Blue Apple

Did you remember? 3 decades ago James Bond surprised the world with a car that could ‘fly’ under water in the movie “The Spy Who Loved Me” but unfortunately it was only animation and not an actual scene.

But don’t worry, this one is not animation but it’s real. Frank M Rinderknecht, the 52-year-old automobile visionary and also boss of Swiss automaker Rinspeed, has turn James Bond actual scene into reality with sQuba. Rinspeed sQuba is the most thrilling car at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and is producing many a ripple.

sQuba is the first real submersible car in the world that can swim like a fish underwater. It can dive up into 32.8 feet below the surface of the water and can move at dignified 1.8 miles per hour.

In term of safety, the sQuba has open cockpit so that people can get out easily in cae of an emergency. The occupants of the car have to breathe compressed air through built-in scuba masks.

sQuba is an electric car that uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and 3 electric motors for propulsion. It is a zero-emission car as documented by the rotating license plate in the rear. It produces no exhaust emissions.

The first car that could drive underwater was Quandt’s Amphibicar built in 1968 but only 3, 878 were produced and mostly are still being driven on roads.

Then, Gibbs Technologies came up with Gibbs Aquada in 2004 which it been used to break speed record for crossing the English Channel by Virgin boss, Richard Branson. However, the sQuba seems to be the most exciting car on this day.

Technical data

Measurements

Length —– 3′785 mm
Width —– 1”940 mm
Height —– 1′117 mm
Wheelbase —– 2?300 mm
Track front —– 1?470 mm
Track rear —– 1?520 mm
Ground clearance —– 130 mm
Empty weight —– approx. 920kg

Performances

Top speed —– > 120 km/h
Acceleration 0-80 km/h —– 7.1 sec
Water speed —– > 6 km/h
Under water speed —– > 3 km/h
Dive depth —– 10 m

Engines

Street —– Electric
Power output —– max. 54 kW at 4′500 /min
Torque —– 160 NM at 1′500 /min
Water – Stern propellers —– Electric
Power output —– 2 x 800 W
Diving – bow jet drives —– Electric
Power output —– 2 x 3.6 kW Rotinor
Batteries —– Lithium-Ionen
Voltage —– 6 x 48 Volt

Propulsion

Power train —– Rear wheel drive
Gearbox —– R – N – F
Suspension
Chassis —– Steel
Body panels —– Carbon Nano Tubes
Seating capacity —– 2
Front suspension —– Double wishbone
Rear suspension —– Double wishbone
Dampers/springs —– KW automotive
Steering —– Rack & pinion

Tyres

Front tyres —– Pirelli P Zero 205/40 R17
Front wheels —– AEZ 7.5 x 17″
Rear tyres —– Pirelli P Zero 225/40 R18
Rear wheels —– AEZ 8 x 18″
Miscellaneous
Air supply —– 1 x 15 liter + 1 x 18 liter ScubaPro
Laser scanner —– Ibeo
Lubricants —– Motorex