WTF?! Kawasaki has a wild concept that'll make you do a double-take to see if it's a joke. Dubbed Corleo, it's a robotic horse powered entirely by a hydrogen-fueled engine – and yes, you can actually ride it and steer using your body. That's right, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer has unveiled a mechanical animal that might just dispense water out the rear.
A video offers a glimpse into the capabilities of this cyber-horse. The vehicle, which suspiciously resembles a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle but with legs instead of wheels, is seen galloping across green fields at impressive speeds, carrying not one, but two humans on its back.
Kawasaki says the robot's rear legs move independently from the front legs, allowing it to absorb shocks while walking or running. That might explain how it's also seen scaling mountains in the video – once again, with a person riding on its back.
Instead of tires, the robot features rubber "hooves," which help absorb surface irregularities. According to Kawasaki, these hooves allow it to adapt to a variety of terrains, including grasslands, rocky areas, and rubble fields. And as for controls, you might expect something with a windscreen up front to steer with handlebars – but no. Kawasaki says the robotic horse is guided through weight shifts detected by the stirrups and handlebars, just like riding a real horse.
Behind the windscreen sits an instrument panel that displays key infographics, including hydrogen levels and the robot's center of gravity. It also provides navigation support, with nighttime guidance aided by ground-projected markers that illuminate the path ahead. It's essentially the mechanical equivalent of a biological horse with laser eyes.
The robotic steed draws its energy from a 150cc engine connected to a hydrogen canister tucked into the vehicle's rear. Each leg is equipped with its own drive unit, powered by electricity generated from the engine.
🇯🇵Kawasaki unveiled the Corleo robot horse – its secret project at EXPO 2025 in Japan.
– Alexandra B 🇺🇸 🏝 (@Alexand36635968) April 5, 2025
With a hydrogen engine and neural system for rider balance, it's more than transport – it's a four-legged all-terrain vehicle that jumps across mountains and rough terrain. pic.twitter.com/uqLdhm4fSG
As unbelievable as it sounds, the Corleo isn't an elaborate April Fool's joke. Its unveiling took place shortly after April 1st, with a life-sized concept making an appearance at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.
And it wasn't just a static showpiece either – it could actually strike poses, albeit at a glacial pace. That's a far cry from the breakneck galloping seen in the demo.
It's fair to say the Corleo concept might be too ambitious for Kawasaki to bring to market anytime soon. Sure, we've seen quadruped robots break speed records in short sprints, but those machines are much smaller and look more like Boston Dynamics' Spot than a full-sized mechanical horse capable of carrying two people.
That said, companies like Unitree, Figure, and Boston Dynamics have been showcasing technology that borders on science fiction. So who knows? Maybe robotic horses will be trotting alongside cars on city streets sooner than we think.
