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Is this the hoverboard we've all been waiting for?

Lexus has shown off one in a new ad campaign.

primesurvival / YouTube

IT’S 2015, AND we still don’t have hoverboards, contrary to everything we learned in Back to the Future.

It just doesn’t make sense.

However, that hasn’t put people off working on the technology – such as this version that works only on copper surfaces – and today Lexus appeared to be showing off their own version of the hoverboard.

The car manufacturer today launched a microsite detailing a new project called Slide.

They’re calling it a “real, rideable hoverboard’.

“The Lexus hoverboard represents true engineering innovation and over the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you regular updates on the progress of this extraordinary project,” the company said.

Lexus International / YouTube

The board is “wrapped in a design that is uniquely Lexus, the Hoverboard features the iconic Lexus spindle grille signature shape, using materials found in the luxury car brand, from the high tech to the natural bamboo,” apparently.

Sadly, it isn’t what it seems.

The technology behind it is quite real – liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets. There are plenty of evidence online demonstrating this phenomenon.

The catch is that it also needs a magnet on the ground for the levitation to take place, and when we last checked* the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government weren’t planning to install magnets under footpaths across the country, meaning you would be pretty limited in where you could ride the Slide.

The Royal Institution / YouTube

And if that wasn’t enough, Lexus confirmed to CNBC that it would not be selling the hoverboard, and it will only be used as part of a upcoming ad campaign.

Well that’s then.

*We have never checked. Maybe we should.

Read: 2015 is the Back To The Future 2 year… and here’s what the movie got right >

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21 Comments
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    Mute R
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Love these kind of articles, keep it up!

    185
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    Mute Kevin Butler
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:49 AM

    The floozie should be put back on O’Connell street

    174
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    Mute TOP CAT
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:21 AM

    It would be somewhere for the junkies to rinse their syringes…

    105
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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    Apr 13th 2014, 2:14 PM

    What happened to the Time in the Slime? Who remembers that one..

    57
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    Mute Becca Laste
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:46 AM

    I had never seen the “Jokers Chair” it the Stardust memorial. Really nice touches :)

    54
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    Mute John Waters
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:03 AM

    Great to see these highlighted and there in Dublin,s fair city.Have seen most of them but the one in Fr. Collin,s park is a new one to me

    34
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    Mute Oscar Kennedy
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:31 AM

    Nice article

    33
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    Mute Charles
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:28 AM

    Be good if they scrapped sean russell and put something worthwhile in its place.

    27
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    Mute Eamonn Connaghan
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    Apr 13th 2014, 12:45 PM

    They should’ve ran live insulated wire throughout the statue and if some one tries to decapitate it again, they ll get a nasty shock.

    15
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    Mute Charles
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    Apr 13th 2014, 1:10 PM

    Quite right. It’s important we celebrate nazi collaboration and ignoble deaths on uboats. Well done you.

    14
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    Mute John
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:02 AM

    What? Am I going mad or was there an article on here about coffee this morning that’s disappeared??

    I knew I shouldn’t have drank that paint thinner last night

    24
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    Mute peter
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:51 AM

    Worked quite near to blessington street for four years and still pass it regularly and never knew that basin was there

    23
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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:59 AM

    That Paul o Connell statue,that isn’t a Paul o Connell statue, could be a statue of Paul o Connell.

    22
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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Apr 13th 2014, 6:23 PM

    The Anna Livia would look great in the river itself. Maybe a bigger version. The Spike is just so bland and meaningless.

    22
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    Mute Dan Walsh
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    Apr 13th 2014, 2:48 PM

    Great article, well researched, thanks for your hard work

    16
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:56 AM

    Thanks for those. Must get round to seeing these. There’s a memorial to the Stardust in Beaumont Hospital.
    The link to the Council List isn’t working on my phone. Any chance of putting up a Google map pic of the location for number 7? Thanks.

    14
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    Mute Charles J. Ahern
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:09 PM

    Blessington Street Basin is one of my favourite places in the city. Lovely area, so peaceful and quiet, a hidden gem that I frequent when I’m home.

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    Mute Ryan Freeman
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    Apr 13th 2014, 1:04 PM

    You forgot Jedediah Springfield

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    Mute Paul Woods
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    Apr 13th 2014, 2:53 PM

    OK, so where are you hiding the sunstone…

    9
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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Apr 13th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Quite right Paul (and Mary)… Updated now, with that info! Thanks for pointing it out. Daragh.

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    Mute Keith walsh
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    Apr 13th 2014, 6:30 PM

    Wouldn’t go near the peace garden at Christchurch without back up and a powerhose, scobie central.
    Like these articles tho, keep em up!

    8
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