Never let it be said that Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (left) lacks a flair for the theatrical — or, in the case of the mad, mad sQuba concept, the cinematic. Possibly the result of one too many schnapps-fueled late-night viewings of the 1977 Bond flick, The Spy Who Loved Me, Rinspeed's sQuba, clearly derived from the delightful Lotus Elise roadster, is the sports car that doubles as a submarine. It features body components made of "futuristic carbon nano tubes," with an electric motor to spin the rear wheels on land. Beneath the waves, twin propellers in the rear fascia provide propulsion, with a pair of articulated jet nozzles up front giving direction. Rinderknecht claims the car is good to a depth of 10 meters (33 feet). Unlike James Bond's submersible Lotus Esprit, however, the sQuba does its diving sans top, requiring its (wet) occupants to utilize the car's self-contained on-board breathing apparatus. The Swiss dream-car factory plans to unveil the sQuba at the Geneva Motor Show in March. As for a production version, well, don't hold your breath.
Photos courtesy of Rinspeed.
