Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Amphibious cars are not just the dreams of moviemakers, although an amphibious car was featured in the movie Pontiac Moon. The concept Gibbs aquada Sports Cars, now a very real version of an amphibious car has been released in the UK. The Gibbs aquada high-speed amphibian (HSA) is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160kmh) on land and 30mph (48kmh) over water, taking just six seconds to transform from road going sportscar to a jet powered marine vessel.

The Aquada, developed by Alan Gibbs, and marketed by Gibbs Technologies, represents state of the art amphibious car design. Since 1968, numerous prototype amphibious cars have been made, but none gained market traction. Advances in technology in numerous fields have helped Alan Gibbs' Aquada become perhaps the most commercially viable amphibious car since the Amphicar.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

Gibbs is marketing the Aquada as the 'ultimate leisure vehicle,” and it might be just that. It's as fast as a conventional car on macadam and it can pull a skier on water. The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is sleek, and jet-propelled, recalling the Stalwart, but boasting 60 new patents for its design. Computer systems retract the Aquada's wheels in the water, eliminating their drag.

The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is powered by a 175hp, V6 engine with 4 speed automatic transmission that's linked to the fully-enclosed jet propulsion system when on the water. Getting into the water is as simple as driving down a boatramp or entering directly from shore and once the push-button transformation has taken place, the accelerator becomes the throttle and the jet propulsion takes over.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

The Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car is designed to meet European road and marine safety standards and is fully-legal for both water and land use in the UK according to the Gibbs Technologies site. To meet its lofty speed goals, the Aquada uses a carefully shaped outer body supported inside by a metal space frame. In this is conceptually similar to integrating a NASCAR racer's rollcage into a load-distributing unibody structure as used in a typical sedan.

Propulsion in the ten Aquada prototypes currently testing in Michigan is from a 2.5-liter 160-horsepower engine. Gibb's press materials are careful not to specify precisely which engine this may be, but we assume a turbocharged four cylinder would provide the necessary combination of power and weight (a 175-horsepower V6 is used in the euro-spec Aquada).

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

A take-off from the transmission powers a carefully designed water jet for marine propulsion; Gibbs says the compact jet produces nearly a ton of thrust at half the size and a quarter of the expected weight. It's enough for the Aquada to have set a 32.8 mph record speed run, and sufficiently reliable for Sir Richard Branson to break the amphibian speed record across the English Channel by four hours. More prosaically, Gibbs demonstration video shows the Aquada pulling a water skier.

While we have not piloted an Aquada, it's clear that its driver-center, three-across seating, no doors and Bimini top will have practical considerations, or at least provide numerous conversation starters. On land we'd assume the Aquada would deliver more than acceptable road handling and middling performance given the moderate power and 3,225 lbs. weight.

Gibbs aquada Sports Cars Concept Real Amphibious Car

"Our plans for North America are ambitious, aggressive and achievable," Gibbs has said, stating, "Aquada could generate annual sales volumes of 100,000 or more within five years." Perhaps we should get our driving gloves and water skis ready now.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer – One more interesting feature is that the car can be molded to be powered by different alternative fuels or power sources such as hydrogen, solar and electric power.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Inspired by the nature, mainly marine animals and the way their efficient bodies cut through the water, designer Paul Hanna has come up with a vehicle concept cars named the “Energo Racer” to take the rider on a wonder ride.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna, is 22 feet long and 8 feet wide, the racer can be molded to run on a number of alternative fuels or power sources, including hydrogen, solar and electric, with ease.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna, featuring an aerodynamic body to minimize air resistance, the futuristic vehicle removes the engine for a free flowing form to set new records in speed.

Energo Racer Sport Cars Concept By Paul Hanna

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

The Opel Icona Concept Cars is a design study of a futuristic amphibian electric vehicle with a sporty design and retracteable wheels. Keeping such scenario in mind, Swedish designer Juan Pablo Bernal P has designed a futuristic vehicle for the year 2050 that moves on both land and water with equal efficiency. Called the “OPEL ICONA,” the V-shaped commuter vehicle features an aerodynamic body to ensure minimal air resistance for better performance in all conditions. The V shaped dynamic design uses distinctive shapes, forms, patterns and proportions which are express the sporty and leisure-oriented character of the vehicle.

Running on natural sources of energy, the all-electric vehicle generates power from electric motors to allow a clean and green drive. The zero-emission car would not only allow a sustainable drive but also become a means of entertainment to create a special bond between the family members as well as society.

The Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept is a hybrid car that can traverse land and sea is nothing new despite being the stuff of dreams at least half a century ago, but this concept cars takes things to a whole new level. It can transport an adult and a child. The Opel Icona project was developed in collaboration with Opel by Juan Pablo Bernal at the Umea Institute of Design, Sweden.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept features two modes of operation Viz. Land mode and Water Mode to run on ground and water respectively. When the vehicle runs on the ground the sail remains wrapped in the storage area; however, as soon as the occupant puts the vehicle on the water mode the sail retracts and the wheel arms rotate inboard to reduce drag, thus enabling this vehicle to cruise on water with the same speed and elegance.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept

About the Designer:

Juan Pablo Bernal is Colombian Designer with a Bachelor in Transportation Design from Instituto Europeo di Design (2003-2006) and a MA Degree in Transportation Design from Umea institute of Design in Sweden.

Among his working experiences are internship at the GM Europe Design and at Scania, Sweden.

Opel Amphibian Sport Cars Icona Concept