Hoverboards go back to the future

Magnetic levitation isn’t new, but Lexus uses the technology to great effect for its hoverboard. Just don’t expect to ride one anytime soon, write Craig Trudell and Yuki Hagiwara

Imagine being handed what looks like a skateboard that almost magically hovers an inch or three above the ground.

See yourself running, your hand beneath the board as it floats, suspended in midair. Carefully step on it to test out its buoyancy. And then take a running leap onto it — just as you would with your beloved skateboard — only to have it slide out underneath you, leaving you flat on your rear. Welcome to the world of the Lexus hoverboard.