Prepare to step aside Segway, you had your chance to revolutionize personal transportation. Introducing the Toyota Winglet. Still under development, Winglet's body has a 10.4 x 18-inch footprint and stands 1.5-, 2.2-, or 3.7-feet tall (depending upon the S, M, or L model chosen) and features an electric motor capable of a max 6km/h cruising speed for up to 10km a jaunt (only 5km for the S model). Like the Segway, the user controls the Winglet by shifting his weight to move the transporter forward and back or to make tight turns. Winglet will begin consumer testing at the Central Japan International Airport near Nagoya and Laguna Gamagori resort this Autumn with further testing in more crowded environments planned for 2009. It's planned to hit a production stride in 2010. Hey Toyota, here's a hint: you'd better start lobbying for sidewalk legalization ASAP if you're hoping for global success. All three pictured after the break in order of S, M, and Large.
Update: Video added to show just how nimble the handle-less S and M versions can be.
[Via
Akihabara News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
who? @ Aug 1st 2008 4:38AM
Just what the world needs, a way to get to fast food restaurants that burns more money and less calories...
Does it have a built-in TV? Has anyone seen Wall-E?
jester @ Aug 1st 2008 4:32AM
In Japan, bicycles frequent pavements (sidewalks) despite it being illegal almost everywhere
(Although most people here believe it is perfectly legal, it is not!)
As such, whether this can legally travel there or not, it most probably will (If we ever see it)
Techie @ Aug 1st 2008 4:58AM
I still prefer using the Jet Pack.
Jason Barlow @ Aug 1st 2008 11:23AM
True, but bike riders and pedestrians are used to it and know how to avoid each other.
Lars @ Aug 1st 2008 12:51PM
Unless they up the speed, it seems like it's just more cumbersome (and costly) than just walking. I mean not the actual traveling part, but you've got to worry about storage and possible theft, if you go up any stairs you've got to drag it along or leave it behind, you can step over a pothole or other obstacle but you'll have to get off this thing and haul it past the obstruction, and so on.
And anyways, I'm waiting for the unicycle version to come out... that'll be sweet.
Mustaine @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:33AM
Video added to show just how nimble the handle-less S and M versions can be.
Said the actress to the bishop...
zack @ Aug 1st 2008 4:40AM
cool
ShadowKain @ Aug 1st 2008 9:22AM
Cool? Since when were segways ever cool? You should google /search Engadget for the article where chinese anti-terrorist police members used them. I see Sec. Officers use them on the Philly subway and king of prussia mall, and boy do they look dumb. I don't see toyota making such a big impact here. Most people will pass until more interest is shown in all things electric like the fully electric car.
ShadowKain @ Aug 1st 2008 9:22AM
Sorry missed post below, Japanese, not Chinese.
daaper @ Aug 1st 2008 11:24AM
ha, you misread the post below (he says, "jealous of the Chinese SWAT team with Segways) , because you were right the first time...it is the Chinese :-)
oh well...
Craig @ Aug 1st 2008 5:11PM
I agree...cool.
Grey Acumen @ Aug 1st 2008 8:59PM
Putting aside the issue of "coolness" I like the fact that you can have your hands free, and the fact that you don't have two gaint ass wheels sticking out the sides. this actually looks Semi-practical for long distance and like it could fit on an escalator.
It does look just a teensy bit unstable compared to a segway though
Mobius_1 @ Aug 1st 2008 4:40AM
I think the Japan Self Defense Force may be a little jealous of the Chinese SWAT team with Segways... Maybe they should read the comments on Engadget on those guys first
Christian @ Aug 1st 2008 1:03PM
I think this would be better since it can climb up ramps and your hands are completely free to hold any guns you need, lol
yoshi @ Aug 1st 2008 3:17PM
That's weird. When I walk or run up ramps/stairs/etc., my hands are completely free as well. What, exactly, do you do with YOUR hands? Never mind, don't want to know....
Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 3:32PM
All very cool until a crowd gets out of control and you need to retreat at slightly more than walking speed.
gad get @ Aug 1st 2008 4:55AM
I can't help being impressed by this thing; it carries a standing human at walking speeds, without them even having to move their legs!
Sarig @ Aug 1st 2008 6:50AM
That's nothing, a bicycle can carry a sitting human being at a far greater speed than people can normally sit!
neofolklore @ Aug 1st 2008 7:53AM
but you still have to move your legs.
Bob @ Aug 1st 2008 8:11AM
That's nothing, a car can carry an eating human being at a far greater speed than people can normally eat!
Jamma @ Aug 1st 2008 11:08AM
That's nothing, a plane can carry a sh*tting human being at a far greater speed than people can normally sh*t
SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 1st 2008 11:59AM
Yeah that's nothing because the ISS caries alot of people real fucking fast around the globe(in orbit) AND THEY DO EXPERIMENTS AND FREEZE THIS CRAP! PWND!
This looks mediocre at best, come on Plastic transporters, meh. I love the Segway and this is just a cheap copycat, cheap plastic copycat. Hell they don't even have an all terrain version. MEh Indeed!
Ramone @ Aug 1st 2008 12:06PM
That's nothing. A rocket can carry a vomiting human being faster than they can vomit.
Dillon @ Aug 1st 2008 12:18PM
Soopergooman killed it...
John @ Aug 1st 2008 1:28PM
Yes but where's the video of the person doing a face plant as soon as you hit the slightest crack in the sidewalk. The big wheels on the Segway have a purpose. This thing would be rendered completely worthless on all but a smooth flat surface and if the novelty factor on a Segway is high, this is in the clouds.
Jeremy @ Aug 1st 2008 2:38PM
For me, one of the lamest things about the Segway is that you can't just take it on the metro-link with you or easily store it in your office/cubical. This device seems to remove that obstacle as it greatly reduces the mass of the device. It may actually make public transportation a viable option in not so metro areas.
Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 3:47PM
@Jeremy - plus if you're a cop facing an angry crowd and can't drive any faster than a walk, well then it's at least handy for bludgeoning people. That could be nice.
XenoX101 @ Aug 1st 2008 5:03AM
Awwww, look, it's a baby winglet.
nickbr00tality @ Aug 1st 2008 5:03AM
Segway still has Jackie Chan!
Taylor @ Aug 1st 2008 5:22AM
Fix the title.
Should be
"Why? We don't know"
not "why we don't know"
zfurie @ Aug 1st 2008 5:39AM
Why?
We don't know
Stiv @ Aug 1st 2008 9:25AM
Why we? Don't know.
Lukino @ Aug 1st 2008 11:01AM
Why we don't? I do know!
Steve Gates @ Aug 1st 2008 11:08AM
I'm confuzzled.
SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 1st 2008 12:01PM
I know why we don't know why we know but we know that we know that we don't know why. You know?
Predator.Z6 @ Aug 1st 2008 7:58PM
@ SUPERGOOMAN : Congratulations, you killed two running jokes in a row.
anabouboula @ Aug 1st 2008 5:22AM
I want a cheap eee version of this...
Bob @ Aug 1st 2008 8:15AM
Introducing the new Winglet EEE! You can work everywhere while going anywhere! *
* Assuming there is wireless connectivity. In the US, coverage may be limited because the wireless carriers are too big of cheap a$$e$ to expand their network into areas they don't make 7 digit plus revenes.
giuliop @ Aug 1st 2008 5:45AM
You don't know why because you're narrow-minded.
rita hainsworth @ Aug 1st 2008 6:06AM
Looks like an Iphone.
Yevon @ Aug 1st 2008 1:14PM
This is why Engadget needs bouncers.
Sora @ Aug 1st 2008 3:41PM
I dunno, that avatar makes up for the shitty post....
fap fap fap fap
Haikibutsu @ Aug 1st 2008 4:09PM
Any smart Mac enthusiast would lowercase the "i" and capitalize "P" and lowercase "hone".
My friends, we have a troll.
Macha88 @ Aug 1st 2008 5:43PM
Yeah, i was gunna say, that avvy has good enough bouncers....
maff @ Aug 1st 2008 6:09AM
'why we don't know' any grammar and most words
numbsock @ Aug 1st 2008 6:48AM
Man this shit scares me.
We are already too sedentary, are we gonna stop walking for good?!
They're gonna have to start makin larger sofas...
Frank Furter @ Aug 1st 2008 8:07AM
I suppose during short breaks in your marathon blog-posting weekends you are out for a spirited walk yourself, eh?
Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 1st 2008 10:43AM
That's what Wii Fit is for!
Temple @ Aug 1st 2008 11:08AM
This is true perhaps for Americans, which use cars to get everywhere, but most of Japan (where this product is aimed at) gets around on mass-transit. Which requires a lot of walking and standing around. In America these days we rent out those electric-scooters in Walmart so old or fat people don't have to walk around the store.
Still I doubt these Segway-esque modes of transporation will ever catch on, but if Toyota can make these for a reasonable price (which the Segway isn't), it may have a chance. Also this thing is only 20lbs and foldable which makes it a little interesting.
George @ Aug 1st 2008 12:28PM
Toyota's got the wrong idea with the sizes. It shouldn't be small, medium, and tall; it should be small, medium, and wide so you can grow into a new model as your ass hangs out farther and farther.