BMW Engine Will Power 2013-Model Gibbs High Speed Amphibian
AUBURN HILLS -- The 2013-model Gibbs Quadski will be equipped with a high-tech, lightweight engine from BMW Motorrad when the high speed amphibian makes its public debut later this year.
Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc. said Tuesday that it had signed a five-year agreement with the German automaker to purchase the company's four-cylinder K 1300 engines and transmissions through 2016. BMW Motorrad's 175-horsepower engine was introduced four years ago.
"We consider this engine to be the most technologically advanced, light-weight engine available today and ideally suited to power a high speed amphibian," said Gibbs chairman Neil Jenkins.
Jenkins said Gibbs has spent more than 18 months and over 75,000 engineering man hours to pair BMW Motorrad's powertrain with the Quadski's high-tech amphibian systems.
"Quadski is the world's first high-speed, power-sports amphiquad and is designed to achieve speeds of up to 45 miles per hour on both land and water," Jenkins said. "With the Quadski, Gibbs will usher in an entirely new form of transportation."
The second generation of BMW Motorrad's inline water-cooled motorcycle engine, the K 1300 is considered the lightest power plant in its segment and features electronic fuel injection, a double-overhead camshaft and dry-sump lubrication. Engines for the Gibbs Quadski will be manufactured at BMW's Motorrad plant in Berlin, Germany.
Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc. is developing its high speed amphibians for consumer, law enforcement, rescue and other commercial uses. Additional information about Gibbs, its technology and high speed amphibians is available online at www.gibbstech.com.
