World’s First Underwater Car, seriously
Leave it to the Swiss, they’ve designed a zero emissions electric car inspired by a James Bond movie that can drive above and below water.
“The ‘sQuba’ lets me be one with the elements and lets me immerse myself in a new and fascinating world - with Q factor,” said Rinspeed founder, Frank M. Rinderknecht, “It is our duty to protect this world in which we are guests to the best of our ability.”
Once underwater, sQuba passengers are supplied with breathing air from an integrated tank of compressed air connected to scuba masks. To protect the aquatic environment, the sQuba uses biodegradable lubricants, so environmentalists can’t complain it’s a hazard to fish.
Keeping it extra green/Bondsy, the sQuba is also is capable of autonomous driving on land using a laser sensor system; that means it can drive itself without a driver or passenger. “Ibeo LUX laser scanners represent the vehicle’s intelligent eyes and safely steer the vehicle through road traffic,” Rinspeed says.
Built around a Lotus Elise, The sQuba runs on rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries and has a salt-water resistant interior and diamond-plated non-slip inlays. The high-tech VDO instrument cluster and controls “create a futuristic ambiance and allow controlling all vehicle functions even while submerged.”
The important vehicle functions when underwater include current engine output, remaining operating time, diving depth and water temperature.
On land the sQuba is capable of roughly 70mph, above the water it can skim along at 22km/h, once below the surface the top speed drops to about 16km/h. She isn’t a speed demon so much as a real thrill to captain, or so a land loving driver would assume.
Rinspeed claims “professional” divers can glide down as far as 40 meters, that would be assuming they can afford to dish out roughly $1 million dollars to pay for the ultimate James Bond ride.
Be sure to check out the sQuba in action in New Videos and visit the Rinspeed site at www.rinspeed.com.
“The ‘sQuba’ lets me be one with the elements and lets me immerse myself in a new and fascinating world - with Q factor,” said Rinspeed founder, Frank M. Rinderknecht, “It is our duty to protect this world in which we are guests to the best of our ability.”
Once underwater, sQuba passengers are supplied with breathing air from an integrated tank of compressed air connected to scuba masks. To protect the aquatic environment, the sQuba uses biodegradable lubricants, so environmentalists can’t complain it’s a hazard to fish.
Keeping it extra green/Bondsy, the sQuba is also is capable of autonomous driving on land using a laser sensor system; that means it can drive itself without a driver or passenger. “Ibeo LUX laser scanners represent the vehicle’s intelligent eyes and safely steer the vehicle through road traffic,” Rinspeed says.
Built around a Lotus Elise, The sQuba runs on rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries and has a salt-water resistant interior and diamond-plated non-slip inlays. The high-tech VDO instrument cluster and controls “create a futuristic ambiance and allow controlling all vehicle functions even while submerged.”
The important vehicle functions when underwater include current engine output, remaining operating time, diving depth and water temperature.
On land the sQuba is capable of roughly 70mph, above the water it can skim along at 22km/h, once below the surface the top speed drops to about 16km/h. She isn’t a speed demon so much as a real thrill to captain, or so a land loving driver would assume.
Rinspeed claims “professional” divers can glide down as far as 40 meters, that would be assuming they can afford to dish out roughly $1 million dollars to pay for the ultimate James Bond ride.
Be sure to check out the sQuba in action in New Videos and visit the Rinspeed site at www.rinspeed.com.
