Japan has just unveiled a new concept that has caught the attention of the automotive world. It has four legs, no wheels, it walks, adapts to terrain like an animal, and runs on hydrogen, which means it does not pollute. There is no smoke, no gasoline, and no engine noise. So what are we talking about?
The invention is called CORLEO and it is the work of Kawasaki, and it is proposed to be brought into production before 2030. But now, yes, what exactly are we talking about?
A new era for motorcycles
Motorcycles are synonymous with freedom, two wheels, an engine, and a road, or a mountain. But now more and more changes are appearing, electric motors have arrived, zero emissions, and now this particular animal shaped motorcycle.
And if you have traveled by motorcycle in the mountains, you will have noticed that wheels sometimes slip, sink, or simply cannot pass. That is why CORLEO has this peculiar shape.
What is CORLEO
It is a mix between a motorcycle, a robot, and something similar to a horse. This machine, or motorcycle, or robot, has four articulated legs, each of them moving independently and acting with high precision. It can walk, climb, and adapt to terrain with complete ease.
The rider sits on top, like on a motorcycle, but the experience is a different story. It is not about accelerating and turning, but about reading the terrain and moving with it, not against it.
A small engine
CORLEO carries a small 150 cc two stroke engine, but not to move itself. That engine generates electricity, and that energy powers the leg system. The source? Hydrogen.
It does not pollute
By using hydrogen in its engine, it ends up being zero emissions. The only possible byproduct of the process is water vapor, as we have already seen in hybrid vehicles.
What is the intention?
Kawasaki insists that this vehicle will serve to explore areas where there are no roads without destroying the environment.
In the demonstration videos, CORLEO moves over ice and gravel. It is incredible to see how naturally it moves because it absorbs the environment to advance. It gives the feeling that you are riding a living creature.
Japan, once again in the future
CORLEO was presented at the Osaka Expo, one of the country’s major technological showcases. Kawasaki has even created a specific team, the SAFE ADVENTURE Development Team, dedicated only to this project, so we could say they are going all in on it.
But will it be real?
The brand has set a timeline with two clearly marked years:
- 2027, testing the system and collecting real data.
- 2030, a functional version planned for the Riyadh Expo.
Can it replace mountain motorcycles?
Replace them as such, at first probably not, but it could create a new category more related to adventure tourism and work in difficult terrain than to traditional riding.
It probably will not make them disappear, but it could create something new.
Riding would no longer be rolling
It has legs. So is it a motorcycle? Is it not? Is it a robot? CORLEO coordinates the system by analyzing both the slope and the possible obstacles it encounters, so yes, we are talking about a motorcycle that will not roll, it will move forward like your cat when you are about to give it a treat.
The future has no wheels
We talk a lot about humanoid robots, but what if the future also means motorcycles that look like horses? Kawasaki has completely broken the mold, without a doubt, but it has delivered what is being asked of it: innovation. Do you not think so?