A car that rises up to drive over traffic… Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it is I’m afraid. While the Hum Rider is a real car, it’s simply a marketing stunt for Verizon.
Randomly popping up in Facebook videos this week, the Hum Rider caught the attention of every human who has ever felt the plight of bad traffic with the following copy – “With the push of a button, Hum Rider widens and elevates and lets you drive over cars in front of you. Problem solved.”
The car was created as a PR stunt by viral video agency Thinkmodo, to promote an in-car device from Verizon Telematics called the Hum, set to help connect your car.
If ever they wanted to pivot into making cars, I would certainly be game for this rush hour-defeating machine.
So how does it work? Using custom-made steel telescoping arms and 300 feet of hydraulic hose, they were able to make the car (which doesn’t have an axle) go up and down on its specialist truck wheels. And with an onboard 45-gallon hydraulic fluid reservoir, the car isn’t necessarily set for consumer use. But no doubt, it’s an incredible feat of engineering to get an elevating car to soar over traffic jams.
As for marketing results (but who cares, right?) Verizon’s Hum Facebook page received 60,000 likes in 36 hours and the video peaked 10 million views.
Alongside the scientists, 50% of the British public and the future health of young people across the nation, I have one simple request: delay Freedom Day, please.