Hi-tech and eco-friendly ‘carcopter’ could replace Formula 1 as a sport, say manufacturers

It looks like a futuristic racing craft from a video game popular more than 25 years ago.

But this insect-like flying car should soon be a reality.

French company Maca says it plans to test its eco-friendly £665,000 hydrogen-powered ‘carcopter’ on racetracks this year.

It will have a top speed of 155mph, meaning a pilot onboard the 23ft craft can give Formula One stars a run for their money.

But unlike the gas-guzzling machines driven by Sir Lewis Hamilton and co, this vehicle does not create any CO2 emissions and is fully recyclable. 

The firm hopes carcopter racing may even replace F1 as a sport.

The Maca S11 Carcopter was unveiled on the opening night of the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas.

The Maca S11 Carcopter was unveiled on the opening night of the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas. 

With three low-noise propellers, it has a metal chassis and a frame made of carbon, linen and wood.

Its appearance is similar to the flying vehicles in the PlayStation game Wipeout – set in the year 2052 – originally released in 1995.

Unlike the gas-guzzling machines driven by Sir Lewis Hamilton and co, the carcopter does not create any CO2 emissions and is fully recyclable (pictured: Lewis Hamilton driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 in Abu Dhabi)

Maca, which worked closely with Airbus on the invention, says the carcopter will be on the market by June 2023.

Chief operating officer Thierry de Boisvilliers said: ‘There are many companies working toward similar solutions.

‘While most companies are relying on electricity or traditional fossil fuel to power their vehicles, Maca deploys clean-burning hydrogen-based fuel cells, which allows for longer flight times and green energy sustainability.’

Smart collar asks: What’s up, dog? 

A smart dog collar can warn owners if their pet is under the weather by tracking barking, jumping and breathing each day.

The £75 device uses AI to build a picture of the pet’s daily routine and sends an alert to an app if it detects behavioural changes.

French tech company Invoxia said the collar’s inbuilt radar sensors can pierce through thick fur and monitor the dog’s activity – including temperature, heart and respiration rate – and location.

It said results could help owners work out what is wrong if their dog is upset and give early warnings of health issues. 

Owners can also use the app to build a virtual boundary around their garden to alert them if their pet escapes. 

The collar is due to be launched in the summer.

French tech company Invoxia said the collar’s inbuilt radar sensors can pierce through thick fur and monitor the dog’s activity – including temperature, heart and respiration rate – and location.