> As for the 'Hovering Transport Vehicle' (a'la "The Jetsons") ....the idea would > essentially replace what we typically refer to as a 'car' (has wheels > and goes vroom, vroom on the road). So, if one thing is done away with to make way > for something more advanced - typically the NEW item takes upon the name of the old > item. Please note that I'm referring to it's functionality, not necessarily its > physical construction. >
Expanding on this idea: If 'Hovering Transport Vehicles' (or "flying cars") replace the function of cars - they would then, over time, just be called "cars". I would imagine that if one were to refer to present day cars, they might say 'old cars', 'automobiles', (ha-ha) maybe even 'roadable cars'.
Like, if 2 cans connected by a string could be called a 'phone' (not saying they are, it's just for the sake of an example), then calling cell phones "phones" would be like adopting the term/title of 'phone', simply due to its functionality, not how it's made or what parts make it up.