Tesla's Cybertruck Could Take Amphibious Turn, Says Elon Musk

Newer images of the Tesla Cybertruck at the Petersen Automotive Museum revealed the vehicle could already have the right design to resist water breaching, reports Teslarati. Pictures from the Tesla community show that several sections of the Cybertruck's underbody are watertight — and the vehicle's suspension area is also sealed.

This is significant because Elon Musk's words on the Cybertruck's amphibious capabilities might be less unrealistic than many first thought.

Elon Musk on the small water car market

Musk has often voiced his love for vehicles that drive in both land and water. In 2013, he bought the Lotus Espirit S1 movie prop from the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" — an iconic film because it transformed a sports car into a submarine. Musk later said he was disappointed that the care didn't really turn into a submarine, adding that he'd probably take a shot at developing an amphibious vehicle with Tesla.

The CEO reconsidered the idea during his 2019 Annual Shareholder Meeting, where he said a submarine car was "technically possible." While he admitted the market for water-riding cars was small, he also cited the obvious enthusiasm that would rise around the project.

Rinspeed sQuba amphibious sports car

The amphibious car idea was attempted more than ten years ago by the Swiss niche automaker Rinspeed. It happened during the Geneva Motor Show in 2008 when the company unveiled an all-electric sQuba amphibious sports car. The vehicle used lithium-ion batteries and was built on a Lotus Elise, which resembles the original Tesla Roadster.

Thirty years on from the thriller "The Spy Who Loved Me," the amphibious vehicle sQuba became the first car that really flies underwater. Only time will tell if or when Tesla's Cybertruck takes the plunge — and adds a new intriguing feature to its off-road capabilities.