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Segway Unveils Vaguely Scary-Looking Prototype

When the Segway personal transporter was introduced in 2001, it was supposed to revolutionize the way we get around. Instead, we've just made jokes about it ever since (see George W. Bush's Segway tumble or Paul Blart: Mall Cop). Today, Segway introduced the prototype for its latest collaboration with GM. We'd make...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

April 7, 2009

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When the Segway personal transporter was introduced in 2001, it was supposed to revolutionize the way we get around. Instead, we've just made jokes about it ever since (see George W. Bush's Segway tumble or Paul Blart: Mall Cop). Today, Segway introduced the prototype for its latest collaboration with GM. We'd make fun of it if it wasn't so scary-looking.

The P.U.M.A., as it's called, reaches a top speed of 35 mph and runs on a battery. Segway hopes to have the vehicle ready for consumers by 2012. In the meantime, the company is going to have to convince us that this thing isn't actually an out-of-control cart from some amusement park ride that dooms all passengers to a fiery crash. It doesn't help that the prototype has no airbags or seat belts.

Sorry, we can't get over the whole "two non-inline wheels" thing. Fortunately for us, there are still cars and bicycles available. [Image and more info via: Segway]

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