We've reported on news about Gibbs Sports Amphibians here in the past; the company has spent years developing products that are equally at home on the land and in the water. In fact, in addition to the (relatively) well-known Aquada amphibious car, we've know that Gibbs has been working on this amphibious ATV for years.
And while the company's Aquada got strung up in red tape, its has finally announced that the vehicle shown here, dubbed Quadski, is just about to head into production with a price tag estimated at $40,000.
After just quick glance in its wheels-down position, the Quadski may seem like your typical ATV, but the truth is that it is an entirely singular concept. Powered by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder (sourced from BMW) pushing out 175 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque, the Quadski is capable of attaining speeds of 45 miles per hour on land and on the water. Though quite a sizable vehicle – the Quadski weighs in at a hearty 1,300 pounds and measures more than 10-feet long – the one-passenger amphibian is likely to have a significant range/operating envelope thanks to its 15-gallon gas tank. The Quadski can be driven directly from the land into the water; its four wheels retract and deploy at the push of a button.
Gibbs is expecting to find a substantial market for the Quadski, too. The company states that some $200 million have been invested in the vehicle's 15-year development to date. Production of the aquaquad will commence at a facility in Auburn Hills, MI, where maximum production capability is expected to see some 20 units per hour completed. Total output for the first year is expected to be a much more modest 1,000 units, however.
Official pricing will be announced just a little bit closer to the Quadski's on-sale date, sometime in mid-November. Gibbs expects to open around 20 dealership locations over the next 12 months, focusing on the Midwest, New York, Texas and the southeastern US to start.
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