AERWINS Technologies , with its focus on aerial mobility, made its presence felt last week at the Detroit Auto Show. The company's CEO, Shuhei Komatsu, unveiled the Xturismo, a motorcycle capable of staying airborne for over half an hour at high speeds. He provided details about the impressive machine and the company's future plans.
The presentation was accompanied by a flight demonstration, allowing attendees to see the aircraft in action. The Xturismo is available by special order in a limited edition for Japan at a cost of nearly one million euros, and a smaller model, slated for release next year, is currently being tested for the United States and other countries. Komatsu asserts that this transportation system will play a fundamental role in the technology of the coming years.
Hoverbike; the flying motorcycle of the future is now available for purchase
There have been indications of projects to create an efficient hoverbike for almost a decade, for both government and recreational use. The idea of a motorcycle that can lift itself off the ground and overcome all obstacles is very appealing.
In 2017, Dubai police began using the Scorpion-3 hoverboards, which were the first official demonstration of this technology to the public. However, Aerwins' creation surpasses these models in every aspect: range, speed, autonomy, and stability.
The design is robust: six propellers help lift it off the ground; two are larger and located in the center, while the remaining three, smaller ones, are positioned at the four corners for balance and support. The main space is the pilot's seat, and in most countries, the pilot will need a special license to fly this miniature aircraft.
The company is focused on obtaining the necessary flight permits and legal authorizations to allow the free movement of the small aircraft, as this is a rather uncertain area in much of the territory where their distribution is planned.
Japan is exempt from this rule, as hoverbikes are not considered aircraft there. This, along with the fact that it is the company's country of origin, is why pre-sales and distribution have begun there. An average of 200 units are currently being developed for this initial test model. However, Japanese engineers are working on creating more accessible versions for the general public, not just for the elite.
Meanwhile, the few who can afford such a luxury must wait a couple of months before receiving their equipment. The first orders began being accepted at the end of last year, but deliveries were only made a couple of months ago. The complicated protocol is to be expected given that it's such an expensive and innovative device.
While the news has excited many who dreamed of being the drivers of a flying motorcycle since childhood, others are concerned about the repercussions it will have on transportation management or criticize the high prices, saying that rather than a real community advancement, it is just another privilege for the upper classes.
The problem with flying cars is not the technology. It exists abundantly. The problem is traffic control. At airports, air traffic control has to monitor about 1-2 airplanes a minute. Imagine controlling the hight, speed, direction of 100s of flying cars per minute everywhere.
— Ashish Pachory (@apachory) September 17, 2022
Although it may seem like, and probably is, a revolutionary step in the field of transportation, other companies are working on very similar models, some even with better features. This is the case with the Skydriver, being designed by Suzuki, or the Speeder, a vehicle of the same style that uses artificial intelligence to balance four high-powered jet engines, achieving speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour and with even more to come.
The Speeder is a project for the United States Navy, therefore it is not primarily intended for commercial use. However, the design can be repurposed and adapted for other applications.
40 minutes of battery life and exquisite stability for €800.000
The Xturismo operates on a hybrid power source, with a Kawasaki engine—likely a Ninja ZX-10—that runs on fuel, and additional electric motors to power the propellers. It is believed to consume one liter of fuel per minute, with a 40-liter capacity, allowing it to maintain flight for 40 minutes, surpassing the Scorpion-3's record.
As for its appearance, it goes without saying that it has a cyberpunk utopia vibe with its futuristic structure. The company's official website offers models in three different color schemes: red and black, blue and black, or all black. Measuring 3.7 meters long, 1.5 meters high, and 2.4 meters wide, it can support a driver or carry a load of up to 100 kg.
The Xturismo has a frame with carbon fiber parts to lighten the weight, reaching 300 kilograms (considered ultralight for an aircraft) thanks to this the 228 horsepower of the engine takes it to reach 100 kph, setting a record in the field.
A reservation for one of these flying vehicles can be made for €20,000. However, the total cost now comes to almost €800.000, an amount considered exorbitant by some. To address this, Aerwins is working on a smaller, fully electric model that would reduce the price to €50,000. However, we will have to wait another three years for this.
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