Four New Amphibious Vehicles




With vast numbers of people living in coastal areas and on waterways, it was only a matter of time before a car and a watercraft were combined. Four companies have tackled the challenge in four entirely different ways. The Gibbs Aquada is a high-speed amphibian, can top 160 kmh on land and 50 kmh on water, and takes six seconds to transform from sportscar to jetboat. Conceived for a waterside lifestyle such as Sydney, Cannes or Miami, the British-built Aquada is powered by a 175hp V6 engine with an auto transmission linked to the fully-enclosed jet propulsion system. Getting into the water is as simple as driving down a boatramp and pushing the button - the accelerator becomes the throttle and the jet propulsion takes over.

The system is currently available on boats up to 6m and 750kg.

The wheels retract on the water, allowing it to be used normally.

When returning to land, the wheels are lowered in the water and the boat driven towards shore until the wheels touch the bottom and it can drive onto land.

Sealegs is ideal for those lucky enough to reside on the waterfront, and can also be used as a luxury yacht tender. The Sealegs system utilises all submersible components and is salt-water-ready.

Sealegs amphibious vehicles can drive straight from land into the water using high-torque, motorised wheels and 'legs' that retract when the craft is afloat. The New Zealand company recently unveiled designs for a new Rugged Amphibious Craft (RAC) targeting commercial, military and recreational applications which featues a 140hp inboard engine, jet drive and a solid aluminium hull.

The Phibicat is an ampihibious creature of a different ilk, offering military-strength, go-anywhere abilities and attributes which will not damage the environment - at 450kg, its six wheels exert a ground pressure of just 2 psi, compared with 7 psi for humans and 25 psi plus for 4wd vehicles.

Designed and built by Australian engineer Doug Waters, the Phibicat has three times the positive flotation needed, offering a level of safety bettered only by life-rafts and with well positioned multiple floats, it’s very stable in any conditions.

A 10 bhp air-cooled diesel drives all six wheels and an outboard can be lowered at the press of a button for additional go when on the water.

Perfect for yuppies.

If Ted Kennedy would have had one of these, he would be an ex-president today.

I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.  

Quoted: If Ted Kennedy would have had one of these, he would be an ex-president today.

Scary thought, but you'd be right.

Quoted: I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.

that's what I was gonna say

Quoted: If Ted Kennedy would have had one of these, he would be an ex-president today.

Quoted: Quoted: I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.   that's what I was gonna say

Either we're reading each other's minds...or I'm your troll account

wasn't that same idea put into place in the 70's?

www.terrawind.com/terrawind.htm

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.   that's what I was gonna say I'm your a troll account

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.   that's what I was gonna say I'm your a troll account

It was a joke, man!

Quoted: wasn't that same idea put into place in the 70's?

In the 50's with a car called the Amphicar, it never really took off in the marketplace.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I saw that in a Car and Driver article, like 5 years ago.   that's what I was gonna say I'm your a troll account It was a joke, man!

So was my post.

Quoted: Quoted: wasn't that same idea put into place in the 70's? In the 50's with a car called the Amphicar, it never really took off in the marketplace.

I'm guessing this car will suffer the same fat

  I thought this post was going to be about that small lake outside of Fort Bragg with the automatic water ski rig thingamabob...  Any one know if that biz is still around?  I haven't been to Bragg since 1996...

Quoted: Quoted: Wasn’t that same idea put into place in the 70's? In the 50's with a car called the Amphicar, it never really took off in the marketplace.

And one of those kinds of cars made an appearance in the satire, The President’s Analyst.

link?