The Gibbs Quadski combines an ATV with a jet ski, it’s amazing that something so cool is in fact a reality.
According to Gibbs it should be on sale at some point this month. It will tear through the land and rip though water and is expected to belt out speeds of 45mph on land or water. A major plus is making the transition is as easy as the flick of the switch. As soon as it is time to hit the water the wheels are reeled in by the use of two servomotors and the transition will go down in five seconds. Its power is generated by a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine from BMW’s K1300 motorcycle, rated at a formidable 175 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque. Excellent performance and comfortable ride are the result of a light weight composite hull, wide track and low centre of gravity, which gives Quadski robust stability on land and water.
The vehicle is so Bondesque, riding it will give you enough thrills-a-plenty… well at $40 000 a pop, there better be a lot of thrills. A lot of effort has gone into the Gibbs Quadski. Production cost $200 million and apparently 2 million man-hours were utilised in its development. Gibbs sought to sell their batch in 2013 and increase production thereafter. The Quadski is the first commercially available amphibious vehicle.
As it is significantly larger than most ATVs it is suitable for tracks and open spaces. The Quadski concept was first developed in 2003, but the company’s involvement in amphibious vehicles stretches all the way back to 1996 and the first prototype was manufactured in 2005. This vehicle has potential for avenues such as search and rescue endeavours. Finding a cooler ride will be a mammoth undertaking.
