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• Ready for Global Warming?
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IS it a Car? Is it a Boat? No, it's SUPERMO. Well, that is what we've dubbed it anyway, as the maker's names for this remarkable little vehicle/vessel of 'Amphijeep' or 'Dutton' seems way too prosaic.
Amphijeep Ltd has been making amphibious cars for over 11 years and maintains (admittedly with some bias) that it is the only company in the world making a truly amphibious machine. It is the brainchild of Tim Dutton, something of a master car maker, who started a company making Dutton kit cars in the 1960s. He went on to design all kinds of vehicles for companies around the world and then in the 1990s launched his first amphibious prototype.
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As a keen water-skier and boat owner, he knew what was needed, and after rigorous testing on land, sea and river, the first Amphibian Dutton rolled off the production line at his new factory in Littlehampton. The latest model is the 4wd Commander S2, maintaining the rugged practicality of its forerunners. Tim Dutton is the first to admit that they are "agricultural" in styling - but this means they are "easy and inexpensive to repair anywhere in the world and go on forever".
Not surprisingly, they attract considerable attention wherever they go - and such is the esteem in which the Dutton name is held, the Dutton Owners Club celebrated its 25th year in 2005 and is going strong. The amphibious models are available in kit or fully made versions, with all details and prices on the www.timdutton.com site - a production Commander starts at just under ?30,000, which seems a snip for a car and boat in one.
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• Cult following in the hills for rugged riding
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QUAD biking has built up a great following around the country among those who like their outdoor activity to be fast, rugged and fun. These All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs as they are also known, as easy to get to grips with and go anywhere, and have spawned a wide variety of trekking and racing events. Intotheblue.co.uk came up with the bright idea of Father's Day gift vouchers for a half-day trek in the woods from their Tunbridge Wells school, providing protective gear and bike of course for ?65. No driving licence necessary. Other jaunts include over the Highlands in Perthshire, following in Robin Hood's footsteps in Sherwood Forest and racing in Cheshire, plus many others. See their website for details.
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For those who fancy owning the latest model, here is the new MAXXER by Kymco, a 300RL model, priced at ?3299. |
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:: Now rent-an-armoured-car:: |
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With SECURITY the buzz word in many circles, Hertz is the first UK car rental company to offer the ultimate in car protection to their customers in the shape of the armoured Range Rover.
This ultra-secure vehicle, which costs a cool ?185,000 to buy, incorporates such features as under-body and floor protection, multi-laminate armoured glass, an anti-tamper exhaust, a fuel-supply override switch, in-vehicle oxygen supply, an intercom system, run-flat tyres and a self-sealing fuel tank: Considerably safer than the average home. Neil Cunningham, general manager at Hertz, tells us: "Land Rover has been armouring Range Rovers since 1985... and this is one of the most sophisticated civilian protected vehicles in the world. The armoured market is one of the fastest growing automotive sectors, so there is clearly demand for such a service, and that's what Hertz and Land Rover are responding to."
Available from the Hertz branch at Marble Arch in London, it may be delivered to most locations in the UK with a minimum of 72 hours notice and on a three-day minimum booking, priced at ?1000 per day.
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