A CAR company has created an underwater supercar that doubles as a submarine, inspired by a famous Bond motor.
The bizarre car is the creation of designer Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Swiss company Rinspeed.
AlamyThe Rinspeed sQuba is the world’s ‘first and only diving car’[/caption]
AlamyIt uses a propellor and a ‘quick-drying interior’ to transition seamlessly from land to water[/caption]
Dubbed the sQuba, it claims to be the “world’s first and only real submersible car”.
Frank told Ridiculous Rides: “We built the sQuba some 12 years ago but still today it’s our icon.
“It is the most sought-after vehicle for films and photos.
“That’s probably the biggest milestone in our history.
“The sQuba is the only real diving car in the world.”
The car is based on a Lotus Elise, which was heavily modified to allow it to transition “seamlessly” from land to water.
The engine was removed and replaced with an electric motor, while a propellor was added to the rear.
This allows it to drive underwater and have variable speed, just like a boat.
The two seats each have scuba masks and goggles attached to an air tank in the rear to allow the passengers to breathe while submerged.
To close the top would have added a lot of weight, so the car is roofless.
This meant that the interior had to be constructed of special “quick drying” materials so it didn’t end up a soggy mess.
Unfortunately, anyone in it will get damp, but can happily dry off in the wind while pelting up the road on a summer’s day.
While it is the only real submersible car, the sQuba was, of course, based on the iconic Lotus Esprit in the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
The much-loved movie sees Roger Moore escaping from some evil henchmen by driving the supercar underwater.
The real thing even comes with a plastic lobster mimicking the hilarious moment Bond handed a fish out of the window when he came back to dry land.
It comes after a van lifer revealed how he turned a fighter plane from the 1940s into a three-bedroom luxury camper.
Eon ProductionsThe car was based on the famous Lotus from 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me[/caption]
AlamyThe passengers breathe through in-built scuba tech[/caption]“}]]