Branson eyes Channel record in new aqua-car

Richard Branson yesterday became the first buyer of a €218,000 James Bond-style amphibious vehicle.

The Virgin boss was at the London Boat Show to take delivery of a Midlands-build Aquada which does 100mph on land and 30mph on water.

The intrepid Mr Branson promptly announced that he would use the new vehicle to set a cross-Channel record.

First announced last year, the Aquada is made at the headquarters of Gibbs Technologies in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

With a jet propulsion motor, retracting wheels and a speedboat-like hull, the Aquada’s makers say it is powerful enough to pull a water-skier.

To ensure the vehicle stays watertight, the driver and passengers must get into the vehicle through the roof.

“When I first saw the Aquada I was blown away and immediately started thinking of all the fun events and world records we could attempt in this great amphibious machine,” Mr Branson said.

“I’ve always been fascinated by advances in technology, especially those which capture the imagination, and the Aquada certainly does that.”

“Every young boy dreams of being James Bond (and I was certainly no exception) and the Aquada proves that advances in technology can make what we believed we’d only see in movies and computer simulations a reality.

“One day I envisage teams from across the globe racing across the English Channel in amphibious vehicles to set records and win trophies.

“In fact I will attempt to set a cross-Channel record myself this summer just to get the ball rolling.

“If we’re successful, I can picture the day when Virgin sponsors a glorious amphibious race from London to Paris, without having to use the Channel Tunnel.”

A spokeswoman for Gibbs, which plans to make 100 Aquadas to start with, said today: “Orders are going well and we hope to make more Aquadas later.”