TARGET 160518
LET'S GO FOR A DRIVE AT THE LAKE
You no longer need to be a spy like James Bond to get your hands on an amphibious car.
California-based WaterCar has designed the world's fastest Jeep-style vehicle that can be driven straight from the land into the water and goes from a car to a boat in just 15 seconds.
Called the Panther, the vehicle can reach water speeds of up to 45mph (72kph) - almost as fast as an average speedboat - and is fitted with a custom-made 3.7 litre V6 engine, fibreglass hull and lightweight chromoly steel chassis. It can also reach speeds of up to 80mph (129 kph) on land.
The Panther can be driven straight from the land into the water and goes from a car to a boat in just 15 seconds. The wheels are lifted into the chassis using hydraulics and the car switches to a boat using a 'jet drive' lever.
WaterCar partner Fred Selby, 66, from Newport Beach, California spent 11 years fine-turning the machine before he felt ready to put it on the market.
The Panther's design is based on a Jeep CJ8 Scrambler. However, because the chassis of the Jeep was too heavy for the water, the Panther's lightweight chassis is made of chromoly steel.
Once in the water, the Panther is remarkably stable for a boat that is only 15 ft (4.6 m) in length.
The vehicle can be fitted with fishing rod holders, pictured. It can be sailed in both salt and fresh water and the chassis is protected from water damage.
The Panther's chassis was designed to slip into a fibreglass hull - similar to those used on Formula 1 cars.
The hull is also filled with closed-cell styrofoam to help the car stay afloat.
The engine for the Panther is the latest-generation Acura 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 engine, custom-fitted with aluminium parts, a overhead camshaft cylinder head and 24 valves.
Both intake and exhaust valves are controlled by Acura's Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system.
This engine produces 305 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and provides plenty of chances to get speeding tickets on either roadways or waterways.
It needs to be travelling at around 15 mph (24 kmh) to enter the water to provide time to clear land, fold up the wheels and allow the driver to switch propulsion systems.
To drive the Panther in water, the driver must put the four-speed gear changer in neutral, pull a knob to switch the transfer case to 'jet drive', hydraulically lift the wheels and tyres out of the water, and start boating.
This entire process takes less than 15 seconds.
The Panther starts at $126,000 for a 'Turn-key minus' version, and $155,000 for a complete Panther.
The Rolling chassis is a kit and additional components can be bought off the shelf.
The Turn-key minus version doesn't come with an engine.
"The Panther is equally at home on the land or sea," said Selby.
"Revolutionary in its design and engineering, a WaterCar Panther takes you anywhere you want to go.
"The thrilling acceleration is provided by a Honda V6 V-Tec motor.
"You can leave the highway behind thanks to its long travel off road suspension and travel in the water courtesy of the panther jet.
"And do all this with the security of knowing you are surrounded by a state of the art revolutionary designed composite body.
"Nothing compares to driving a Panther."
The design looks like a four-wheel drive and the bodywork is made from a fibreglass chassis that is capable of withstanding salt-water.
The outboard motor which powers the car is capable of travelling 200,000 miles (322000 km) before needing serious maintenance.
"You will be absolutely blown away by the Panther," said Selby.
"Our WaterCar team did a fabulous job of creating an extraordinary vehicle that is exciting, raw fun, yet incredibly practical."
The following video shows exerpted scenes from WaterCar's video. The full video and other videos of the car can be seen at their website (link below). You may want to slide the volume control down some before starting the video.
(But you probably do have to be a spy to get a car like James Bond's.)
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Many thanks to Ray McClure for creating this target.