A Hoverbike To Make Supercar Owners Green With Envy Can Be Yours For $700K
Image via A.L.I. Technologies
Look out, Green Goblin and Goblin Rider. A sci-fi-esque hoverbike is now ready for the market, but interested buyers will need ¥77.7 million (US$680,000 to spare).
Launched by Tokyo drone startup A.L.I. Technologies, the XTurismo Limited Edition aims to take on supercars with propellers that bring it to new heights, according to a report by Reuters. The bike was recently demonstrated at a racetrack near Mount Fuji, lifting off just a few feet in the air.
The XTurismo sports a motorcycle-like body with propellers, battery-powered motors, and a conventional engine. It boasts a top speed of 62 mph for up to 40 minutes off the ground.
Video screenshot via A.L.I. Technologies
The captivating vehicle, painted in an ‘Imperial Shine Red’ palette of red and black, has drawn prominent backers like Mitsubishi Electric, Kyocera, and soccer player Keisuke Honda to the brand.
Currently, use of the hoverbike will be restricted to racetracks. Japan’s congested traffic makes it difficult to take the vehicle to the road, and local driving regulations prohibit A.L.I. Technologies from making that possible. When this changes, the startup might expand its applications.
One other way the bike can be useful now is in rescue missions where locations might be harder to access.
Although the hoverbike is indeed a reality, its price and inaccessibility on main roads make it a pipe dream for most. With that being said, flying cars and taxis are being tested as we speak, so levitation as a means of commuting is likely imminent.
[via Reuters, cover image via A.L.I. Technologies]
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