Just when we were finally getting used to the idea of a self-driving car, Lexus seems to have developed a working hoverboard concept. Called “Slide,” the board uses magnetic levitation to gain frictionless movement. It uses liquid nitrogen to keep the superconductors and permanent magnets cool.
Developed by Lexus’ “Amazing in Motion” department, Slide is finished in bamboo wood and bears the Lexus logo. The Japanese luxury car company plans to keep the public updated on the project through photos and videos in the coming weeks.
Similar prototypes have been created before, but they could only levitate on a magnetic surface. Though Lexus gives the impression that its hoverboard levitates on concrete, we’ll remain very skeptical until conclusive evidence is presented. This is in all likelihood a PR stunt that capitalizes on the movie Back to Future II, which predicted hoverboards would exist in 2015.