Underwater Driving: The sQuba

My email box is routinely assaulted by press releases. Usually the content of said press releases is less than jaw dropping. But today I received a rather interesting email from Rinspeed, an automotive tuning company from Switzerland, regarding a car they'll be showing at this year's Geneva Motor Show. It's called the sQuba, and it drives underwater. No shit. So now you're either thinking, "Finally, a car that can drive underwater," or more aptly, "Why the fuck do I need a car that drives underwater?" Whatever the case, it's at once pretty awesome and completely stupid. Either way the photos (above) and video (right) are entertaining. 

Here's the official word from Rinspeeed:
"Thirty one years ago the legendary Q (of James Bond fame) modified a car for special agents with a license to kill that was able to drive underwater. Well, at least in “The spy who loved me” the diverse gadget travelled underwater. In reality is 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."