Like many Americans, I was fascinated by the idea of flying cars. After all, they were a promised part of the future world. For me, the future looked a little like this:

Turns out, our expectations might have been wrong. The future may have looked a little less Back to the Future and a little more Star Wars.

Behold, Project Elevate's Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) from Hyundai:

"Project Elevate goes beyond the range of wheels, to walk, climb, and traverse terrain never before possible by a traditional car," the company says in the video.

The unique vehicle is designed to move over a variety of surfaces in four separate modes: passive suspension (like a normal car), active suspension (using its legs like a NASA rover to glide over rocks), a reptilian walking mode with its legs to the side, and a mammalian walking mode with its legs moving front to back. The UMV will also have omnidirectional ability to switch between these modes for difficult climbs.

(Just think, when the machines take over, this could be chasing you down through the apocalyptic wasteland. Fun!)

Hyundai first teased the UMV in 2019, but announced this week that it is moving forward with production plans with the creation of a new studio to exclusively focus on the development of the vehicle.

Hyundai is marketing the UMV for multiple audiences, including first responders, the military, handicapped individuals, extreme off-road junkies, and libertarians determined to avoid government roads.