Posted on 02/14/2008 12:58:20 PM PST by Stoat
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The concept car developer Rinspeed calls its "sQuba" the first real submersible car
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Rinspeed says its car can provide a stable "flight" at a depth of 30 feet.
"For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly underwater," says Frank Rinderknecht, Rinspeed's 52-year-old CEO and a professed James Bond fan. "Now we have made this dream come true."
The car will be unveiled at next month's Geneva Auto Show.
Rinderknecht says it is difficult to make a car watertight and pressure-resistant enough to be maneuverable underwater.
"The real challenge, however, was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water," he added.
Working with engineering specialists, Rinspeed removed the combustion engine from a sports car and replaced it with several electrical motors.
Three are located in the rear, with one providing propulsion on land and the other driving the screw for underwater motoring.
Passengers will be able to keep breathing underwater through an integrated tank of compressed air similar to what is used in scuba diving.
But they will get wet.
"For safety reasons, we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency," Rinderknecht said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Ping :-)
If Ted Kennedy drove a Volkswagen, he'd be President today
And, like Mary Jo Kopechne, it's only 99 and 44/100 percent pure. So it won't stay afloat forever. Just long enough. Poor Teddy. If he'd been smart enough to buy a Volkswagen, he never would have gotten into hot water.
How about improving gas mileage first.
Unless your Ted K. why you need a car to drive underwater.
Opel Eco Speedster: Performance Car 155 mph / 113 mpg
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6147/default.aspx
If it were James Bond’s car, wouldn’t it be left hand drive.
His adoring Socialist pals in the media made sure that the water never got too terribly hot for him.
Yeah. The picture and text in my post are from an ad parody that appeared in National Lampoon, probably in 1973 (when Splash would’ve been president).
Oooh, I want one!
I have no doubt that there will be an "underwater machinegun and missile launcher accessory kit" available for it soon :-)
Sharks should love it.
All I want for Christmas
I bought one of those about a year ago. My foursome hasn’t lost a golfball since.
Those Swiss are great at everything!!!
(I’m Swiss by the way, ha ha!)
They need one with a top so my clothes don’t get wet...and my purse, hair, shoes....
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