Vietnamese businessman Hoang Kim Khanh, known for his lavish spending on supercars, has added a new dimension to his passion for exotic vehicles. Besides owning a fleet of luxury and high-performance cars, Khanh has now set his sights on the skies with his recent interest in flying cars.
Hoang Kim Khanh, a native of Hai Duong, has gained prominence in the online community for his extravagant purchases, starting with a nearly 50 billion VND officially imported Lamborghini Aventador S LP740-4.
Khanh quickly expanded his garage to include dozens of other exotic cars, the most notable being a pair of hypercars and a megacar bearing Cambodian number plates: a limited-edition McLaren Senna, one of only 500 produced globally, and a rare Koenigsegg Regera, of which only 80 were manufactured.
In a recent development, Khanh has expressed fascination with a car unlike any other in his collection—not a supercar from renowned brands like Bugatti or Pagani, but a vehicle from Chinese manufacturer Xpeng. The car that has caught the attention of this enthusiastic collector is the Xpeng AeroHT.
The Xpeng AeroHT offers a unique proposition that blends automotive and aeronautical technologies. While it can navigate roads like a conventional car, the AeroHT also boasts the capability to transform into a flying machine at the touch of a button, with four retractable wings that enable it to take to the skies. Khanh’s interest in this vehicle underscores his elevated passion for automotive innovation, now extending beyond mere high-performance cars.
The Xpeng AeroHT, unveiled by the Chinese automaker during their 1024 Technology Day in 2023, closely resembles the patent images released earlier that year. This innovative vehicle can retract its propellers and be driven on public roads, offering a dual-purpose functionality. Xpeng has stated that they are exploring a second direction for their flying vehicles, envisioning a modular car with a mother ship and a flying body.
AeroHT, established in 2013 with financial backing from Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng, initially developed a flying vehicle in 2016 that resembled a large drone more than a car. Subsequent generations evolved toward a drone-like design, and in 2021, the company announced their sixth-generation model as a flying car. They recently revealed their latest prototype, signaling a new direction in the development of flying vehicles.
The Xpeng AeroHT seamlessly integrates flying and driving capabilities. Its exterior design evokes a two-door coupe, featuring a short hood that flows into the A-pillars. The doors are transparent, enhancing visibility during flight. From the rear, the Xpeng branding, LED lights, and large air vents stand out.
This futuristic vehicle replaces traditional mirrors with cameras and incorporates aerodynamically designed wheel covers. Notably, the prototype lacks door handles, contributing to its sleek and streamlined appearance. These exterior features collectively minimize air resistance, optimizing the vehicle’s performance in both flying and driving modes.
One of the prototype’s most distinctive features is its roof-mounted propellers. The Xpeng AeroHT boasts a total of eight propellers attached to a hinged frame, allowing them to be folded away when not in use. Previously, one of the challenges in this design was ensuring the proper locking mechanism for the propellers to prevent damage from vibrations during road driving.
Xpeng has shared that their flying car is expected to weigh around 1,000 kg and will be launched in 2024 with a price tag of 1,000,000 Chinese yuan (approximately 137,000 USD or 3.25 billion VND). However, the prototype still appears to be a work in progress, and AeroHT is now exploring a new direction with their “modular flying car” concept. This approach involves a mother ship and a flying body, offering a unique take on the future of aerial transportation.