Here’s How Rinspeed Made A James Bond Car Into A Reality – SlashGear

As any driver knows, water is a natural enemy of cars. A simple rainstorm can adversely affect visibility, but the dangers increase exponentially regarding flooding. The AA reports that a tiny amount of water (an egg cup full) can be sufficient to ruin a vehicle’s engine and that 32% of people killed in floods die in cars. How was Bond’s water-defying Lotus Esprit filmed in the 1970s, before CGI trickery? Several Esprit bodies were used for the scenes, including the one and only “Wet Nellie” (as it was known during the making of the film): a custom-built convertible submarine/Esprit.

Despite its impracticality, the idea enraptured auto enthusiasts watching the movie. The notion of a sports car that could hit the water’s surface, “transform” into a submarine, and speed off into the depths was (and remains) incredibly exciting. Finally, in 2008, Rinspeed presented their concept car, the sQuba, to the world.

“For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream come true,” Rinspeed‘s Frank M. Rinderknecht proudly stated. The sQuba was unveiled at March 2008’s Geneva Motor Show, an elegant design that boasted of being able to navigate water and do so in style. There is no mention of a production timeline, should one ever emerge.