Buzz grows on 'flying cars' ahead of major tech show

Unless they are a lot quieter than helicopters, they will be very antisocial indeed flying across cities. And where's all the energy coming from to recharge them?

Remember the jet-pack at the '84 LA Olympics? These are almost as impractical for day to day use, imho.

It’ll never work, people can’t even merge on the 405 FWY properly, how can they make flying cars work without constant midair collisions.

While one person with a flying car may be amazing, 500 people in a city darting about in flying cars could bode airborne mayhem.

Or they could "swarm", so yes there is a future, also Gill Pratt is releasing the Guardian & Chauffeur on the P4 platform (TRI.GLOBAL), on the opening day of CES!

so how will a oversized drone 'car' be even sold by them?

They already sell millions of Google-enabled smart devices like the Google Home and Mini, Nest security, Chromecast-compatible devices, Android software in cars, etc. just like Amazon and Alexa - I'd imagine they'd try to tie into that ecosystem

No it won't.  Imagine the carnage if "flying cars" ever become more than a niche market for rich properly licensed "pilots".

Other companies I welcome, but weary of Google..

Seriously why is Google even attempting this? Their Google translate is pathetic, Google Glass failed, their company stalks everything you do, so how will a oversized drone 'car' be even sold by them?

Flying cars are a long way from being the norm, anywhere. And I think Japan is even further away from having them than anywhere else in the modern world. There will be so much red tape and stringent requirements to fly them, only a handful of people will get that chance here.