The car that can both drive on roads and dive up to 10 meters under the sea.
A Swiss company called Rinspeed has developed its newest project. The world’s first underwater car named “sQuba.”
Rinspeed founder and CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht was inspired by the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” that he wanted to build a car that could move underwater like a submarine.
sQuba is a zero-emission, electric vehicle which uses three electric motors. One to drive on land, and two to drive underwater. It can be submerged to a depth of 10 meters (33 ft). The amazing car has a steel chassis, while its lightweight body panels are made of nanotubes.
The car’s top land speed is 120 km/h (75 mph), 6 km/h (3.2 kn; 37 mph) on water surface, and 3 km/h (1.6 kn/1.9 mph) when underwater.
This unique vehicle includes self-contained on-board oxygen system to supply fresh air for the driver and passenger to be able to breath when the car is submerged. According to Rinspeed, sQuba’s cockpit is made open to allow the occupants to escape easily in case of emergency.
The prototype cost more than US$1.5 million to build. The car expected to cost less than a Rolls-Royce when it enters production in the near future.
Rinderknech states that there will be a limited appeal for a car that can submerged underwater and sQuba is made to be marketed as a “Toy for rich people.”
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