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Rediff.com  » Business » Soon, a car that will run on all surfaces

Soon, a car that will run on all surfaces

Source: PTI
June 13, 2011 17:13 IST
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Imagine a car that you can drive on sand, ice and even on water. Well, your fantasy may soon become a reality.

A 21-year-old Chinese inventor has come up with a new design for an all-terrain vehicle which can be run on roads as well as on sand, ice and even water.

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

Zhang Yuhan, a mechanic design graduate from Xihua University, created the amazing machine, called the Volkswagen Aqua, for a competition sponsored by the German car maker, the Daily Mail reported.

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, and one can Enter and exit the car from a hatch at the rear of the vehicle.

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 Yuhan.

"I hope Aqua will become an affordable supercar that is available to the general public one day," she added.

Image used here is for representative purpose. Photograph of the actual car is not available.

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