The CEO refers to this $777,000 flying bike as a Dark Side land speeder.
The AERWINS XTurismo hoverbike has a wild appearance and a seriously wild ride. The XTurismo, like a recreational drone purchased for personal use, is outfitted with a slew of cutting-edge sensors and technology, but it can also transport a person. It will now make its US debut at the Detroit Auto Show, and an in-person demonstration is planned.
Shuhei Komatsu, AERWINS Technologies’ founder, director, chairman, and CEO, told The Detroit News, “It’s very exciting for us to be here in Detroit… The mobility industry is headquartered in Detroit.” He even referred to the XTurismo as a “dark side land speeder.”
It certainly has the appearance for such a callback. The XTurismo is powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid Kawasaki engine hidden beneath the slender body farings. While AERWINS has not disclosed how much power it generates, we do know that the craft weighs approximately 661 pounds (299 kg) and can fly for approximately 40 minutes at speeds of up to 62 mph (100 km/h).
This isn’t a cheap ride at $777,000, but the CEO believes that the brand can change that in the near future. He hopes that by 2025, AERWINS will be able to offer a smaller hoverbike for less than $50,000. If that wish comes true, it could be one of the most shocking vehicle developments of the decade. The company hopes to offer a smaller version of the XTurismo in the United States between 2023 and 2025.
For the time being, interested parties can see the hoverbike take to the skies for the first time in North America at the Detroit Auto Show. Numerous videos and tests from Japan and other parts of the world have already demonstrated the platform’s viability.
Because the hoverbike is not considered an aircraft in Japan, owners do not require a special license to fly it. Obtaining the same type of pass in the United States appears unlikely, but AERWINS is hopeful.
Individual flying vehicles would undoubtedly change the way people travel today, but for the time being, the company sees its main customers as the wealthy and governments that want to use it for policing and infrastructure inspection.
