record-breaking flight in the video below.