Interview with Land Speeder Manufacturer

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.)