A sports car that turns into a speedboat in a matter of seconds? It may sound impossible, but where others have tried and failed, New Zealand’s own Alan Gibbs has succeeded. Fast land-water cars are no longer the stuff of science fiction.
Seven years in the making, the Aquada is the world’s first high-speed sports amphibian. It travels at speeds of up to 160kph on land and 48kph on water.
The Aquada moves from one surface to the other at the touch of a button. Innovative suspension technology, designed by fellow Kiwi Terry Roycroft, raises the wheels so that the Aquada can skim across the water. The result is a streamlined marine hull, with a sophisticated jet to propel it at speed. The same suspension technology gives extra ground clearance on land, transforming the Aquada into an impressive off-road vehicle.
Gibbs believes that the Aquada will revolutionise the transport world. Developments for recreation, urban transport, and rescue services are all on the cards.
Alan Gibbs, driving force behind the Aquada
Kiwi entrepreneur Alan Gibbs is the driving force behind the amphibious Aquada. Frustrated that he couldn’t drive his boat straight from sea to shed when the tide was out, he did something about it. In 1995, he created his first amphibian. It was the start of something much bigger.
A former economist, diplomat, and businessman, Gibbs set out to create the world’s first high-speed amphibian. In 1996, he set up Gibbs Technologies, but it wasn’t an easy ride from there. Creating the Aquada took seven years. Gibbs led a team of some of the world’s most imaginative and talented engineers and designers.
Gibbs believes that passion is the key to success. ‘To succeed today, young people must do something they love and put passion into it, whether it is business, music, or football.’ Gibbs’ own lifelong love of boats and off-road vehicles has definitely paid off.
Alain Gibbs. Photo: Mark Smith