Sometimes there are answers for questions nobody asked. Case in point: Scamander, a highway/offroad vehicle that also swims.



OK, for styling it's bound to get attention at auto shows, but as a vehicle, what possible market could it serve? Some automotive sites are positively giddy about the vehicle, the brainchild of Peter Wheeler, the late owner of TVR. Before we go any further, let's look at the stats: There would appear to be an immediate question of the Scamander's off-road ability, as the approach, departure, and particularly the break-over angles are completely inadequate for anything more rugged than an unpaved road. If you look at the video, the suspension travel appears to be more like four or five inches, more in keeping with its low-slung stance (off road testing is done on a "moor" - Brit for "cold, windy, treeless wetland") and it hardly presents a challenge a bone stock RX couldn't handle with ease. The winch hanging below the front bumper actually looks like wretched excess on this off-road pretender, but it may be a necessary accessory for anyone actually believing this is a rock-hopper and taking this vehicle anywhere off a bumpy dirt road.

But it floats, and thanks to a water-jet mounted astern, it can achieve maybe six knots on water. That's about it. Think slow "Amphicar" here. Since the engine's air intakes are about shoulder-level to the driver, stuffing the nose into a wave will route a deluge up the sloping windscreen, over the top, and directly into the intakes just behind. You could probably break out the oars and row faster in something a bit better suited to aquatic excursions. And, given the design, maybe a proper towing bridle should be among the accessories for the Scamander for when you hydrolock the engine in a moderate chop.

What is the Scamander? Well, it's a driver and two passenger (middle guy drives, à la McLaren) vehicle with a bathtub sized "pickup bed" out back for hauling whatever. While it will cross small bodies of relatively smooth water, it's no boat, it's offroad capabilities can be shamed by almost any CUV you want to name, and it is LOUD inside, the result of the mid-engine configuration, poor insulation, and a host of howling cooling fans needed to cool the engine compartment. At best it's an overweight dune buggy with a sliding canopy, small bed, and coming from the folks at TVR as a custom-built prototype, you can bet the price tag would make a full boat Range Rover seem inexpensive.

Other than float, what can it do that the RR can't? Nothing. Maybe make people stare and point. On the other hand, that RR or an Lexus RX can deliver real performance, offroad or on, and do so with great comfort and style. And they have dealer networks, parts availability, and come with a warranty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=L9oTLMwpTbc

 

That is absolutely tremendous. Looks a hoot to drive. God bless the nutters that come up with this stuff.

 

seriously the world needs more innovation and wacky things like this