Outdoors

Gibbs adds room for two on its Quadski amphibious four-wheeler

Gibbs adds room for two on its Quadski amphibious four-wheeler
The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
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The extended body makes room for two
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The extended body makes room for two
The XL model has more under-seat storage space
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The XL model has more under-seat storage space
The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
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The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
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The Quadski XL cranks up to 45 mph on land and water
The new Quadski XL adds a second model to Gibbs' Quadski line
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The new Quadski XL adds a second model to Gibbs' Quadski line
The Quadski line-up is powered by a 1300cc BMW engine
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The Quadski line-up is powered by a 1300cc BMW engine
The BMW inline four-cylinder powers the jet drive on water
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The BMW inline four-cylinder powers the jet drive on water
The Quadski XL converts from PWC to quad in about five seconds
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The Quadski XL converts from PWC to quad in about five seconds
View gallery - 8 images

With up to 45 mph (72.4 km/h) of speed potential on both land and water, the Gibbs Quadski is one of the most playful amphibious vehicles in the world. With a price tag of around US$40,000, buying Quadskis for the whole family is an expensive – maybe impossible – venture, however. Gibbs is now making it easier for additional riders to get in on the fun, with the new two-seat Quadski XL.

Gibbs has stretched out the 128.3-inch-long (326-cm) Quadski by just under a foot (30.5 cm), making room for the second seat on the XL trim. A driver and passenger can now enjoy a unique land-and-sea ride on a single Quadski.

Despite adding 104 lb (47 kg) of weight, the extra capacity doesn't slow the Quadski XL down at all. According to Gibbs, it is capable of the same 45 mph land and water speeds as the original one-person Quadski. Power comes from the same 140-hp BMW Motorrad K1300 four-stroke inline four and sequential transmission combination. The engine sends power to the rear wheels on land and the Gibbs jet drive on water. The vessel transitions between the two modes at the push of a button in about five seconds.

The Quadski XL converts from PWC to quad in about five seconds
The Quadski XL converts from PWC to quad in about five seconds

The Quadski XL's ground clearance has decreased by 0.3 in (0.8 cm) to 8.6 in (22 cm). Other XL build specs remain identical to the one-seater. The dual-skin composite monocoque is planted on 5.5J x 12 wheels. The ride is cushioned by independent coil springs and hydraulic dampers, and it comes to a stop with four-wheel disc brakes. The track width remains at 55.5 in (141 cm).

Gibbs introduced the Quadski XL earlier this week and is preparing to start shipping in the US and global markets. It did not respond to our request for pricing information.

Source: Gibbs

View gallery - 8 images
8 comments
8 comments
Jon Smith
Gawd that thing is massive!
Dax Wagner
Although this was a much-needed improvement over the original, the most important thing Gibbs needs to do is cut its costs to get that retail price cut in half. The current cost is simply off the charts!
RelayerM31
This is so very "Bond". All we need is (Oh) James riding off in one of these with the girl, a few decades younger naturally, after pulling off the opening scene mission. I'll go pop some corn...
I only wish I could afford one of these babies.
YouAre
What's in common between Diana Nyad and Quadski? They are amphibious, that's it. While Diana is an ultra courageous senior record-setter running on pasta, Quadski is a tool for well-off young and muscled (as the pictures suggest) that smells and pollutes and is just to have fun and free car-wash. I bet Quadski will look awesome at 61.
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really cool.
I think it would be even cooler if they morphed a small car - like the Fiat 500 or Smart Fortwo - with the Quadski and make a small amphibious vehicle.
kalqlate
Vids of the two-seater XL model have not yet been posted, but here is a YouTube search for the single passenger model: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gibbs+quadski.
Walt Stawicki
he really looks like tyhe kinda guy who will make sure he does not contaminate waterways with millifoil from the other pond! just what we need testosteronni canelloni tyres mudding the creeks and fording the wet meadows!
dukedallas
At a $40,000 price point this company will fold like a cheap suit. Awesome idea, but no one will buy this for $40,000 unless they are millionaires or VERY well off. I could buy the BEST quad made in the world 10k price range plus the best Jetski for that price area too. Still would have over 15k-20k left over depending on the model. They need to make it cost about 15k-18k and people will buy otherwise not a viable commercial application to the masses.