British entrepreneur and adventurer Sir Richard Branson is planning another first. He plans to drive an amphibious car across the English Channel and he wants to do it this year.
British entrepreneur and adventurer Sir Richard Branson is planning another first. He plans to drive an amphibious car across the English Channel and he wants to do it this year.
Virgin founder Branson was first to take delivery of the pioneering, R1,927 million British-built Gibbs Aquada amphibian at the London Boat Show.
This jet-propelled vehicle takes approximately six seconds to convert between its different modes and its V6 engine comes with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The manufacturer claims that this car-cum-boat can reach a maximum speed of 56km/h on water. On land it is capable of a sturdy 160km/h, and can launch from zero to 100km/h in ten seconds.
“When I first saw the Aquada I was blown away and immediately started thinking of all the fun events and world records we could attempt in this great amphibious machine,” Branson said.
“In fact, I will attempt to set a cross-Channel record myself this summer – as the first and fastest car across the English Channel – just to get the ball rolling,” he said.
“If we’re successful, I can picture the day when Virgin sponsors a glorious amphibious race from London to Paris.”
Branson is already the back-up pilot for a bid by fellow adventurer Steve Fossett to fly a custom-built light jet aircraft, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, non-stop and solo around the world later this year.