Kawasaki is quickly pushing Corleo towards reality: a prototype is to be shown at the Expo in Riyadh as early as 2030, and a series version could follow from 2035. However, nature lovers see this as a potential threat to untouched mountains.

Officially, Corleo is intended for rough terrain, but in Europe, the legislation poses an obstacle: The robo-horse does not fit into any existing vehicle class, and new licensing rules and safety standards would be required for public roads. For the time being, it only seems realistic to use it on private land or in permitted off-road areas and not in the great outdoors, where there are strict rules regarding motor vehicles.

So Corleo remains a fascinating engineering project - but probably out of place as a mountain companion for nature lovers.