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We have seen amphibious cars in James Bond movies and the odd ugly duckling made by curious, backyard car builders. But, later this summer, Smart will actually put out to sea this concept called ‘Forsea’ and it is expected to cross the Strait of Sicily off the coast of Italy.
The Forsea concept is being built by Smart – a minicar brand owned by Mercedes-Benz Cars, and the Italian Foccaccia Group. The Forsea concept is like an open boat with two seats and a wide transom lined with teak, inspired by the classic lobster boat. Once on water, the Smart Concept’s wheels are angled at 35 degrees, allowing it to align itself with the hull and the underbody. The Forsea offers a cruising speed of 10 knots and a peak of 15 knots and it can be used to navigate the sea for up to three hours.
According to Smart, the Forsea’s steering wheel provides full control over the car-cum-boat, guiding the jet of water with precision, as much as it offers control of the wheels while on road. The 90 hp rear engine has been paired with a custom-made water jet propeller and connected to a joint shaft on the rear differential. Transferring traction from the rear wheels to the water jet is managed by an ECU.
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