The Star Wars land speeder is scheduled to head into commercial production in 2008 or 2009. It looks more like a flying saucer than a roadster. It uses ground effect. Safer and simpler than a helicopter? Stay tuned.
Here’s a brochure, a spec sheet, and a FAQ.
I asked Bruce Calkins, press contact at Moller about it.
Transterrestrial Musings: Is it street legal?
Bruce Caulkins, Moller International: It falls into a new category. While no one has claimed it, it remains to be seen who will want to regulate its use.
TM: Estimated first delivery date?
Caulkins: Late 2008 or 2009.
TM: Range?
Caulkins: Dependent upon payload, but approximately 100 miles.
TM: Gas mileage?
Caulkins: Not very good. Our engines burn .55 lbs per hp-hr. With 600 hp installed, that gives you 45 minutes to an hour on 40 gallons.
[TM: That calculates out to 2.5 miles per hour.]
TM: Snow present any difficulty?
Caulkins: No.
TM: What would happen if you drove it over a cliff?
Caulkins: The terrain-following software would let the vehicle settle at its maximum safe descent rate until it came to the bottom of the cliff.
TM: Can you drive over other cars on the freeway?
Caulkins: I wouldn’t recommend it. Someone will probably be really pissed when they see you get ahead of them. We suggest that it be used off-road exclusively.
TM: What do you expect retail price to be if production hits 500,000 units?
Caulkins: At that volume, price could be in the range of $10,000 per unit, although I don’t know …
(Thanks for the lead, Instapundit.)