Manufactured by Japanese startup AERWINS Technologies, the XTURISMO hoverbike?drew sharp comparisons to the bikes of the popular Star Wars. The XTURISMO hoverbike can fly for 40 minutes and has a speed limit of up to 100 kph (62 miles per hour).
According to the media reporters, the manufacturers have planned to launch the model next year.?However, in Japan, the flying bike is already on sale. As per the founder and CEO of AERWINS, Shuhei Komatsu, the company has announced to sell a smaller version in the US in 2023.
This up-to-the-minute hoverbike comes with a huge price of $777,000. Though, AERWINS founder stated that the company is trying to cut down the cost to $50,000 for a smaller, electric model however it will take 2-3 years and will be ready by 2025.
Talking about the functionality of the bike, the manufacturers said that it uses two large central rotors powered by a 228-hp gas-powered Kawasaki motorcycle performance engine for thrust while four smaller electric support rotors are also placed on the vehicle’s outer edges for stability.
Meanwhile, the co-chair of the Detroit Auto Show, Thad Szott, who took the bike for a test flight, remarked that the experience of riding a hoverbike was comfortable and “exhilarating” and I felt like it was something straight out of a sci-fi movie. “I feel like I’m literally 15 years old and I just got out of ‘Star Wars’ and jumped on their bike,” said Thad Szott.
He further said that he sees great potential in the bike: “I think we’ll start with delivering goods and services, maybe by drone. It’s ready for today’s world if you go airport to airport. But I’m anxious to see when we can go neighborhood to neighborhood. So, let’s get it worked out.