Powerful enough to tow a water-skier and with a style and class of its own, the Gibbs Aquada is the perfect leisure vehicle. It combines the thrill of an open top car with the sheer exhilaration experienced in a high performance speedboat.
The Aquada amphibian car drives on water and land - and you can buy one if you have £150,000 to be exact (US $ 2,35,000). Gibbs Technologies launched the Aquada on the River Thames in central London.
The Aquada has three seats side-by-side. The Aquada can reach speeds of 160 km/h an hour on land, and with the press of a button, 48 km/h on water.
It took over seven yers to develop the Aquada, and while amphibian cars have been built before, this one seems to be the first real-life car-boat, and production has already commenced. No other road-legal amphibian has managed to exceed 6mph on water.
The Aquada is a two-wheel drive which uses unleaded petrol and has an engine of 175hp. It has no doors but the driver climbs in over the side. Entry to the water is via beach, boat ramp, slipway or directly from the water's edge. Once afloat, the transition from road vehicle to High Speed Amphibian (HSA) is effortlessly achieved.
Simply press a button and drive into the water. The wheels automatically rise and as you press the accelerator nearly a tonne of thrust pushes the Aquada onto the plane.
The whole process takes less than 12 seconds. The vehicle can switch to cruising on water within seconds, and the drive mechanism switches to power a jet that propels the vehicle.
The Aquada has a stainless steel and aluminium frame and a glass reinforced polyester shell. The Aquada is powered by a Rover 2.5-litre V6-K series engine. It has a top speed of 169km/h on land and 48km/h on water - fast enough to tow a skier.
AQUADA FACTS
Goes in sea or fresh water
Has a range of 50 miles
Two-wheel drive
Has engine of 175hp
The Aquada amphibian car drives on water and land - and you can buy one if you have £150,000 to be exact (US $ 2,35,000). Gibbs Technologies launched the Aquada on the River Thames in central London.
The Aquada has three seats side-by-side. The Aquada can reach speeds of 160 km/h an hour on land, and with the press of a button, 48 km/h on water.
It took over seven yers to develop the Aquada, and while amphibian cars have been built before, this one seems to be the first real-life car-boat, and production has already commenced. No other road-legal amphibian has managed to exceed 6mph on water.
The Aquada is a two-wheel drive which uses unleaded petrol and has an engine of 175hp. It has no doors but the driver climbs in over the side. Entry to the water is via beach, boat ramp, slipway or directly from the water's edge. Once afloat, the transition from road vehicle to High Speed Amphibian (HSA) is effortlessly achieved.
Simply press a button and drive into the water. The wheels automatically rise and as you press the accelerator nearly a tonne of thrust pushes the Aquada onto the plane.
The whole process takes less than 12 seconds. The vehicle can switch to cruising on water within seconds, and the drive mechanism switches to power a jet that propels the vehicle.
The Aquada has a stainless steel and aluminium frame and a glass reinforced polyester shell. The Aquada is powered by a Rover 2.5-litre V6-K series engine. It has a top speed of 169km/h on land and 48km/h on water - fast enough to tow a skier.
AQUADA FACTS
Goes in sea or fresh water
Has a range of 50 miles
Two-wheel drive
Has engine of 175hp
A launch series is in production to be available later this year.
