In a move straight out of Horizon Zero Dawn or a fever dream, Kawasaki has unveiled a hydrogen-powered robotic horse named Corleo at the ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025. Technically, it’s more wolf than horse, but hey—what’s a little genre confusion in the name of future mobility?
This isn't your average clean-energy concept. Corleo blends hydrogen tech, AI, and a heavy dose of cinematic imagination, and while it’s mostly still vaporware, it’s definitely a statement.
What even is Corleo?
Kawasaki says Corleo is a four-legged robot designed to conquer uneven terrain, climb mountains, and leap over crevasses—all shown off in a very CGI-heavy demo video. While the video is slick, it’s also not exactly grounded in reality: no one’s actually ridden Corleo yet, and it’s barely moved on the expo floor.
Still, the concept is wild. Inspired by Kawasaki’s motorcycles, Corleo features metal and carbon bodywork, a headlight-style “face,” and even a floating bobber-style saddle. Think Mad Max meets mecha-zoology.
Powered by hydrogen
Under the hood—err, frame—is a 1500cc hydrogen-powered engine. Instead of handlebars or reins, riders are expected to control the robot through body movement, shifting their weight to steer and trigger responses from Corleo’s legs. A head-up display feeds info like hydrogen levels, balance, navigation, and weight distribution.
Rubber hooves provide traction, and yes—Kawasaki claims it can jump over obstacles. But don’t hold your breath waiting to see that in action just yet.
A concept for 2050, not 2025
Kawasaki admits Corleo is still very much a concept, with a tentative market target of 2050. There's no word on actual specs, performance, pricing, or even if it would ever be legal to ride something like this outside of a test lab. But in a world where ridable robots and clean mobility are hot topics, Corleo is clearly Kawasaki’s bid to spark imagination.
Will this hydrogen horse ever ride free? Who knows. But for now, it’s the coolest thing galloping out of the sci-fi corner of the Kawasaki garage.
