Toyota Ku:Rin snags compressed air top speed record with 130 km/h run

Powered by compressed air, the Ku:Rin showcases Toyota's expertise in developing compressors for automotive air conditioning systems.

Recently, the Ku:Rin prototype hit the track at Japan Automobile Research Institute's test facility in search of a speed record for compressed air vehicles. The Ku:Rin's posted top speed of 130 km/h should be enough to rocket it into the record books, and Toyota says it will submit the results to Guinness World Records.

Power for the Ku:Rin comes from a reversed A/C compressor that generates energy from the expansion of compressed air, while the vehicle's on-board compressed air tanks serve as "fuel." Though 130 km/h seems reasonable, the Ku:Rin's two-mile total range is laughable. This thing may be fast, but talk about range anxiety.