Have you ever stepped outside for the day and wished that your quirky sports car could not only tear up the streets, but also the water? No? Well, just in case you ever did, Swiss concept car builder and mobility visionary, Rinspeed Inc. has an answer for you with this contraption shown here, the 2004 Rinspeed Splash. The Rinspeed company was officially founded in 1979 by Frank M. Rinderknecht, and while all of their projects are generally interesting, this concept amphibian vehicle with a hydrofoil design certainly stands out. In 2006, the Rinspeed Splash was actually able to set a record for crossing the English Channel in a hydrofoil car, which took the vehicle a total of 3 hours and 14 minutes. If driving on the road, and in the water wasn’t enough to impress, Rinspeed also was able to incorporate a unique hydraulic mechanism which actually enables this car to ‘fly’ as well. This is possible thanks to a highly complex integrated hydrofoil system which allows the car to take off slightly at an altitude of around 60cm above the water. The system which allows the Rinspeed Splash to transform from driving, to boating, to flying uses an array of sophisticated sensors. The rear panel of the Splash flips up to reveal a Z-drive in horizontal rest position, a piece that was borrowed directly from a watercraft, and is fitted with a conventional 3-bladed propeller. The Formula-1 style rear wing seen on the Splash rotates 180 degrees to rest below the vehicle to prepare for ‘flying’. Two other hydrofoils which are integrated into the outside ultra-light carbon-composite skin are flanked on either side, and rotate 90 degrees to point straight down, eventually unfolding into a V-shape.
How many made? 1 car made, which has been seen painted both yellow and blue
Engine: turbocharged two-cylinder four-valve 750cc delivering maximum power of 140 bhp/103 kW at 7000rpm and peak torque of 150Nm at 3500 rpm.
Debut: 2004 Geneva Motor Show
Top Speed:On the street: 124mph In the water: 49mph (approx. 45 knots)In the air: 31mph (approx. 28 knots)
0-60: around 6 seconds on the ground
Photo Credit: Rinspeed Inc.
Research: @rarecarsonly