Lexus goes “Back to the Future”, builds a hoverboard

Most of us know that TV and movies can inspire science and technology, but if you ever needed assurance, you should see what has just emerged from the research and development team over at Lexus.

Apparently, when the scientists and engineers at Lexus aren’t working on cars, they’re instead working on ways to make geeks foam at the mouth and shake in anticipation, as Lexus as this week shown a taste of something very, very impressive: a hoverboard.

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Don’t know a hoverboard? No worries, though it might be time to rent a copy of the Robert Zemeckis-directed Michael J. Fox-starring classic “Back to the Future 2” to see what we’re talking about.

If that’s still too much work, think of a skateboard that lacks wheels and instead hovers. It’s a little like a flying car, only more personal, and it’s the sort of thing that up until now was only fictional or a hard-to-recreate science project.

With the Lexus announcement, we may be closer than ever to seeing a real thing make its way out to the feet of consumers.

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The technology at play appears to be magnetic levitation, which Lexus says uses “a highly advanced design that features liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets”.

“At Lexus, we constantly challenge ourselves and our partners to push the boundaries of what is possible,” said Mark Templin, Executive Vice President for Lexus International.

“That determination, combined with our passion and expertise for design and innovation, is what led us to take on the hoverboard project. It’s the perfect example of the amazing things that can be achieved when you combine technology, design and imagination.”

Availability on this one appears to be a fair way off, though Lexus has said that testing of the concept will start to happen in Spain over the next few weeks. For now, though, you can see this teaser below, which really needs to show more.

Now all we need is automatic lace-up sneakers and a flying card, and we know a few companies are working on both of those.

Come on people, a world of “Back To The Future” can’t be too far off.