Landspeeder
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Not to be confused with Land Speeder.
A Landspeeder is a fictional hovering ground-based vehicle, introduced in George Lucas' film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
Considered to be the Star Wars equivalent of the automobile, the landspeeder is able to travel across any terrain at high speed. Low-power repulsorlifts allow the vehicle to constantly hover one to two meters above the ground both in stationary and travelling modes. Turbine jet engines are responsible for propelling the vehicle forward at high speeds.
Hundreds of designers, manufacturers and models exist throughout the Star Wars galaxy, though the SoroSuub Corporation dominated the landspeeder market before and during the reign of the Galactic Empire.
Most landspeeder models are capable of carrying one or more passengers, and top speeds vary between 100 and 250 kilometers per hour. Most models are between 3 to 8 meters in length. Most cockpit configurations feature retractable windshields that allow the driver and passengers to be either fully enclosed, or open to the air.
While landspeeders are generally designed for civilian use, there have been models specifically designed or modified for military use.
Landspeeders should not be confused with airspeeders, which are capable of achieving much higher altitudes. Speederbikes or swoops also function similarly to the landspeeder.
The most prominent landspeeder model featured in a Star Wars film is the SoroSuub X-34 Landspeeder - owned by Luke Skywalker in A New Hope. Other notable landspeeder models from the films include the SoroSuub V-35 Courier - seen parked in the Lars family garage in A New Hope, the Gian Speeder and Flash Speeder - used by the Naboo Royal Security Forces in The Phantom Menace. Luke Skywalker also mentions the XP-38 Landspeeder in A New Hope.
