The Driverless Taxis Of Masdar City, Abu Dhabi

This is how the future happens.  First comes the mobile phones, then the internet, and now driverless taxis.  I thought all I wanted from the 21st century was a rocket pack and x-ray glasses, but this is it right here – The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) podcar from Italian coachbuilder Zagato.  Fully electric, fully automated, fully future.

Designed for the eco-utopian wonderland of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the PRT podcar will be right at home with the city’s vow to have no carbon footprint, and no traditional roads. 

Passengers will be ferried along underground at 25km/h (15mph), between set locations.  In that regard they’re more like mini buses or trains, but at least you can tell it which stop to take you to, and you don’t have to stand next to any odorous armpits.

And now, a moment from the future:

Johnnycab: Please state the street and number.

Douglas Quaid: [absently] Shit, shit!

Johnnycab: I'm not familiar with that address. Would you please repeat the destination?

[Douglas Quaid rips Johnnycab from the floor, and throws him in the back]