Haruhiko Tanahashi, the legendary chief engineer of the Lexus LFA, once said, "there is no such thing as impossible, it's just a matter of figuring out how." Wise words indeed, as the company has finally revealed their much-teased Lexus Hoverboard (aka Project SLIDE).

The cynics would greet this whole exercise as nothing more than a gimmick, but it is in fact a sign of true innovation and imagination, where a company decided to push the boundaries of technology even further.

This project started 18 months ago through a collaboration with a team of scientists from IFW Dresden and Evico GmbH, who specialise in magnetic levitation technology. Ross McGouran, a pro skateboarder and hoverboard test rider described the experience as mind-blowing as he conducted extensive testing on the machine.

"I've spent 20 years skateboarding, but without friction it feels like I've had to learn a whole new skill, particularly in the stance and balance in order to ride the hoverboard," he said.

Lexus transported up to 200 metres of magnetic track from their Dresden testing facility in Germany to lay beneath the hoverpark surface, and this gave them an opportunity to showcase tricks no skateboard could ever perform in this specially constructed hoverpark, that has elements of skate culture in it too.

Essentially, the Lexus Hoverboard technology features two "cryostats"—reservoirs in which superconducting material is kept at -197 degrees through immersion in liquid nitrogen. The board is then placed above a track that contains permanent magnets.

Dr. Oliver de Haas, Evico CEO, said: "The magnetic field from the track is effectively 'frozen' into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and the track—essentially keeping the board hovering. This force is strong enough to allow the rider to stand and even jump on the board."

A high-performance Lexus GS F is also featured in the film for good measure, and this Lexus Hoverboard film is part of the fourth project in the Lexus "Amazing In Motion" campaign series that puts an emphasis on creativity and innovation fro the Lexus brand.