Gibbs Technologies Chairman Neil Jenkins has said that the production version will look radically different than this concept version.
By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE
AUBURN HILLS – It’s March, the ice is all but gone from area lakes here in Michigan and those who love summer are starting to dream of warm weather fun.
In the coming weeks, Gibbs Technologies is expected to announce production of the Quadski, its long-awaited amphibious all-terrain vehicle.
Last fall, Gibbs Chairman Neil Jenkins told Amphibious wllz in an exclusive interview, that the company planned to begin Quadski production in the second quarter of 2010.
The company has not yet shown a picture of the production version, which Jenkins promised would be radically different than the concept it has shown for several years.
The company, which has its U.S. headquarters and R&D facility in Auburn Hills, has not announced a site for Quadski production has been announced either. Jenkins said the company planned to build between 500 and 2,500 Quadskis the first year. He also has said that Gibbs will be able to move quickly in establishing an factory for the vehicle’s assembly.
A spokesman said this week that the company was not yet ready to release an update on the Quadski.
Company officials say that the Quadski will be capable of 45 mph on land or water. It will use Gibbs’ patented High Speed Amphibian technology, which includes a system to decouple and raise the wheels into the body.
No pricing has been announced.
The system is designed to allow the vehicle to transition from water to land or vice versa in five seconds.
Gibbs is also planning to build an amphibious car called the Aquada, but has met with trouble satisfying federal regulators. Also planned are amphibious first responder and military vehicles.
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spoke to marketing manager at gibbs and he said they wont be released untill early 2011
Fortch, I’m interested in how you happened to talk to Gibbs’ marketing manager. Yes, I have also heard 2011, but I’m still expecting to hear some announcements from them soon.
hello brian i spoke to the marketing manager at gibbs as i was inquiring about the quad ski which is available at the moment from another company in texas and i was a bit concerned that it was a scam as they have there own version on the market . when i contacted gibbs about this web site asking if it was one of their quadski the manager replied to my email as it must have been a copy write breach.and the only information he would give me was it was due to be released in early 2011 and they had done a few alterations to address the hull from bottoming out strengthening etc and also a 4wd version may be in the picture (in not so may words)” hint hint” i hope this helps you sleep a bit better as it did for me .cant wait its driving me crazy fortch
Fortch,
Thanks for the comment. I’m not familiar with anyone else promising to build anything like the Quadski. Concerning strengthening of the hull for use on land, Gibbs has made it clear to me that the vehicle will not be a serious rock hopper. They’ve also insisted that there i no need for four-wheel drive, focusing mostly on the transition from water up and onto land. They say that the power from the wheels, combined with the thrust of the jet will render 4WD unnecessary. And since it won’t be a serious off-road machine, that seems to indicate they won’t do a 4WD version. That said, the Humdinga prototype is 4WD and I would bet that the Terraquad concept would be a likely candidate for 4WD.
I hope to hear from you often. I’d be interested in posting something that you write about why you want an High-Speed Amphibian, how you plan to use it and why you are fascinated by them.
gday brian the reason why i need this type of high speed amphibian is that i’m a what you would call a over the top water fowl hunter and with this said with any type of hunting the game you hunt seem to be in areas in which standard type boats etc cant get too.we hunt in an area that we can only access on high tide giving the wind strenght & tide hight and time factor which makes it very hard if at all so you can see how this can help my issue.hope the word hunting dont upset you . mezzo motors is a company i think in texas they apparently hire quadski out to the public i was looking at purchasing one from them but i will wait until gibbs bring their model out i’m a bit concerned about buying one that you may not get warranty & parts for cheers fortch
i do think they will be releasing a 4wd version if you go to the patient design of the quadski they have put a patient on the 4wd combination.take a look at that its very interesting how they put the unit together and how it all works fortch
sorry i mean patent not patient if you look up gibbs in the us patent site its all there takes a while to dig it up but very interesting reading. i got to the stage of wanting to building my own
Very interesting. You’ve done some good research. Could you send me a link to the information you found? I’d be interested in posting something on it and I’d like to credit you with finding the information.
Interesting need for an amphibian. I am in no way offended that you hunt. So what part of the world do you live in?
One more thing, Fortch. I have a meeting set up with the Gibbs folks this week. If you were there, what would you want to ask them?
gday brian i’m from adelaide south australia sorry i’m not real good with computers like sending links and stuff but if you look up wikipatents the patent # is 7316594 and its mostly there.things i would ask are when will be available in australia, what size engine,will a 4wd be offered,what weight it can carry,what the bottom off the hull is constructed from eg steel.fiberglass or carbon fibre etc. colours available as i want it in camo if prossible and most important the cost of the unit hope this helps thanks fortch
Many of those are questions I’ve posed. Right now, they’re not ready to give me a lot of the answers to these questions because they aren’t ready to start their marketing efforts. We’ll see what they tell me – and how much I’ll be allowed to publish – when I meet with them Friday.
Fortch,
I looked up Mezzo and sent a link to Gibbs. They told me that Mezzo is trying to operate as if they are a dealer and they are not and won’t be. He added that they have asked them pull the post, but they have so far refused. So there’s nothing really there.