Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Gibbs Aquada on Woodward

As we made our along Woodward Avenue this morning we spotted what may be the ultimate "Cruiser" on the road today. Trolling along right in front of a golden Lamborghini Murcielago was a Gibbs Aquada. For those who haven't been paying attention the Aquada is the latest attempt at an amphibious car. Gibbs recently set up shop in Auburn Hills MI as they try to get this land and sea machine into production. In the meantime when this driver gets to the end of Woodward Ave, he can keep right on driving on into the Detroit River and cruise on.

Gibbs Technologies, makers of vehicles like the Aquada seen above, has managed to snag tax breaks from both the state of Michigan and the city of Auburn Hills to open its world headquarters near Detroit, the U.S. capitol for automakers. While we're sure that Michigan's Oakland County is happy to see Gibbs' investment in the area and the additional jobs it'll bring along with it, one must wonder just how many $85,000 aquatic vehicles the company plans to sell to sustain itself. Though it's headquartering itself in the Detroit area, manufacturing may be done elsewhere. Michigan is still reportedly in the running, but we'd imagine a less seasonal climate may prove beneficial for the research, development and testing of its upcoming amphibious line of vehicles.

[Source: The Detroit News]

It's been just about a year since we last heard anything about the Gibbs Aquada, which should be coming to American roads and shores near you shortly. Last we heard, Gibbs was looking for an American partner and a place to get some engineering work and production done. At least one of those goals seems to have been met, as reports are now coming in that Saleen, makers of super-fast Mustangs and exotic cars, has been tapped to provide design and engineering work for the U.K. based aquatic vehicle company.

Saleen will be working on the U.S. version of the Aquada, a vehicle which is intended to offer sportscar performance on land and speedboat thrills on the water. Other vehicles from Gibbs include an all-terrain Hummer-style aquatic utility vehicle known as the Humdinga and the Polish Quadski, which combines the capabilities of a four-wheeled ATV and a jet ski.

[Source: WWJ Newsradio]

Our colleague Dan already reported that Gibbs Technologies wants to bring its amphibious car, the Aquada, to the U.S. market within the next couple of years. Now one of the domestic auto industry's hometown papers is reporting that Gibbs is looking for a U.S. manufacturing location, and Michigan is figuring prominently in that search.

Alan Gibbs has apparently met with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and looked at a variety of locations in Michigan and elsewhere. The major problem with Michigan as a site is the problem of testing an amphibious car in the winter time. Perhaps the MEDC can agree to throw in a free swimming pool if Gibbs builds his plant here. On the other hand, the inherently limited market for an amphibious car once you get past the novelty factor would seem to indicate that Michigan's scarce dollars would be invested more wisely elsewhere.

[Source: Detroit News]

We've talked about past amphibious vehicle projects like the Dutton Commander S2, Gibbs Aquada and Humdinga, among others, and we all remember the immortal Amphicar, but all of those are rather pedestrian compared to the FastTrack 1. It has tracks. Why hasn't anybody thought of this before? We know there have been dozens of attempts at building a practical amphibious vehicle through the ages, but why haven't any tinkerers tried using tracks before now? Perhaps best known for their use on tanks and bulldozers, tracks afford a flexible propulsion source for land AND water. And as a bonus, they can cover snow and ice fairly easily, as well.

Tracks don't offer high performance (or even moderate performance) driving like conventional wheels and tires, but they still make a decent compromise. That's why the FastTrack 1 from Fast Track Amphibian is so appealing. Sure it looks like a chopped pontoon boat, but this sucker can theoretically pound the waves at up to 39 mph and, when it reaches dry land, can do a highway-friendly 55 mph, as well. The vehicle pictured above is a proof of concept vehicle but production is a possibility.

Only the Amfibidiver seems to be able to one-up the FastTrack 1. If you remember, that vehicle could drive to the water, take you out to a dive spot, anchor while you dove, or even SUBMERGE! But we doubt ice and snow would be handled as easily.

[Source: Fast Track Amphibian via gizmag]