James Bond-inspired underwater car to be unveiled at Geneva show

[Sash]

A Swiss company claims to have developed the world’s first submersible car, directly inspired by James Bond's Lotus in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Named the sQuba, the vehicle promises to be able to drive on land, float on the surface of the water and also dive to a depth of 10m (33ft).

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of the manufacturer Rinspeed, will unveil the concept car at the Geneva motorshow, which starts on March 6.

Mr Rinderknecht says that the sQuba was inspired by the Lotus Esprit that Roger Moore pilots underwater to escape pursuers in The Spy Who Loved Me.

“For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water”, said Mr Rinderknecht.

“Now we have made this dream come true.”

The car was constructed by Swiss engineering company Esoro, with whom Rinspeed have collaborated in the past on several outlandish concept vehicles, including 2004’s Rinspeed Splash, an amphibious car that transforms to become a hydrofoil on the water.

Rinspeed says that the submersible vehicle is capable of “stabile flight” at a depth of 10m. “It is undoubtedly not an easy task to make a car watertight and pressure resistant enough to be manoeuvrable under water. The real challenge however was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water.”

The roadster apparently replaces a conventional combustion engine with several electric motors. Three motors are located in the rear, one powering the car on land, and the other two operate under water.

These engines are supported by two Seabob jet drives in the front, which “breathe” through special rotating slats. The occupants’ breathing air comes from an integrated tank of compressed air.

“For safety reasons we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency. With an enclosed cabin opening the door might be impossible,” said Mr Rinderknecht.

Manufacturers claim that the sQuba is capable of autonomous driving. According to the company’s website “the concept car no longer needs a driver – made possible by laser technology from the Hamburg-based company, Ibeo. Ibeo LUX laser scanners represent the vehicle’s intelligent eyes and safely steer the vehicle through road traffic”.

In keeping with the current trend towards environmentally friendly vehicles, the sQuba aims at being a zero emission car, powered by rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries.

James Bond-inspired underwater car to be unveiled at Geneva show - Times Online



Bet its not that shiny after it's been for a swim in a canal.

[emmatot]

i got realy board watching that video...i think its stupid but amusing, water would probs get into the engine so even if it does run in water ur engin wnt last very long before it corrodes , and its too slow lol. i dont think it would be dry the second it got out of the water either lol