) Rinspeed’s sQuba drives and dives with AEZ alloy wheels sQuba – the car. 31 years ago the legendary Q modified a car for special agents with a licence to kill that was able to drive underwater. Well, at least in “The spy who loved me” the diverse gadget travelled underwater. In reality it was of course a model, based on a completely normal Lotus Esprit, which was initially sporty on the road, but would have been flooded in water. What was once only possible with special effects and by lowering model cars into aquariums, has now been put into effect by the renowned Swiss vehicle-upgrader Rinspeed together with technological partners such as VDO, KW automotive, Sharp, HS Genion and AEZ: The sQuba – as in the example is based on a Lotus, in this case an Elise – is not just able to immerse itself under water. Like the prototype cars, which Rinspeed develops every year for the Geneva Motor Show, this technological marvel also meets high ecological standards: On land the sQuba is powered by an electric engine, while in water is it driven by two rear propellers, which are also powered by a battery. For the diving process the Rinspeed sQuba uses two Rotinor jet engines. sQuba – the alloys. For this vehicle which is as unique as it is innovative, and also sets benchmarks in design, the professionals at AEZ have developed an exclusive alloy, which suits the sQuba both technically and optically: the wheel, with its graceful T-profile spokes, has been freed in the middle by getting rid of unnecessary mass. This procedure is known from exclusive chronographic work, where all non-load bearing parts are carefully removed from a watch, meaning that the working parts are visible through the open dial of the watch (or the open base). The AEZ alloys therefore give you a view of the brakes and the undercarriage. With its consistency which does not change on the road or in water, the wheels are therefore also considerably lighter: The front alloys, which have the dimensions 7.5 x 17 inches, weigh just over 6 kilograms. Due to the slightly larger dimensions (8 x 18 inches) the back alloys weigh a few hundred grams more. In any case, Q would have been delighted - both with the sQuba of Rinspeed and the alloys of AEZ. The Rinspeed sQuba can be seen from 6th to 16th March at booth 6254 of the 78th GENEVA MOTOR SHOW. |
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