Japanese company AERWINS has brought its XTurismo hoverbike to the Detroit Motor Show to announce that the vehicle went on sale in the United States as well.
Customers in Japan were able to pre-order one last year, and the pricing for North America is a cool $777,000 USD. The first test flights are scheduled to begin soon, and the first deliveries will be made in 2023, the company says.
On the outside, the upper part of the hoverbike resembles a regular motorbike, whereas its lower part rests on a six-propeller platform. It is 3.7 meters long, 2.4 meters wide and 1.5 meters tall, which translates into roughly 12.1 x 7.9 x 5 feet, respectively. The whole thing weighs 300 kilograms (660 pounds) and requires the pilot to stay below 100 kilos (220 pounds).
Powering the aerial bike is a hybrid system utilizing a Kawasaki combustion engine, an electric motor and an unspecified battery. Speeds when airborne can reach 80-100 km/h (50-62 mph) depending on the weather, and you can cover up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) in a single trip.
Looking forward, AERWINS is working on a more compact-sized hoverbike expected to debut in a few years and cost substantially less at $50,000 or so.
