SPIOS Schwimmwagen

The SPIOS Schwimmwagen is a German three-axle amphibious vehicle designed, engineered and hand-built by Walter Spitaler of St. Leon-Rot in Baden-Württemberg, a successful hill-climb and circuit racing driver in the 1970s. He built the prototype in a record seven months, and in March 2004 it received German TÜV type approval. Series production was announced for January 2005, with more than 100 orders reportedly already in hand, and Spitaler presented himself as the world's second series maker of amphibious cars after Gibbs. Intended customers were rescue services, tourism operators and private buyers worldwide.

Design

Spitaler's specification stressed total watertightness and "ingenious simplicity": standard engines and gearboxes with worldwide service, no power steering, air conditioning or heating, and everything repairable in countries with poor infrastructure. The frame is welded aluminium box section, and the panels are aluminium bonded and riveted with stainless rivets, finished in a tough two-component plastic coating. The three watertight axles and the planetary reduction gearbox are Spitaler's own designs, and several patents were filed during development.

On land a Ford Zetec SE petrol engine of 1.4 litres (80 PS) or optionally 1.6 litres (100 PS) drives the front wheels through a five-speed gearbox, with an optional locking differential; top speed is quoted between 25 and 123 km/h depending on engine and registration. In the water a Honda 20 PS outboard, height-adjustable electrically from the driver's seat, gives up to 21 km/h, or 38 km/h with an optional 50 PS motor. Steering afloat is by the front wheels or, for precise manoeuvring, by a second steering wheel linked to the outboard.

The export model SPIOS 6 is 5.24 m long, 2.35 m wide and 1.65 m high, weighs 1,850 kg empty and 2,850 kg gross, and seats six on individual seats, or up to eight plus the driver with bench seats. Draught with two people aboard is about 25 cm.