Landspeeder Classifications
A landspeeder, which can also be referred to as a hover car, overlander or floater, was a type of ground vehicle that hovered and was capable of traversing most types of terrain at relatively high velocities. It superseded the older hanno speeder.
The ability for most landspeeders to hover constantly between one and two meters above the ground, both while moving and when stopped, was made possible by low-power repulsorlifts. The forward movement of the vehicle was achieved using turbine jet engines. Certain landspeeders were equipped with weaponry, typically positioned at the front of the vehicle or above and behind the occupants.
Throughout the galaxy, there existed a multitude of manufacturers, designers, and models; however, the SoroSuub Corporation held a dominant position in the landspeeder market both preceding and during the Galactic Empire's rule.
The majority of landspeeder models were designed to accommodate one or more passengers, with maximum speeds varying from 100 to 250 kilometers per hour. The length of most models ranged from 3 to 8 meters. Many models featured cockpit designs that included retractable windshields and canopies, offering the option for occupants to be either fully enclosed or exposed to the open air.
Landspeeders came in a wide array of forms, ranging from sporty civilian versions engineered for swiftness and striking aesthetics (often featuring elaborate body designs and/or vibrant paint schemes) to practical utility vehicles. These utility vehicles spanned from compact speeder trucks capable of transporting small amounts of cargo to sizable, freighter-like transports designed for carrying substantial loads. Furthermore, there existed several models purpose-built for military applications (such as the TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank) alongside civilian models that had been adapted for military use (for example, the Flash speeder employed by the Royal Naboo Security Forces).
It's important not to mistake landspeeders for airspeeders, which were capable of reaching significantly greater altitudes. Similarly, speeder bikes or swoops shared functional similarities with landspeeders, although the latter more closely resembled a low-altitude airspeeder. Collectively, all the vehicle types mentioned above were generally known as speeders.
In the initial three novels of the X-wing series authored by Aaron Allston (X-Wing: Wraith Squadron, X-Wing: Iron Fist, and X-Wing: Solo Command), the term skimmer was employed as an umbrella term encompassing both landspeeders and airspeeders, despite the fact that skimmers constituted a specific category or subcategory of repulsorlift vehicles. The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia also identifies "skimmer" as an alternate designation for a landspeeder.