Meet the car of the future that can drive on roads, sand, ice - and even water

[Feuer Frei!]

An inventor has come up with a new design for a car that will drive on roads, sand, ice - and even water.

The all-terrain vehicle, which has a top speed of 62mph and works like a hovercraft, can move seamlessly between different surfaces.

Female designer Zhang Yuhan, 21, created the amazing machine - called the Volkswagen Aqua - for a competition sponsored by the German car manufacturer.
The vehicle's sleek sportscar-like design incorporates four high-powered fans and integrated airbags that inflate to lift it from the ground.

A large windscreen stretches above the front seats to give a panoramic view of the landscape ahead.
You enter and exit the car from a hatch at the rear of the car.
Based on technology that is currently available, the Aqua uses a hydrogen fuel cell to power two motors - with zero carbon emissions.
One motor inflates the skirt around the vehicle to make it hover, while the second drives it forwards and controls its direction.

'There is no better form of transport than an air cushion vehicle because it travels equally well over land, ice, and water,' said Ms Yuhan.

The mechanic design graduate, from China, added: 'I hope Aqua will become an affordable supercar that is available to the general public one day.'
The Xihua University student made the shortlist from the CDN China Car Award.
The competition asked designers to come up with a 'Chinese off-road vehicle' with 'go-anywhere' capabilities.




SOURCE

[Schroeder]

Sounds pretty stupid to me. Besides I fail to see whats new about this. Hovercrafts have been in use for a long time. I believe they are too difficult to handle (you can't just step on the brake...), with horrific energy efficiency. Let alone that they are pretty loud as well.
I don't see any use for this for the average John Doe.

*Edit*
Bah, never mind I just noted your source is the Daily Fail.

[AVGWarhawk]

It's a Volkwagen...the damn thing will be on the side of the road in the typical non-running condition VW is normally found.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It's a Volkwagen...the damn thing will be on the side of the road in the typical non-running condition VW is normally found.

Any statistics about that. Mine are telling a different story.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Any statistics about that. Mine are telling a different story.

I lived the dream or should I say nightmare? 2006 VW Passat=rubbish! Safest car on the road because it was always in the shop! Service manager on speed dial!

[Schroeder]

Electronics or what is the problem?

[BossMark]

Reminds me of this

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Electronics or what is the problem?

Let's see:

Fried ignition coil the first day I had it. Sat in the driveway a smolding mess until the wrecker showed. The car resurfaced later 2 days later. Car ownership before the first breakdown: 50 minutes. Dealer to my driveway.

2 month later, leaking antifreeze flange. 2 days in shop

2 months after that recall notice to replace all the faulty ignition coils that seem to catch on fire. Been a know problem for the past 10 years. Car in shop for the day.

3 months after that the car goes into failsafe mod. No acceleration. Drop at shop. In the meantime a laundry list of issue are becoming evident.

Intake cam...replace for warn high pressure fuel pump lobe
Replace high pressure fuel pump
Replace cam follower
Replace trunk latch as in cold weather it will not latch. Only in warm weather. Nothing like an open truck with Christmas presents in the snow!
Replace rattling radio flange. Only to find out it was the air register on the dash. Gave up on that one.
Pick the car up only to find the 'check engine' light on.

In the meantime when all of this was occuring the transmission would hard shift when cold. Of course VW finds nothing wrong. In between VW attempting to diagnosing the problem I get another recall notice for you guessed it...hard shifting transmission when cold. After the car failed within 50 mimute of ownership and the issues in just under 12 months of signing for it I traded the vehicle.

[August]

Sounds like one of those Mexico assembled VW's. I've heard there are a lot of problems with them.

[Schroeder]

@ Warhawk

Wow, never heard of such a row of complications.
I guess I would be pretty upset with them myself then.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by August

Sounds like one of those Mexico assembled VW's. I've heard there are a lot of problems with them.

The Jetta is Mexican built. The Passat is direct from German. This is were my pile of worn parts was assembled. I think the factory is right behind Skybirds house.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

@ Warhawk

Wow, never heard of such a row of complications.
I guess I would be pretty upset with them myself then.

I was more worried with reliability than upset over it. Sputtering off to the shoulder of the road is not the greatest feeling. I just lost all faith in the vehicle. The numerous recalls and extended warranty was great but the constant return to the dealer was getting very tiresome.

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It's a Volkwagen...the damn thing will be on the side of the road in the typical non-running condition VW is normally found.

Mine's 48 years old and still being driven daily.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Mine's 48 years old and still being driven daily.

Congratulations. Mine was 50 minute old and died like a piece of garbage that it was. One can not compare the old aircooled VW engines of 48 years ago with the finicky turbo charged fly by wire Passat. A screwdriver and piece of tape could keep the old aircooled running for years.

[Schroeder]

Had a look at the 2006 Passat on the net and it really seems to have been one hell of a failure....