Tahoeman
04-09-03, 20:48
high-speed land and water vehicle which transforms from sleek sports car to jet-propelled boat at the touch of a button made waves at its unveiling in London.
The Aquada is designed by New Zealander Alan Gibbs and can reach speeds of 160kph on land and over 48kph on water.
Gibbs Technology, which developed the new technology, boasts that no other road-legal vehicle has so-far managed to exceed 10kph on water.
Previous attempts have failed because of the vehicles' inability to climb out of the water and skim along the water.
But the vehicle is likely to be beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest James Bond-wannabes, with a price tag of just over $416,000 (NZD).
For Aucklanders wanting to nip over to Waiheke Island for lunch, the trip would take around 20 minutes.
Gibbs told ONE News that he would give priority to any New Zealanders who wanted to purchase one of the new amphibians. He plans to bring a few Aquadas back home when he visits for the holidays.
He says the technology to create his machine took 70 engineers and designers seven years to develop. The Aquada has over 60 related inventions patented.
Alan Gibbs and Englishman Neil Jenkins established the British-based engineering companyGibbs Technology in 1996.
Gibbs said he is more interested in selling the technology than the vehicles.
The Aquada, which was put through its paces in the River Thames as journalists watched, is a two-wheel drive which uses unleaded petrol and has an engine of 175 horsepower.
It has no doors but the driver climbs over the side to get in.
The vehicle has a range of 80km and has been designed to go in the sea or fresh water. Gibbs claims it performs as well as or better than jet boats of a similar size.
"It is in the first instance a recreational vehicle, a sports car and a sports boat," said Gibbs.
The Aquada is designed primarily as a recreation and leisure vehicle but Gibbs hopes his technology will be picked up by emergency services,rescue services, police and the military.
Ecco le foto
http://www.aquada.host.goodtechnology.net/aquada/downloads/wallpapera800x600.jpg
http://www.aquada.host.goodtechnology.net/aquada/downloads/wallpaperb800x600.jpg
The Aquada is designed by New Zealander Alan Gibbs and can reach speeds of 160kph on land and over 48kph on water.
Gibbs Technology, which developed the new technology, boasts that no other road-legal vehicle has so-far managed to exceed 10kph on water.
Previous attempts have failed because of the vehicles' inability to climb out of the water and skim along the water.
But the vehicle is likely to be beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest James Bond-wannabes, with a price tag of just over $416,000 (NZD).
For Aucklanders wanting to nip over to Waiheke Island for lunch, the trip would take around 20 minutes.
Gibbs told ONE News that he would give priority to any New Zealanders who wanted to purchase one of the new amphibians. He plans to bring a few Aquadas back home when he visits for the holidays.
He says the technology to create his machine took 70 engineers and designers seven years to develop. The Aquada has over 60 related inventions patented.
Alan Gibbs and Englishman Neil Jenkins established the British-based engineering companyGibbs Technology in 1996.
Gibbs said he is more interested in selling the technology than the vehicles.
The Aquada, which was put through its paces in the River Thames as journalists watched, is a two-wheel drive which uses unleaded petrol and has an engine of 175 horsepower.
It has no doors but the driver climbs over the side to get in.
The vehicle has a range of 80km and has been designed to go in the sea or fresh water. Gibbs claims it performs as well as or better than jet boats of a similar size.
"It is in the first instance a recreational vehicle, a sports car and a sports boat," said Gibbs.
The Aquada is designed primarily as a recreation and leisure vehicle but Gibbs hopes his technology will be picked up by emergency services,rescue services, police and the military.
Ecco le foto
http://www.aquada.host.goodtechnology.net/aquada/downloads/wallpapera800x600.jpg
http://www.aquada.host.goodtechnology.net/aquada/downloads/wallpaperb800x600.jpg