world's fastest amphibious car sea lion prototype uses retractable side pods to float on water

"The Sea Lion Prototype is dubbed the world's fastest amphibious car at the time of its creation in 2012, which uses retractable side pods to float on water. A part of the Larry Klairmont Collection in the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago, the vehicle uses a Mazda 13B rotary engine with a displacement of 1.3 liters. The engine is equipped with a Camden supercharger and a Holley carburetor."

"From the get-go, it is visible that the hull and frame are built from aluminum alloy, with all of their sections CNC-milled and TIG-welded during assembly. The amphibious car Sea Lion Prototype comes with a monocoque section fused to the body at the center of the car to create a single load-bearing structure, and the body includes front and rear fenders that attach directly to the main shell. The use of aluminum reduces overall weight and resists corrosion during water exposure."

Sea Lion Prototype is an experimental 2012 amphibious car that combines a Mazda 13B 1.3L rotary engine with a Camden supercharger and Holley carburetor to power both wheels and a marine jet system. The hull and frame use CNC-milled, TIG-welded aluminum alloy with a monocoque center section and integrated fenders to form a single load-bearing structure that reduces weight and resists corrosion. Retractable side pods double as flotation and cargo holders, while hydraulic actuators raise the front wheels for water entry. Marc Witt and SeaRoader Aquatic built the vehicle to test integration of rotary propulsion, jet pump, and rigid aluminum chassis.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine